1978-10-11_REPORT - M1977378 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Trees (Species) Date Planted Picea englemanii May 25 - June 23 Pinus Contorta May 25 - June 23 Abies concolour May 25 - June 23 Populus tremuloides May 25 - June 23 In addition to the test plots established by Standard Metals Corpora- tion, a Field Evaluation Planting site was established by the Soil Conservation Service (see Map 3 for F.E.P. location) . The site covers a total of 1.0 acres and is to be maintained for six years with semi-annual evaluation of species planted. The main reason for contacting the S.C.S. to aid in the revegetation program of tailings areas was to gain an additional source of planting stock. Many of the species which are indigenous to this area are not available com- mercially. The S.C.S. , however, maintains continuous production of these more desireable native species for such revegetation programs. (5) The original reclamation plan submitted to the Mined Land Reclamation office stated that initial fertilization of tailings material prior to seeding was to be done using a commercial grade of Ammonium Phos- phate (16-20-0) applied at 200 pounds per acre to yield 34 pounds per acre available nitrogen and 40 pounds per acre available phosphorous. After this initial fertilization, additional units of available nitro- gen (10-20 lbs per acre) were to be applied periodically through the irrigation system by dissolving pelletized Ammonium Nitrate (34-0-0) . This fertilization plan was carried out during 1977 revegetation ef- forts. During 1978 a different grade of fertilizer was used to incor- porate elemental potassium as potash (K 0) , as well as to attain higher available nitrogen and available phosphorous values. The fertilizer now used (20-20-9) was blended specifically for this application and applied at 200 pounds per acre to attain 40 pounds of available nitro- gen, 40 pounds of available phosphorous and 18 pounds of available po- tassium as potash. A total of 800 pounds of the 20-20-9 fertilizer was incorporated into tailings areas in 1978. Organic material, a peat topsoil excavated during construction of the starter dam and bed area for Tailings Pond No. 4, was to be applied to tailings revegetation areas in seedbed furrows at the rate of 40 cubic yards per acre. The benefit gained from application of this peat is enhancement of seed germination and seedling survival rates in seedbed furrows. The peat has been applied solely on tailings areas for revege- tation establishment in 1977 and 1978, and will be used in 1979. -5-