OCR Text |
Show It is also acknowledged that measures other than seeding would sometimes " be required to provide for soil stability and revegetation. This may include such techniques as wattling, mulching, use of jute netting, contouring of slopes and spoil piles, placement of top soil, drilling of seed, and placement of grass sod. The restoration measures would also include fertilization of soil, careful selection of plants adapted to local conditions, and initial irrigation watering of plants where required. A good supply of top soil and grass sod would be available in most reservoir basins for use in restoration activities. Each construction situation would pose a unique set of restoration problems requiring application of specific measures. The objectives of the restoration measures would be to achieve both soil stability and reasonable esthetic quality in the disturbed areas. ( a) Reassessment of Constructed Features In the partial construction of the Unit carried out to date, some serious restoration problems have developed. Of particular significance is the 2.6- mile road to the outlet portal site of Stillwater Tunnel. This road was designed and located with the direct assistance of the Forest Service. Because there was no environmentally suitable route available, the road was built with the knowledge that permanent landscape scars would result. Seeding of denuded areas to date has only been partially successful. It is the Bureau of Reclamation's intention to re- examine all of the land disturbances associated with completed features with the view of making additional attempts at obtaining satisfactory restoration under prevailing conditions. One such area has already been retreated. Borrow Area " E" from which material for Starvation Dam was obtained consists of an area of approximately 220 acres. In December of 1969 stockpiled topsoil materials were spread back over the borrow area and the area was seeded to crested wheatgrass. The results of this initial seeding were poor, largely because of adverse soil moisture and weather conditions occurring during the following winter and spring. During the growing seasons of 1970, 1971 » and 1972 the borrow area was invaded by the noxious 459 |