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maintenance a difficult, if not impractical, proposition. Therefore, conveyance of the <br /> water down the outslope is the only practical alternative. Stabilization of the gullies may <br /> be feasible through revegetation process, and in fact, was attempted as part of the 1999 <br /> Steep Slope Revegetation Project. <br /> The Steep Slope Revegetation Project was evaluated during the 2000 growing season. <br /> Initial observations of this Project indicate that it may result in a less successful outcome <br /> than that which was predicted based upon test plot results. <br /> The five outslopes which were revegetated in 1999 were carefully observed on a <br /> number of occasions in 2000. Initially, it was observed that the benches which had <br /> been constructed had generally sloughed in, leaving tufts of straw mulch (which had <br /> accumulated on the benches) sticking out of the sloughed material. This was expected, <br /> and did not present any immediate concerns. Little mulch remained on the outslopes <br /> themselves, as a result of a lack of snowpack immediately following placement of the <br /> straw. In fact, little snow accumulation had occurred until after Christmas, 1999, leaving <br /> the straw unprotected from wind erosion. This was an unusual condition at the site, as <br /> snow typically sticks to the outslopes by early October. <br /> Some germination was observed to occur on each of the outslopes as the summer <br /> progressed. However, the summer was unusually dry and hot. The effects of the <br /> weather pattern could be observed as most of the grasses which had emerged as single <br /> stalks had dried up, and presumably died, by mid-August. This observation was <br /> consistent at four the five outslopes. These four slopes all have a south to southeast <br /> aspect, exposing them to the summer sun throughout the day. The lone exception was <br /> the north facing outslope at Mine 3. This area experienced more significant <br /> germination, and an observable survival rate, as the lower portions of the slope took on <br /> a green hue as the summer progressed. <br /> These observations initially indicate that the lack of moisture and exposure to the sun in <br /> the fall and early winter of 1999, and throughout the 2000 growing season, may have <br /> severely impacted the expected germination rate, and thus the potential revegetation <br /> success, at most of the mine bench outslopes. However, the growth evidenced at the <br /> north facing slope at Mine 3 indicates that the technique used is viable, and could be <br /> mimicked, with some modification to accommodate climatic conditions and soil moisture <br /> retention characteristics. <br /> It is recommended that these slopes again be carefully monitored during the 2001 <br /> growing season. If little germination is apparent in 2001, then a second effort at <br /> revegetation should be attempted in 2002. Partial funding for a renewed effort may be <br /> available through a modification of the existing Non-Point Source Grant, or through the <br /> Forest Service, which is now considering an internal request to provide funding to the <br /> Division for on-going revegetation work at Coal Basin. <br /> If the Project is to be undertaken a second time, I would recommend using the same <br /> basic methodology, however, it would be beneficial to amend the soil by aerially <br /> delivering organic materials, such as bio-solids, to the slopes, increasing the number of <br /> 4 <br />