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immediately above Coal Creek, in case a failure were to occur. Evidence suggests that <br /> this system successfully contained the sediment generated as a result of the channel <br /> failure. <br /> A new channel was constructed in the Fall of 2000 to replace the failed channel. This <br /> lined channel intercepts the old channel well above the point of failure, and routes the <br /> flow across the old yard area to the Dutch Creek Diversion, where the flow cascades <br /> through a rock-choked channel to Dutch Creek. This channel by-passes the steep hill <br /> at the end of the flume altogether. However, the only way to route the flow to Dutch <br /> Creek requires that the channel be constructed over the fill covering the old flume <br /> footprint. The crossing of the fill was made at a ninety degree angle in order to <br /> minimize flow time over the fill. It is possible, though, that water may seep into the fill at <br /> this point, resulting in an increased ground water discharge near the former location of <br /> the base of the flume. <br /> Local cattlemen allowed cattle to graze the Bear Creek Project Area beginning in mid- <br /> summer. The result of this was that the grass which had begun to grow was severely <br /> impacted, and the hummocks created during construction were badly trampled, leading <br /> to gully development near the western margin of the Project Area. Repairs were made <br /> to the gullies in the fall, and the area was re-seeded at that time as well. This area will <br /> be fenced in 2001 to exclude grazing. <br /> Gully development on the lower, north facing slope of the Rock Tunnel Waste Dump <br /> was substantially reduced in 2000, as a result of a runoff interceptor ditch constructed <br /> near the top of the facility in 1999. The existing gullies were remediated in 2000 by <br /> choking them with straw, then using a small trackhoe to severely disrupt the surface <br /> water flow pattern. The trackhoe mixed soil with the straw, and created surficial <br /> hummocks to disperse surface flows. The areas were then seeded. This technique <br /> was successfully employed on less steep gullies at the Sutey Refuse Area in 1999. <br /> The previously reclaimed roads continue to suffer only minor erosion, mainly at the <br /> crossings of Road G with Oil Well Creek and with Coal Creek, and on Road F below the <br /> Mine 3 area. Down-cutting of the Creeks at the Road G crossings is evident, as the <br /> channels try to reach equilibrium. Maintenance at these two locations will occur in 2002 <br /> when the Upper Coal Creek Project is initiated. Maintenance activities will mainly focus <br /> at reducing the side slopes of the crossings to accommodate shifting of the channels at <br /> these locations as they continue to stabilize. <br /> Some amount of gully development is likely to persist at Road F below Mine 3 as a <br /> result of snow melt. The gullies are evident on the outslopes below the road. Snowmelt <br /> runoff, mainly derived from the road surfaces and from the pond immediately south of <br /> the Mine 3 bench, is channeled directly across the road surface onto the outslope. The <br /> alternative to allowing the water to flow down the outslope is to construct a ditch system <br /> to convey the runoff down the length of the road to a location where it can be dumped <br /> off the road to an adjacent canyon. Maintenance of the ditch would be required as the <br /> area sheds large volumes of rock which would block the ditch, causing additional <br /> erosion problems. Access is difficult, given the location of the site, rendering ongoing <br /> 3 <br />