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Site Observations <br /> The winter of 2000 /2001 was characterized by fairly normal weather patterns, following <br /> a dry fall. Spring run off was relatively benign, with snow coming off slowly and evenly. <br /> No acute flow events were observed to have occurred in either Coal or Dutch Creeks <br /> during the runoff. <br /> Reclamation work completed prior to 2000 weathered the runoff well. Excepting a small <br /> portion of the Bear Creek Project Area, little, if any, significant erosion was observed on <br /> the previously reclaimed areas. A half dozen or so small gullies had developed on the <br /> north facing slope of the Bear Creek portion of the Old Refuse Pile. These gullies, <br /> which averaged about 150 feet in length, six inches in depth and ten inches in width, <br /> appear to have developed as a result of the failure of some of the hummocks created <br /> during reclamation construction. The constructed dips were adequately sized, however <br /> a few above the head of the gully overflowed, causing a cascading effect of water <br /> downslope, resulting in a concentrated, high velocity flow system. It is thought that the <br /> hummocks as constructed were sufficiently sized to prevent this type of flow system <br /> from developing. However, the area was heavily grazed in 2000, the first year following <br /> reclamation construction. It is theorized that the action of the cattle hooves sufficiently <br /> diminished the size of some hummocks in this area resulting in water flow around the <br /> sides of the affected hummocks. This lead to the development of water cascading from <br /> one hummock to the next, overwhelming each in succession, resulting in gully <br /> formation. <br /> In 2000, the majority of the sediment ponds on the site were reclaimed by removing the <br /> corrugated metal dewatering devices, constructing an open, armored spillway at each, <br /> and revegetating the area surrounding each pond from the low water line to <br /> approximately ten feet above the high water line with a wetland seed mixture. Willow <br /> cuttings were also planted at the water line near the embankment of each pond. As a <br /> result of previous reclamation projects, the contributing area for most ponds has been <br /> significantly reduced, so that the volume of water being handled is much less than what <br /> the ponds were designed to hold. <br /> All of the ponds were observed to be in good condition in the spring and summer of <br /> 2001. The armored open spillways appear to have functioned as designed, as erosion <br /> of the spillways was not observed. The willow plantings were not as successful as was <br /> anticipated. It is estimated that less than thirty percent of the willow cuttings survived to <br /> produce new growth during the 2001 growing season. <br /> Roads B, C, and D which provide access to Mines 1, 2, and 4, were reclaimed in 2000. <br /> Reclamation consisted of removing the corrugated metal pipe culverts which pass under <br /> the roads at various locations, grading the road surfaces so that the road prism is <br /> angled at approximately ten percent from the cut, or inside, margin of the road toward <br /> the fill, or outside margin of the road. Numerous drainage dips and low water crossings <br /> were constructed to transport surface water across the reclaimed road surface. The <br /> 2 <br />