_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981017 (222)

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Chapter II Berms Berms have been previously utilized along the roads to prevent drainage flowing over the outside, down the fill area. This has been considered a method to prevent rilling and erosion of the fill. The U.S. Forest Service has suggested that the use of berms over miles of the road, particularly without providing outlets at designated points, is undesirable. One problem which occurs along the haul roads is that the inside cut of the road is on solid rock, into which a ditch cannot be satisfactorily excavated and maintained. Berms are useful at such points, used in conjunction with waterbars to direct flows. Berms are useful on a site specific basis to protect fill on steep, erosive and poorly vegetated slopes. Berms will be used at specific points along the roads as may be necessary to direct flows. However, the practice of maintaining berms continuously along the roads will not be followed. Berms will generally be used on roads which are not currently kept open during the winter months (i.e. 'light use roads) so that snow plowing will not cause the berm material to be pushed over the side of the road. Straw Bale Check Dams Straw bale check dams will be used as flow deflectors and to catch sediment. Such uses include those areas where berms may not be feasible along the outside edge of the road, and in rills and gullies. Road Width The operator believes that anticipated future uses of the road system will require retention of the present width to accomodate truck traffic. This is dictated by consideration of safety, as the roads traverse steep, mountainous terrain 41 and the roads can be quite slick due to precipitation and freezing conditions. Vegetation Outside edges of the roads and turnouts which do not ordinarily receive traffic should be ripped and seeded with a 19(c) Revised 12/91