Laserfiche WebLink
9 . 18 ALPINE AND WASTE ROCK RECLAMATION RESEARCH <br /> During autumn of 1976, Climax initiated research to <br /> establish vegetation on steep slopes of Open Pit rock waste <br /> material . Fair germination resulted and observations will con- <br /> tinue to be made to evaluate establishment and vegetative pro- <br /> gression. <br /> Additional research on methods and materials to <br /> vegetate the waste rock were started during 1977 and particu- <br /> larly during 1978 when three new research plots were estab- <br /> lished, to meet the following objectives: 1 ) revegetate the <br /> rock material when placed over tailing and evaluate the use of <br /> amendments such as wood chips, straw and sewage sludge, and the <br /> success of different fertilizer schemes, ( the success of the <br /> Urad Mine tailing reclamation program is very encouraging) ; 2 ) <br /> revegetate the rock material on slopes similar to those expected <br /> on the Open Pit waste rock dumps; and 3 ) revegetate the rock <br /> and exposed subsoil material above timberline using a native <br /> alpine seed source in combination with a number of different <br /> mulching and fertility treatments. <br /> Further, research will be developed to provide methods <br /> and materials to revegetate exposed geologic material within the <br /> Open Pit with native alpine species so as to reclaim the Open <br /> Pit slopes to a alpine talus landscape . <br /> Since topsoil will be available only in limited <br /> amounts for reclamation purposes , plots were established to <br /> determine the most efficient utilization of it. Factors of in- <br /> terest were topsoil depth over tailing and topsoil depths over <br /> waste rock both below and above timberline as related to growth <br /> of both herbaceous and woody species. <br /> In conjunction with the above research goals, within <br /> the alpine environment, Climax, in cooperation with Dr. Berg <br /> (CSU) , the High Altitude Revegetation Committee (Dr. Cuany of <br /> CSU) , Dr. Ray Brown of U.S.F.S. Forest and Range Experiment <br /> Station (Logan, Utah) , Dr. Cyrus McKell of U. S.U. , and Dr. <br /> Beatrice Willard of CSM, will test and evaluate adaptability of <br /> native alpine species for revegetation purposes in the alpine <br /> tundra and their applicability in conjunction with various <br /> cultural treatments to specific Climax sites. <br /> 9-24 <br />