2010-11-16_REVISION - C1981008 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

United States Department of Agriculture 4e N RC S Natural ResoufCe's Zonzier'yat'cr Sei`=: david deafstylle@= usda 4 Dawd Denrrtyne. Soli 970-249-8407 x1 102 Par Fla" Suite 11 Monjros* CO 814C1 November 16. 2010 On November 16. 2010. a on properties owned by' onsite investigation was conducted c i I Frank Morgan of Nucla. CO. The request %& made by Jim n. Boyd. Resource Conse'ationist Norwood. CO. Jim was contacted by Joellen Turner. wite ol'Mike Morgan, who farms the property. The request involved onsite examination of once designated Prime tarmland according to National Prime Farmland standards (see San Miguel Area Soil Survey report). that 1 strip mined and is now hcinL reclaimed on New Horizon Mine, [eased by Western Fuel-0). In attendance for the , isit were Mike Morgan and Joellen Turner, farm operators. along "ith Robert Postle. Rick Williamson. and Amy McCregor frorn the U.S. Department ol'the lnut rllor, Office of Surface Mllnliif; Reclaination and Enforcement out ol' Dori ver CO. and Jim Boyd and myself. The area under cons 1 de ration i nvo Ives -51 acre-, o precious farm ground now being mined/reclainied. located due west of 2700 Rd and Soulh ol'BB road. west of Nucla Colorado, The initial part of the meeting was conducted at the residence ol'Mike Morgan and JoellenTurner. Discussion Included. wording of several documents from the past that have been involved in the mine reclamation proces& particularly permit revision -6. now being considered. What I Nvas able. to contribute i n %, r) I % ed the discussion of' Prime Farini I and and i I s intent, components. and property paranictcrs. Also discussed .vas the Rarx Soil, which vas the primary soil previously identified on the property currently being mined and reclaimed. An order two sail r S1117"ey (the San Miguel Area Soil Survey) had been conducted in the area by SCS soil scientists (pub 1985). An order one soil survey ( a more detailed. finer resolution -survey) was also conducted on the property by, contracted - od scientists cientists (intermountain Resource Inventories Inc.) in March of 1999. Marx and similar solk, (Darvey) were identified in this order one soil survey. The main dift in the two sur%c�s was the extent of the Marx and similar soils. In the San M.igl,10 Soil SUr, cy approximatcl k 64 percent of the 51 acre area of consideration was identified as inal unit 14. Barx fine sandy loam. I to 3 percent slopes. considered Nme Farmland soil. The Intermountain survey identified approximately 70 percent of the area as Darvey-Barx complex. 0 to 3 percent slopes- (similar io Barx)_ that would also he considered ?rime Farmland soil. Properties of the map units ins X71, crag Flarx and similar soils identified by both of these surveys for consideration would be texture, rock fragments.. LC, slope. minimum rooting depth. available water holding capacity, drainage, available water supply_ flooding hazard. growing season length, pl 1, and exchangeable sodium. Most of these properties can be surnmed up b% The capability class for the ihe capabi I ity classification of these soil.stmap units. l3arx (and I)are ey)solls JOr chase map units belle {sec attached capability class chart)- The cItHerences betNiccri these two designations (Prink: Farmland verses Capability Class), was discussed at len- th. The capability class involves separating soils into 8 groups. class beins- the bLst and class VIII the most limiting. The Prince Farmland designation could conceivably involve cap abi I it% classes I through V. This became an important itern of discussion and consideration in the tic lad. So in surnman the requirements for capability class He (Bari soils I to 3 percent slops) would he more stringerit than that of Prime Farmland. For example The Nv%wal Rewivoe Con *migion Serwice wans in partnefsFivip wren the American People loconsave aTsd suwWin natural rewurces an prorate lands An Fquaj Opoortunity Provioer po Employer Tuesday, November 16, 2010.max