Laserfiche WebLink
CMA <br />December 4, 2012 <br />Page 2 of 3 <br />The project resulted in the successful reclamation of all sedimentation and drainage features at the Roadside <br />Mine. Work was performed without re- disturbing the current configurations of Coal Creek and Coal Gulch and <br />allowed for retention of existing features that were deemed stable and well vegetated. Snowcap Coal <br />Company is to be commended for their interagency coordination, well prepared design plans and diligent <br />construction to achieve excellence in reclamation. <br />Contact: Tonya Hammond <br />Snowcap Coal Company <br />2352 N. 7 Street, Unit B <br />Grand Junction, CO 81501 <br />970 - 241 -8118 <br />Excellence in Innovative Topsoil Replacement Techniques <br />Colowyo Coal Company <br />Colowyo Mine <br />Colowyo Coal Company is nominated for their variable topsoil replacement and area specific seeding <br />programs. For the past several years, Colowyo has worked with representatives of DRMS and Colorado Parks <br />and Wildlife (CPW) to develop the variable topsoil replacement program. This technique was designed to <br />mimic the natural depths of topsoil found in the undisturbed areas. Rather than replacing a uniform depth of <br />topsoil over an entire reclaimed area, Colowyo replaced shallow topsoil on ridge tops and topographically flat <br />areas. On steep slopes and drainage bottoms Colowyo replaced deeper topsoil (averaging 24 inches) to <br />promote the establishment of native woody plant species such as chokecherry and aspen. <br />To correlate with the variable topsoil replacement and to enhance the post mining land use, Colowyo also <br />designed an area specific seeding program. Areas within each reclamation unit were classified by slope <br />steepness to target desired communities. On slope grades less than ten percent, an average of four inches of <br />topsoil is replaced and seeded to sagebrush steppe. These sites are designed to minimize grass stand <br />establishment and their resulting competition with shrubs for water and soil nutrients. On slopes over ten <br />percent, an average of four — eighteen inches of topsoil is replaced and the areas are seeded to grassland. The <br />sagebrush steppe areas target a postmining land use of wildlife habitat to provide Sage Grouse brood rearing <br />habitat. The Grassland community targets a post -mine land use of livestock grazing and also ensures slope <br />stabilization. <br />During 2012, Colowyo remained committed to contemporaneous reclamation. Approximately 142 acres were <br />regraded. Three one -acre trial plots for Tall shrub and Aspen were planted. A major milestone was achieved <br />with the approval of 980 acres from Phase 111 bond release. <br />Colowyo is to be commended for their continuing reclamation efforts and for their innovative topsoil <br />replacement and site specific seeding techniques to promote and enhance the post mining land uses. <br />Contact: Tony Tennyson, Senior Environmental Engineer <br />Colowyo Coal Company <br />5731 State Highway 13 <br />Meeker, CO 81641 <br />970 - 824 -1532 <br />