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shelves per acre by at least ten percent, aerially applying a liquid tackifier such as guar- <br /> gum or "Earth Bound" to the mulch, planting trees on the slopes (particularly within and <br /> at the base of the gullies), and increasing the number of shrubs planted at the base of <br /> the outslopes to act as sediment barriers. <br /> Reclamation Projects <br /> Ditch 8 Reconstruction Project <br /> Ditch 8 is a large drainage ditch which conveys water down the steep south facing side <br /> of the Sutey Refuse Pile. Water is supplied to Ditch 8 by three smaller ditches which <br /> drain the entire south and south western facing portion of the Sutey Pile. The Ditch was <br /> originally constructed in 1995 as specified in a Revision to the Coal Basin Permit. It <br /> should be noted that, at the time, Mid-Continent Resources was threatening legal action <br /> if the reclamation specifications described in the permit were not precisely followed. <br /> The spring following construction, the Ditch failed, causing runoff water to begin eroding <br /> into the Sutey refuse. Temporary repairs were subsequently made. <br /> The purpose of the Ditch 8 Project was to construct a permanent, stable channel on the <br /> south side of the Sutey Refuse Pile. A channel approximately 650 feet long, fourteen <br /> feet wide and two to three feet deep was constructed in the Mancos Shale outcrop <br /> immediately east of the eastern margin of the Sutey Refuse Pile. The excavated <br /> material was placed to the west of the excavation in order to create the appropriate <br /> slope at that location. In order to promote revegetation potential, topsoil and weed free <br /> straw were mechanically worked into the excavated shale placed west of the ditch. This <br /> area was then severely roughened and revegetated. After excavation was completed, <br /> topsoil was placed within the channel, and seed was distributed on the soil. A C-130 <br /> liner was installed over the topsoil beginning at the top of the ditch, and working toward <br /> the base. After installing about one hundred feet of liner, an intense thunder storm <br /> caused a portion of the placed topsoil to be washed out of the channel. The Contractor <br /> replaced the topsoil in some areas, but in other areas the erosion of the topsoil revealed <br /> exposures of very competent bedrock. In these areas, topsoil was not replaced, nor <br /> was a liner placed. The exposed bedrock is sufficiently hard and durable such that no <br /> additional protection is necessary. Further, placing topsoil on the outcrops and retaining <br /> it in place seemed a marginal proposition at best. <br /> The intervening areas of topsoil were re-worked to create a smooth surface and then <br /> seeded. The liner was then tacked down over the topsoil in the channel. In order to <br /> slow velocities within the channel, energy dissipaters were placed perpendicular to the <br /> length of the channel on approximately fifty feet centers. Two types of dissipaters were <br /> used in an alternating rotation; excelsior logs and Georidge. The excelsior logs are <br /> essentially excelsior blankets rolled into a ten inch diameter by fourteen feet long log. <br /> The Georidge is constructed of a light duty, plastic encased steel mesh formed into a <br /> triangular shape, which is hollow in the middle. These two materials were chosen <br /> because they will slow water velocities while retaining sediment contained in the water. <br /> 5 <br />