_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981017 (257)

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stands of Calamagrostis purperascens and aster glaucodies were observed at each location. Measurements were made of gully width and depth. These measurements will be evaluated against data collected in previous years in order to quantitatively evaluate gully activity. However, observations tend to indicate that neither gully is significantly active. The tree planting area located downslope of the gully monitoring points was also observed. These trees were planted in 1999, in an effort to slow down-slope migration of near surface soil particles. Five hundred trees equally mixed between three species were planted, half in plastic protectors, and half without protectors. Observations indicate that fifty to sixty percent of the trees have survived. The survivors are about equally divided between protected and unprotected trees. Engelmann spruce and Douglas fir comprise the majority of the surviving trees. Few subalpine fir appear to have survived. Coal Basin Slope Stabilization Project The Division has bid out the Coal Basin Slope Stabilization Project, which is the construction project that will meet the goals of Objective 1, Task 3 of the Grant. The project represents the bulk of the construction related activities to occur at the site under the terms of the Grant. Using the State purchasing system, an Invitation for Bid was published in July 2004. A site showing was held for all interested bidders, in late July, 2004. A contractor, Bitterroot Restoration of Montana,was selected to complete the work. The project is scheduled to begin on September 21, and will be completed on about October 6, 2004. In order to meet the goals of the grant, the contractor will create approximately 3,500 small shelves per acre on the outslopes. The scarified outslopes will be seeded with a seed mixture appropriate to the site conditions and elevation. In order to help establish a relatively quick ground cover, a sterile wheat was added to the mixture. Following seeding, a slow release fertilizer and a certified weed free mulch consisting of slender wheatgrass cuttings will be flown onto the slopes. The mulch will be anchored to the ground surface using an organic liquid tackifier. The use of straw mulch deviates from the grant application that contemplated the use of a spray-on mulch. However, project economics and site conditions dictated the use of the slender wheatgrass mulch and liquid tackifier. Further, the use of the organic mulch should provide an opportunity for increased shade for the seed, and a potential additional seed source for a plant material that well at this location. Therefore, the change makes both economic and ecologic sense. As part of the project, bands of trees will be planted on the outslopes, and shrub barriers will be established at the base of the slopes. We will also employ straw wattles at the crest of the slopes to disrupt surface water flows in order to minimize the concentration of snow melt or stormwater runoff onto the outslopes.