2005 MLRR Awards - Outstanding Small Operator


	Mineral Land Regulation and Reclamation Program, 2005 Mined Land Reclamation Awards

Outstanding Small Operator - Sierra Cascade LLC, Sierra Cascade Site, Chemult, Klamath County

Contact: Dana VanPelt, (541) 365-2440

Background:

This upland pumice pit is located in the leeward shadow of Mt. Mazama one mile south of Chemult along Highway 97. Mining began in the early 1980s.

In 2003, Sierra Cascade LLC purchased the property and assumed the DOGAMI permit. Eventually, additional reclamation security was submitted, a new operating and reclamation plan was compiled and submitted, and concurrent reclamation was begun on mined-out areas.

To supplement the organic poor soils in this area, Sierra Cascade arranged to have boiler ash waste delivered from White City. The material was spread and incorporated into the soil material with earth-moving equipment.

Sierra Cascade also sought authorization to apply sewage lagoon bio-solids from the Oregon Water Wonderland Unit, a 200-home subdivision outside of Sunriver, as a soil amendment. Post-mine reclamation calls for replanting trees for commercial harvest on this site. Adding organic content to the soils will significantly improve revegetation efforts.

Since 2003, Sierra Cascade has done an excellent job of concurrent reclamation, developing a system whereby a one-acre parcel is mined and the overburden and soil from the next cell is placed on the mined-out acre. Soil amendments are added, and the site planted.

Sierra Cascade is awarded Outstanding Small Operator for 2006 for its willingness to go beyond the basic requirements of mine reclamation.

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photograph of sloping terrain dotted with small trees

Sierra Cascade site pumice pit, near Chemult, Klamath County. Post-ming soil amendment and tree planting significantly aid the revegatation process.

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Mineral Land Regulation and Reclamation Program, 2005 Mined Land Reclamation Awards