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The exposed slopes around the irrigated agricultural fields will be planted to a suitable plant <br /> species for erosion control and some habitat purposes. Establishing habitat areas on the slopes <br /> will provide refuge for beneficial insects adjacent to the agricultural fields. Habitat areas will <br /> complement the agricultural fields as a component of a diverse biological system. The topsoil <br /> chemical status and organic matter will be re-evaluated in the agricultural fields following the <br /> cover crop. The soils could then be cropped in a rotation of forage or row crops like alfalfa, <br /> corn,tomatoes, barley, wheat and oat hay. <br /> Again, the data from the soil analysis will be used to decide soil treatment and fertilization. Plant <br /> tissue nutrient concentrations and soil moisture can be monitored to direct fertilizer and irrigation <br /> management. <br /> YIELD OBJECTIVES <br /> Article 9 Reclamation Standards section 3707(c) regarding prime agricultural land (Class I and <br /> Class II) states, "Reclamation shall be deemed complete when productive capability of the <br /> affected land is equivalent to or exceeds, for two consecutive years, that of the premining <br /> conditions or similar crop production in the area." Article 9 section 3708 applies to other than <br /> prime agricultural land. The Class IV soil falls into this category. The section reads, "Non- <br /> prime agricultural lands shall be reclaimed so as to be capable of sustaining economically viable <br /> crops commonly grown in the surrounding area." <br /> This site has been planted with apricots for over 10 years. The yield of the apricot orchard is not <br /> an applicable standard for the reclaimed soils because the site will be reclaimed to field and row <br /> crops. <br /> 13 <br />