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WIND EROSION <br />REDUCING WIND EROSION <br />GCC Rio Grande, Inc. -Red Rock Mine <br />Drought Management Plan <br />• Application of organic matter; <br />• Design and construction of drainage channels; and <br />• Construction or planting of wind fencing or barriers. <br />Identification and correction of drought related reclamation problems are discussed in <br />greater detail in the remainder of this plan. Wind erosion problems are emphasized in <br />this plan, since they are the most likely to manifest themselves during periods of drought <br />and probably represent the greatest potential for adversely impacting newly reclaimed <br />areas at the Red Rock Mine. <br />Soil wind erosion occurs in three distinct types. These wind erosion types may or may not be <br />present depending upon the texture of soils being reclaimed and the maximum velocities that <br />winds obtain. Wind erosion may begin to occur when air velocity at 1 foot above the ground <br />surface exceeds 12 miles per hour. Wind soil erosion types include the following categories, <br />ranked from lower to higher velocity winds: <br />Suspension -The finest soil particles and organic matter are lifted into the air and <br />transported; <br />Saltation -Soil particles bounce and fly near the soil surface, dislodging other particles <br />each time they impact the soil surface.; and <br />Creep -The largest soil particles roll or otherwise move along the ground. <br />Factors that affect wind erosion potential include soil erodibility, soil ridge roughness, climate <br />and weather, the unsheltered distance across a field along the prevailing wind erosion direction, <br />and residue or vegetative cover. <br />Wind erosion can be minimized by providing wind barriers, maximizing soil moisture harvesting <br />and retention, minimizing storm water runoff soil erosion, and providing optimum soil growth <br />Habitat Management, Inc. 4 03 / 03 / 2003 <br />