RECLAMATION SUCCESS

The Jerritt Canyon Project in northeast Nevada consists of numerous surface and underground mines and a mill for the recovery of precious metals.  Efforts are made to minimize surface disturbances, and in those instances where disturbance is unavoidable given the location of the ore body or other factors, mitigation efforts are employed.  Development of the H-Pit Wetlands Mitigation Site is an example of such mitigation efforts at the Jerritt Canyon Project.

The H-Pit Wetlands Mitigation Site initially was a borrow area used as a source of materials for mill site construction activities in the early 1980s.  The site is located two miles southeast of the Jerritt Canyon mill site on private land, and approximately 45 miles north-northwest of Elko, Nevada.  In 1993, an evaluation of the H-Pit site identified an area of approximately 20 acres as having a high potential for the development of wetlands for mitigation purposes.  This location would allow the use of existing disturbance, which would be advantageous as compared to expanding or disturbing an existing high value riparian or wetland area.  Establishment of wetlands on the entire 20.69-acre area was planned to mitigate wetlands unavoidably disturbed as part of the Jerritt Canyon Project activities and leave an additional 4.95 acres available for future potential wetlands impacts at the Jerritt Canyon Project.

Major construction began in the fall of 1993, and involved growth medium removal and excavation of three cells, along with development of nesting islands.  Following construction, growth medium was replaced, engineered spillways were constructed between the three cells, and the entire site was seeded and planted.  Remedial activities have occurred from 1994 to present, and have included repairing minor erosion, maximizing saturation areas to better control static water levels in the different cells, and adjusting the spillways to encourage near surface saturation.  Additional plantings have occurred periodically between 1993 and present.

The H-Pit Wetlands Mitigation Site has been monitored for vegetation composition and cover.  After five growing seasons, 90 plant species were observed, of which over 50% were wetland indicator species.  The detailed monitoring effort has documented that the H-Pit Wetlands Mitigation Site already has developed into a mid-seral stage of wetland succession.

The H-Pit Site provides valuable habitat for many species of migratory wildlife.  In 1999, approximately 22 mating pairs of ducks utilized the site, along with about 20 mating pairs of shorebirds.  Songbirds, other passerines, and raptors have been observed utilizing upland areas for nesting and perching.  In addition, many types of mammals have been observed using the site for cover, water, and forage purposes.

 The following photographs of the H-Pit Wetlands Mitigation Site demonstrate the success that has been achieved regarding creation of a wetlands/riparian habitat.  The photographs are taken from two different photo points.  The photographs depict initial construction and status at two and five years after construction.  The photographs also depict some of the wildlife observed at the site.

 

Construction of Cells 1A and 1 in 1993	Cells 1A and 1 in 1996 after 3 complete growing seasons
View to northwest across Cell 1 in 1992-93 during construction phase.

Aerial photograph taken in 1994 upon completion of construction phase and planting.