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HomeMy WebLinkAboutScope of WorkMay 20,2022 ÈCONFLUENCE Reveg etation and Reclamation PIan Operator Location Name Legal DescriPtion CountY Cottonwood Tie NWSWSec. 34 T65 R95W Garfield County (045), Colorado Geographic Goordinates (WGS84) 39.478123, -107 '990467 Field PARACHUTE - 67350 lntroduction This site-specific revegetation and reclamation plan (Plan) was prepared by Confluence Complianie Companiès, LLC (Confluence) at the request of David Bull (Project Manager) to ruppärt Williams - West Gathering & Processing (Williams) permitting efforts for the proposed pldél¡ne installation (project) at the Cottonwood Tie Facility (Location). The Location is owned ãnO operated by \Mlìiams. The Plan was designed to meet Garfield County Grading Permit Vegetätion and Site Reclamation Requirements to preserve visual and wildlife resources and preîent or minimize the potentialfor erosion or undesirable vegetation colonization at the site. included in the Plan are a Location description, revegetation and reclamation procedure, and plans for reclamation monitoring and invasive/noxious weed management. Best management þractices (BMPs) to be employèO Ouring the Project have been included throughout the Plan. Location Site Description The proposed Project area is within a reclaimed pipetine right-of-way of the.Location within Cottónwood Gulch in Garfield County, Colorado. A two-track road crosses through the area. Soils outside the road are loam texture with no compaction. The area is used for cattle rangeland and has moderate catfle impacts. Located east of the existing pipeline infrastructure, theärea has the following foliar vegetation cover estimated by on-site evaluation: Shrubs - 15% o Greasewood (sarcobatus vermiculatus) - Primary abundance o Mountain big sagebrush (Arfemisia tridentafa ssp. Vaseyana) - Low abundance o Fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) - Moderate abundance Noxious weeds -30%o Cheatgrass (Brom us tectorum) - Primary abundance lntroduced weedy grasses -30%o Annualwheatgrass (Eremopyrum triticeum) - Primary abundance lntroduced Weedy Forbs - 5% o Yellow alyssum (Alyssum aþsoides) Native Forbs - 5% o Tansy mustard (Descurainia pinnata) - Primary abundance o Scarlet globemallow (sphaeralcea coccinea) - Moderate abundance a a a a a confluonce comptiance companies, LLC - Rectamation (reclamation@conflu W¡ll¡ams - West Gathering & Processing Cottonwood Tie Revegetation and Reclamation plan May 2Q,2022 Page 2 of 7 a a Native and Desirable lntroduced Grasses - 10o/oo Foxtail þarely (Hordeum jubatum) - Primary abundanceo Thickspike wheatgrass (Elymus lanceolatus) - Moderate abundanceo Western Wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithií) - Low abundanceo Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airordes) - Low abundanceo Russian wildrye (Psathyrostachys juncea) - Low abundance Bare Ground - 5o/o All portions of the Location surface fall within Ecological Site R048AY306UT - Upland Loam (Vltloming Big Sagebrush) on private land owned by XTO Energy, INC rrl. The Location receives an average annual precipitation o18.47 inches, has 4-6% slopes with a southem aspect and surface flow direction ¡z¡. The nearest receiving water is an unnamed ephemeraldrainage approximately 221 feet west of the Location that confluences with the Colorado River O.¿+ miles south of the Location. \Mlliams proposes to re-disturb 0.28 acres of the reclaimed pipeline right-of-way of the Location during location maintenance. Cranes and frac tanks will be staged within the Pioject area and are expected to compact soils such that revegetation efforts will likely be required. Following facility maintenance activities, the disturbance will be evaluated for compaction and reseedéd as necessary to permanently stabilize the Project area. Refer to the Preliminary Grading Sheet Set for the Cottonwood Tie Grading Plat for illustrations of this maintenance area and construction specifications. Project Schedule Soil Description According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Web Soil Survey, the Location disturbance and equivalent reference area to the west are in Soil Map Unit (SMU) 4 -Arvada loam, 6 to 20 percent slopes ¡z¡. SMU4-Arvadaloam. The A horizon is typically a loam soiltexture.. The B horizon is typically silty clay loam texture.. These soils are well drained with a very high runoff class and moderately low to moderately high available water capacity.. Seed mortality class is rated moderate.. Depth to a restrictive feature or water table is more than 80 inches.. Soils are slightly saline to strongly saline. Onsite lnspection 08/ou2022 oSlotl2022 One-Call and Locates Completed 08/ot/2022 08l04/2022 Pipeline lnstallation 08/04/2022 08/Ls/2022 Project Area Stabilization 08l2O/2022 08/31./2022 *Dates are subject to change pending receipt of project permits and approvals. Task Start Date End Date Confluence Compliance Companies, LLC - Rectamation (rectamation(ıconflw ) W¡ll¡ams - West Gathering & Processing Cottonwood Tie Revegetation and Reclamation Plan May 2Q,2022 Page 3 of 7 SMU 4 is typical of the Warm Central Desertic Basins and Plateaus, which are characterized by alluvial fanï derived from sandstone and shale, mesas, benches, and valley sides ¡s1. As the site receives between 8-12 inches of precipitation per year, the soils have an aridic soil moisture regime that borders on ust¡c resulting in little to no moisture availability for germinating species folmost of the growing season. The ecoregion consists of nearly level basins and valleys, benches, low rounded hills, and badlands ¡s¡. Pre-Disturbance / Reference Area Vegetation The Location was inspected by Confluence personnel on May 16,2022, to document Project area conditions and establish a baseline for vegetation composition and cover in the equivalent undisturbed reference area. The reference area surrounding the planned disturbance with similar slope, land use, and aspect has historical surface disturbance was selected based on aerial imagery review and field assessment. Based on this review, and observed shrub establishmeni, this reference was disturbed greater than 15 years ago. The surrounding undisturbed hillsides have similar vegetative cover with greater juniper establishment. The area is in use as cattle rangeland and has moderate cattle grazing impacts. Located north of the existing pipeline infraıtructure, the adjacent reference area has the following foliar vegetation cover estimated by on-site evaluation: . Shrubs - 30% o Greasewood (sarcobatus vermiculatus) - Primary abundance o Mountain big sagebrush (Añemisia tridentata ssp. Vaseyana) - Moderate abundance o Fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) - Low abundance . Noxious weeds - 20o/o o Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) - Primary abundance . lntroduced weedy grasses - 2OYo o Annualwheatgrass (Eremopyrum triticeum) - Primary abundance o Bulbous bluegrass (Poa bulbosa) - Low abundance . lntroduced Weedy Forbs - 15% o Yellow alyssum (Alyssum a/yssordes) . Native Forbs - 5% o Tansy mustard (Descurainia pinnata) - Primary abundance o Native Grasses - 8% o Foxtail barely (Hordeum iubatum) - Primary abundance o Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus arTordes) - Low abundance . Bare Ground - 2% Under undisturbed conditions, USDA Ecological Site Description and Environmental Protection Agency (EpA) Ecoregion data for the Location indicate that Warm Central Desertic Basins and piateaús produce sagebrush shrublands rgl,rs¡. These regions are composed of a mixture of shrubs, pèrennialgrasses, and forbs rsl,rsl. A climax community in this region may contain: Shrubs o Greasewood (Sarcobafus sPP.) o Shadscale (Atriplex confertifolia) o Mat saltbush (Atriplex corrugate) o Bud sagebrush (Añemisia sprnescens) a confl uence compliance com panies, LLC - Reclam ation (recl am ation@.conf! M Williams - West Gathering & Processing Cottonwood Tie Revegetation and Reclamation Plan May 2Q,2022 Page 4 of 7 a o Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) rq,pt Native desirable grasses -o Galleta grass (P/euraphis jamesii) o Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus arToides)o Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii)o Needleandthread (Hesperostrpa comata)o lndian r¡cegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides) r¡l,rs¡ Forbs -o Seepweed (Suaeda spp.) o Desert trumpet (Eriogonum inflatum) ¡s1,¡s1 a Soil Handling Salvage of Topsoil and Subsoils Prior to excavation and construction operations, topsoilwill be stripped, salvaged, and stockpiled away from construction activities. During Project activities, excavated subsoilwill be:. Returned to its original relative position following pipeline installation, or¡ lncorporated into the sub-grade fill regions illustrated in the Preliminary Grading Sheet Set for the Cottonwood Tie Grading Plat. Proposed Timetable Excavated subsoils will be used as described above or, if there is no plan to use the soilwithin 60 days of Project initiation, subsoils will be transported offsite within the first 30 days. lf soils are not incorporated into the Project area or transported offsite within 90 days of their original excavation date, they will be appropriately stockpiled. Erosion Controls and Dust Suppression Erosion control measures will be utilized as needed throughout the Project area and may include silt fence, berms, sediment control logs, or ditches. Combinations of these methods may be employed as necessary to prevent erosion and sediment discharge resulting from stormwater runoff. Personnel performing Project work will routinely monitor for the development of erosive features and deploy additional erosion and sediment control measures as needed. Dust suppression measures, such as enforced speed limits and use of non-saline dust suppressants or water, will be used as needed and where the risk of wind erosion or fugitive dust generated by Location traffic is high. Personnei performing Project work will monitor for wind driven erosion and fugitive dusts so additional suppression measures can be deployed as needed. Weed Management Based on the Confluence site inspection performed May 16,2\22,the Location and Project area are as free as practicable of noxious, undesirable, and invasive plant species recognized by the Garfield County Vegetation Management Noxious Weed List (Weed) ¡s¡. Williams Confl uence Compliance Companies, LLC - Reclamation (reclamation(Ò.conflw) Williams - West Gathering & Processing Cottonwood Tie Revegetation and Reclamation Plan May 20,2022 Page 5 of 7 personnel and contractors will monitor for weed species establishment during Location äperations and scheduled stormwater inspections. W€eds will be mitigated on an as-needed bäsis via mechanical or chemical treatment. Herbicide applications will be utilized to treat prostrate, low growing, or perennial noxious species forwhich mowing methods are ineffective. ilerbicide appl-icationé will be spot-specific to minimize the potential for overspray and/or negative imþacts to native plant species and species beneficialfor reclamation proposes. Revegetation and Reclamation Procedu re There is no planned closure date for this Location. lt is expected to remain in operation for the foreseeable future. The 0.12-acre portion of the project area that falls within the stabilized working surface of the Location will be restabilized with road base and aggregate following mainteñance activities. The 0.16-acre portion of the Project Area that falls within the reclaimed pipeline right-of-way will be evaluated for compaction and reclamation maintenance following Þio¡ect completion. Reclamation maintenance activities will be selected based on these results. lf the re-disturbed surface has not been compacted such that it impedes or damages pre- existing vegetative cover, no additional reclamation actions will be taken. lf the Project disturbãncı negatively impacts vegetative cover, the 0.16-acre formerly reclaimed surface will be managed according to the plan outlined in the Seedþed Preparation, Amendment Appticaüón, and Seed-ing After Facility Decommissioning section below. While the Location is in oþäration, Williams personnel and contractors will monitor for weed establishment and erosion feature formation, performing maintenance as needed. Once the Location is decommissioned and equipment removed, the following final reclamation BMps will be implemented. Standard operating procedures based on site-specific conditions, the best availabie science and technology, existing agreements, and local government requirements and recommendations will be utilized wherever possible. Any deviation from these procedures will be communicated to applicable stakeholders within \Mlliams and if necessary to iocal governments, regulatory agencies, and the surface owner' Road Base Removal, Soil Preparation, and Recontouring After Facility Decommissioning Road base will be removed from the Location and transported offsite. Following road base removal and prior to grading, topsoil quality material, including the vegetated areas around the working surface perimeter, shall be stripped and stored along the location perimeter. Subsoils will be cross-ripped to a minimum depth of 18 inches to alleviate compaction and promote root growth. Ripped soils will be adequately tilled to break down clods. Recontouring *ill occur to rıplace so¡ls'to their original relative positions. Recontouring will include all edges of the disturbance to blend them witñ the adjacent landscape. Topsoil material will be spread evenly across the recontoured pad. Seedbed Preparation, Amendment Application, and Seeding After Facility Decommissioning The seed bed will be prepared via disk, harrow, chisel plow or similar equipment to ensure proper grade, soiltexiure, and bulk density is achieved to support seeding, amendment, and muícfr ãpplication. The final surface will be left rough to promote micro-catch depressions to promote water retention and infiltration. Seeding will take place within 24 hours of seed bed þreparation, weather permitting. Amendments will be selected and applied prior to seeding and confluence comptiance companies, LLC - Reclamation (reclamat¡on@.conflue Williams - West Gathering & Processing Cottonwood Tie Revegetation and Reclamation plan May 2Q,2Q22 Page 6 of 7 mulch appl¡cation. The recommended seed mix for the Location is provided in the table below. All seed will be certified weed-free and pure live seed (PLS) rated per federal, state, county, and municipal standards. The mix will be applied at the rate listed below, or per supplier specif¡cat¡ons, using a drill seeder with an east to west row orientation (along surface contour) throughorrt the Locatión disturbance. Seed shall be applied at a minimum depth of 0.25 inches and maximum depth of 0.50 inches and properly tamped. Site Stabilization and Stormwater Gontrols After Facility Decommissioning Straw mulch will be applied and crimped to stabilize soils, prevent erosion, and increase moisture retention to promote seed germination and establishment. Additionaltemporary erosion control measures may be installed along the upslope perimeter to slow and disperse run-on and along the downslope perimeter to prevent potential sediment discharge during final stabilization. Routine stormwater monitoring willevaluate stabilized and reclaimed surfacés; if erosive features are identified, additional erosion control measures will be deployed. Cost Estimate Common Name Scientific Name Variety lb. PLS/Acre Galleta Grass Pleurophis jamesii Viva Florets 3.5 lndian Ricegrass Ach n oth eru m hy m en oi des Rimrock 3.0 Alkali sacaton Spoobolus oiroides VNS 1.5 Western Wheatgrass Pascopyrum smithii Rosanna 4.0 Scarlet Globemallow Sphoeralceo coccineo VNS 0.3 Annual Sunflower Helìonthus onnus VNS 2.5 Mat saltbush Atr¡plex corrugate VNS 2.O Total 16.8 Dryland Välley Bottom Seed Mix Task Estimated Cost Mobilization s1,000 Earthwork s10,000 Seedbed Preparation, Amendment Application, and Seeding s1,s00 Erosion Controls and Dust Suppression S1,soo Weed Management Ssoo / year * Cost est¡motes provided by Williams $14,500Total Revegetation and Reclamation Cost Estimate x Confluence Compliance Companies, LLC - Rectamation (reclamation(Òconfluence-cc.com) Williams - West Gathering & Processing Cottonwood Tie Revegetation and Reclamation Plan May 20,2022 PageT oÍ7 This Plan summar¡zes reclamat¡on standard operating procedures as well as information relevant to the revegetation and reclamation project acquired from publicly available databases and records analyzed by Confluence. For additional information please contact Confluence's Reclamation Program Manager, Carolyn Craveiro de Sá, al (720) 289-1631 or ca rolyn. cravei ro (ôco nflen ce-cc. com. Sincerely, Carolyn Craveiro de Sá Reclamation Program Manager Confl uence Compliance Companies, LLC 720-289-1631 ca rolv n. cravei ro(@conflence-cc. com Citations 1. United States Department of Agriculture. "Web Soil Survey." Soil Data Explorer,2021, https:/iwebsoilsurvev.sc.eqov.usda.qov/App/WebSoilSurvev.aspx. Accessed 03t0712022. 2. National Weather Service. "Annual Climate Report." National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1 Jan. 2021, www.weather.qov/wrh/climate?wfo=gjt. Accessed 03t07t2022. 3. Project and Program Support Staff, USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University. "Ecological Site Descriptions". https://edit.iornada.nmsu.edu/cataloqsiesd. Accessed 0310712022. 4. Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. (2018, November 1). "COR400000 Stormwater Discharge". CDPHE Home. https://cdphe.colorado.qov/co140000O-stormwater-discharqe. Accessed 03/03/2022. Accessed 0310712022. 5. Environmental Protection Agency. "Level lV Ecoregions of the Conterminous United States". 1 January 2013. Level lll and lV Ecoregions of the Continental United States. https://www.epa.qov/eco-research/level-iii-and-iv-ecoreqions-continental-united-states. Accessed 0310712022. 6. Garfield County. "Noxious Weed List". 2002. https:i/www'qarf¡eld- countv.com/veqetation-manaqement/noxious-weed-list/. Accessed 0310712022. Confluence Compliance Companies, LLC - Reclamation (reclamation@conflw )