OCR Text |
Show weed " halogeton" while most of the area remained devoid of vegetaion. In December of 1972 a field inspection revealed that soil moisture conditions in the area were ideal for planting. The area was fertilized and seeded to crested wheatgrass and western wheatgrass during the latter part of December 1972 and January 1973. This operation was a cooperative effort also involving the Forest Service and the Soil Conservation Service. The Bureau of Reclamation is presently compiling a reference library of restoration methodology and is seeking advice from all government agencies with expertise in this field. When weather permits, as many construction sites as possible will be surveyed and those where vegetative restoration has been unsuccessful will be retreated in a manner similar to what occurred at Starvation Reservoir. Sites to be assessed include the Stillwater Tunnel road, the access road to Soldier Creek Dam, the roads to Water Hollow and Layout Diversion Dams and Tunnel portals, and borrow areas in the vicinity of Strawberry Reservoir. ( b) General Plan of Landscape Restoration At present, it is not possible to specify and quantify the exact restoration measures that would be required and applied to each feature to achieve reasonably successful results. However, in general, the following criteria would be applied. 1_. Restoration measures would be included in the preconstruction planning. 2_. Input would be solicited from concerned agencies having jursidiction in the Unit area. 3.. Feature design and location would emphasize minimization of landscape disturbance. k. The extent of land clearing for road cuts and fills and for borrow areas would be kept to a feasible minimum. Where feasible, contractors would be restricted to work within specific boundaries. j>_. The degree of slope on side hills would be made as flat as practicable. 6. Where steep slopes were unavoidable, contouring into benches or terraces would be employed to improve moisture retention and the chances of successful stabilization of soil and growth of vegetation. 460 |