Earth Day Award Nomination by Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration and the Division of Wildlife Resources.

Earth Day AwardEarth Day AwardNominationNomination

by by Utah School and Institutional Trust Utah School and Institutional Trust

Lands Administration and the Lands Administration and the Division of Wildlife Resources Division of Wildlife Resources

Utah School and Institutional Trust Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) and the Lands Administration (SITLA) and the Division for Wildlife Resources Division for Wildlife Resources (UDWR) nominates Questar Pipeline (UDWR) nominates Questar Pipeline Company for the overall reclamation Company for the overall reclamation work on the Huntington Lateral Gas work on the Huntington Lateral Gas Line. We would like to especially Line. We would like to especially point out the efforts made in point out the efforts made in restoring the contours and restoring the contours and topography to the pre-disturbance topography to the pre-disturbance conditions. conditions.

The ProjectThe ProjectThe project consisted of installing a 12 inch, 9.7 The project consisted of installing a 12 inch, 9.7

mile gas line across SITLA lands from the mile gas line across SITLA lands from the developing fields in Emery and Carbon Counties to developing fields in Emery and Carbon Counties to the CO2 plant. In addition to the SITLA lands the CO2 plant. In addition to the SITLA lands there were many miles of federal, and private there were many miles of federal, and private lands crossed. The high quality of work was the lands crossed. The high quality of work was the same for all ownerships. same for all ownerships.

The project site had many characteristics which The project site had many characteristics which made this project difficult. The area has some made this project difficult. The area has some steep topography, highly erodible soils, shallow steep topography, highly erodible soils, shallow and poorly developed soils, and it is criss-crossed and poorly developed soils, and it is criss-crossed with deep unvegetated gullies. To complicate with deep unvegetated gullies. To complicate things during the reclamation period, the area things during the reclamation period, the area was and still is experiencing a severe drought, was and still is experiencing a severe drought, with precipitation averages less than 8 inches with precipitation averages less than 8 inches across the length of the project area.across the length of the project area.

Project High-LightsProject High-Lights

Restoring/ Maintaining original Restoring/ Maintaining original topography.topography.

Soil retention.Soil retention. Protection of items with cultural Protection of items with cultural

importance.importance.

Location MapLocation Map

Contour WorkContour Work

Note how the natural drainages were restored.

Contour WorkContour Work

Despite the amount of earth moved as seen in the top picture the small ridge and natural drainages were restored.

Contour WorkContour Work

Just as an indicator of the scale of this project note the equipment in the top photo.

Contour WorkContour Work

Questar took great efforts in restoring even the smallest, natural topographical variations.

Erosion ControlErosion Control

A roughed surface creates pockets and dips which capture water and aids in the prevention of the mat sliding or pulling down slope.

Erosion Erosion ControlControl

Despite a tremendous flashflood no cuts of banks or of the bottom took place.

Water overflowed

onto the floodplain.

Debris from the Debris from the flood.flood.

Trench line.

Erosion ControlErosion Control

Note: The base of the structure is wide enough to allow a floodplain to form which can help reduce the energy flow.

Note: One year after the work was completed all matting is still in place and functioning.

Erosion ControlErosion ControlAlong this segment of stream the soils erode easily. There was much concern that down cutting would occur and wash out the pipe and the banks. All the normal precautions were taken to stabilize the banks, however, a bentonite mixture was used below the streambed and around the pipe. The concept was that the bentonite would swell and make a semi-impermeable layer that water would easily flow over rather than a fabric or a hardened material which could cause the water flow to become turbulent and quicken the erosion process.

Looking downstream.

Note: The bank has held and the matting is still in place.

Looking upstream from the same location.

Note: the debris in the shrubs.

Pipe LineDebris

VegetationVegetationDespite some of the worst drought conditions the state has seen, there has been plant establishment which will spread as more moisture comes in the future.

Above: Throughout much of the project, small shrubs have been established. These small but important plants are long-lived natives that will supply soil retention for years.

Left and Right: Though these thin blades of grass don’t look like much they represent a big success. The seed was put deeper than normal which meant the seed did not germinate until truly enough moisture was received.

VegetationVegetationRight: More vegetation is present on this roughed matting than pre-disturbance. Below: broadleaf plants and shrubs. Below to the right: a mixer native shrubs is present.

Four-wing saltbush Shadscale Grease Wood

Cultural ProtectionCultural Protection

This Road was determined to have special cultural values and was protected.

This canal has both cultural values and is important to the local farming community. It was crossed several times, and each time, Questar drilled under the canal to preserve and not disrupt the water flow.