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~ III IIIIIIIIIIIII III <br />' S~ ~1~~ <br />EXHIBIT E RECLAMATION PLAN <br />' E.1 Present and Past Land Use <br />' The general area of the San Luis Project has been used <br />principally as rangeland for grazing of domestic livestock and as <br /> open space/wildlife habitat. Past heavy grazing has altered the <br /> composition of the plant communities in the valleys and flats from <br /> predominantly grasslands to predominantly sagebrush. Grazing pressure <br />' at the present time is not excessive and ranges from low to moderate. <br /> Other present and past land uses are recreational fishing and <br />' picnicking along Rito Seco Creek; cutting of trees for firewood; and <br /> some recent mining and mining exploration activities (i.e., a small <br />' mine and heap leach were developed in the project area in the 1970's, <br /> and exploratory roads and drilling have continued since that time). <br />' Areas to the north, south, and east of the project area have been <br />l <br />bdi <br />d i <br />l <br />l <br />t h <br />i <br />l <br />t <br />d <br />t <br />i <br />d <br /> an ex <br />recent <br />y su <br />vi <br />nto <br />arge- <br />o <br />ous <br />ng p <br />o <br />s, an <br />ens <br />ve <br />e <br /> road system has been constructed to access these plots. <br /> <br /> Proposed land uses after mining and reclamation will be to <br />' restore rangeland and open space/wildlife habitat. Revegetation is <br /> planned to restore an improved range condition with a higher <br />' proportion of desirable forage grasses in a predominantly grassland <br /> :.ommunity. Because the area is currently dominated 6y big sagebrush <br />' .and supports only sparse grass cover, both wildlife and range <br />f <br /> conditions will bene <br />it from a diverse grassland community. <br />' The heap leach developed in the project area as part of mining <br />activities in the 1970's, has completely revegetated through natural <br />' invasion without topsoil replacement, fertilizer, or seeding. The <br />area blends quite well with the surrounding vegetati~m suggesting <br />' that successful reclamation of disturbance proposed as part of the <br />San Luis Project is not only possible, but can be easily accomplished <br />using the plan proposed as part of this exhibit. <br />1 <br />E-1 (Exhibit E revised 2/15/89) <br />