N.M. Admin. Code § 20.11.20.24

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 23, December 10, 2024

Section 20.11.20.24 - NATIVE GRASS SEEDING AND MULCH SPECIFICATIONS

A. If the fugitive dust control permit includes provisions to revegetate a disturbed area, the permittee may use the specifications described in 20.11.20.24 NMAC. When properly applied and maintained, these specifications have provided reasonably successful results in the past in Bernalillo county. They are included here as a reference for permittees and others who choose to use native revegetation as a long-term reasonably available control measure. However, use of these specifications does not guarantee success. Failure of any revegetation method as a long-term reasonably available control measure requires re-application or other control method approved by the department. The disturbed area shall maintain compliance with 20.11.20 NMAC.

(1) The native seedspecies used and rate of application should be as provided in Subsection F of 20.11.20.24 NMAC.

(a) If the area to be seeded is along a recreational trail of any type, the seed mixes for either type of soil listed in Subsection F of 20.11.20.24 NMAC should not include four-wing saltbush and the seeding rate should be reduced by one pound per acre.

(b) Seeds may be pre-mixed by a seed dealer. Each pre-mixed bag of seed should be sealed and labeled by the seed dealer in accordance with federal seed laws and New Mexico department of agriculture labeling laws. The label should include: variety, kind of seed, lot number, purity, germination, percent crop, percent inert, percent weed (including noxious weeds), origin, test data and net weight. Federal seed laws require that analysis shall be no older than five months for seed shipped interstate and no older than nine months for seed shipped intra-state.

(c) 48 hours before seeding, the owner or operator should give written notice to the department by hand delivery or facsimile, requesting inspection of the sealed seed bags to be used. The department may inspect the sealed seed bags and labels.

(2) Fertilizer and soil amendments: unless otherwise specified in the fugitive dust control permit, no fertilizer or other soil amendments are required on areas to be reseeded.

(3) Mulch: areas to be reseeded should be mulched as described below unless otherwise specified in the permit.

(a) Hay mulch: perennial native or introduced grasses of fine-stemmed varieties should be used unless otherwise specified in the plan. At least 65 percent of the herbage by weight of each bale of hay should be 10 inches in length or longer. Hay with noxious seed or plants should not be used. Rotted, brittle, or moldy hay are not considered acceptable. Marsh grass or prairie hay composed of native grass of species to be seeded is considered acceptable. Tall wheat grass, intermediate wheat grass, switch grass, or orchard hay will be acceptable if cut prior to seed formation. Marsh grass hay should be composed of mid and tall native, usually tough and wiry grass and grass-like plants found in the lowland areas within the Rocky Mountain region. Hay should be properly cured prior to use. Hay that is brittle, short fibered or improperly cured is not considered acceptable. Hay mulch should be crosshatched crimped to minimum depth of two inches.

(b) Straw mulch: small grain plants such as wheat, barley, rye, or oats should not be used. Alfalfa or the stalks of corn, maize or sorghum are not considered acceptable. Material which is brittle, shorter than 10 inches or which breaks or fragments during the crimping operation are not considered acceptable. Straw mulch should be crosshatched crimped to minimum depth of two inches.

(c) Gravel mulch: gravel mulch should be a maximum of three-quarter to one inch in diameter and must have been crushed or screened with a minimum of one angular face. Experience has demonstrated that gravel mulch provides very successful results on steep slopes and other areas that may be difficult to stabilize.

(d) Erosion control mats, fabric or blankets: the type of erosion control mats, fabric or blankets used should be specified in the fugitive dust control permit.

B. Seed bed preparation:

(1) Prior to starting seed bed preparation, the final grades of all earthwork should be inspected and certified by a New Mexico licensed engineer, and a copy of the certification should be delivered to the department:

(a) no soil preparation should be performed when the surface is wet or muddy or when the soil is so moist that the soil is not fully loosened by the discing operation;

(b) if erosion, crusting or re-compaction occurs in an area before seeding, mulching and crimping are successfully completed, the area should be reworked, beginning with seedbed preparation.

(2) Mechanical preparation: the seedbed should be loosened to a minimum depth of six inches by disc or harrow. Areas of heavy or compacted soil may require additional preparation by chiseling or ripping if discing alone does not result in preparation to the full minimum depth of six inches. The soil should be worked to a smooth surface and should be free of clods, stones four inches in diameter and larger, and debris or foreign material that could interfere with seeding or crimping operations.

(3) Hand preparation: areas which cannot be prepared with mechanized equipment because of small size, irregular shape or slope may be prepared to a minimum depth of two inches using hand tools or a rototiller, as specified in the permit.

C. Seeding:

(1) Should not start until the seed bed preparation has been inspected and certified by a New Mexico licensed engineer, a New Mexico licensed landscape architect, or other professional approved by the department (e.g. a department certified erosion control specialist). Notice in writing or by facsimile providing certification pertaining to the seed bed preparation should be given to the department at least 48 hours prior to beginning seeding operations so that the department has an opportunity to inspect the site. No seeding operations should be conducted when steady wind speeds exceed 10 miles per hour.

(2) Seed application:

(a) Drill seeding: drill seeding is highly recommended. Seed should be applied with a "rangeland" type seed drill equipped with packer wheels. Seed should be drilled to a maximum depth of one-half inch. Direction of seeding should be across slopes and on the contour whenever possible.

(b) Broadcast seeding: seed may be applied using the broadcast method when size, irregular shape, or slope exceeding three to one, prevents the use of a seed drill. Seed may be broadcast by hand or by a mechanical seeder provided that the seed is evenly distributed over the seeding area. Areas that are broadcast seeded should be seeded at a rate that is double the rate used for drill seeding. Areas of broadcast seeding should be hand raked to cover seed.

(c) Seeding with gravel mulch: areas to be gravel mulched should be seeded at double the standard seed rate with one-half the seed applied prior to application of gravel and one-half of the seed applied on the surface of the gravel. Water should be applied in a quantity sufficient to wash seed from the surface and into the gravel.

(d) Hydro seeding: hydro seeding with native grass will normally only be successful on areas that will be irrigated.

D. Hay or straw mulching:

(1) All seeded areas should be mulched unless otherwise specified in the fugitive dust control permit. On seeded areas that are level or have slopes that are a ratio of three to one or less, any of the four types of mulching below may be used. On erosion control areas or slopes steeper than a ratio of three to one, only gravel mulch or erosion control materials should be used.

(2) Hay mulch should be applied at a minimum rate of one and one-half tons per acre of air dry hay.

(3) Straw mulch should be applied at a minimum rate of two and one-half tons per acre of air dry straw.

(4) Hay or straw mulch should be crosshatched crimped into the soil to a minimum depth of two inches.

(a) The mulch should be spread uniformly over the area either by hand or with a mechanical mulch spreader.

(b) When spread by hand, the bales of mulch should be torn apart and fluffed before spreading.

(c) Mulching should stop when wind speeds exceed 15 miles per hour.

(d) The mulch should be wetted down and allowed to soften for approximately 15 to 20 minutes prior to crimping.

(e) A heavy disc should be used to crimp or anchor the mulch into the soil to a minimum depth of two inches. A mulch-tiller with flat serrated discs at least one-quarter of an inch in thickness, having dull edges with discs spaced six inches to eight inches apart or similar equipment should be used. The discs should be of sufficient diameter to prevent the frame of the equipment from dragging the mulch.

(f) The crimping operations should be across the slope where practical, but not parallel to prevailing winds. In general, crimping should be in a north-south direction or in tight interlocking "S" curves to avoid straight east-west crimp lines.

(g) If small grain straw mulch is used, the mulch should be crimped in two directions in a cross-hatch pattern.

(5) Gravel mulch: gravel mulch should be laid evenly by hand or by equipment to a thickness of two inches.

(6) Erosion control mats, fabric or blankets: the type of erosion control mats, fabric or blankets used should be as specified in the fugitive dust control permit. Anchoring of the erosion control materials should be consistent with the manufacturer's recommendations.

(7) Upon completion of the reseeding project, the permittee should deliver written notice to the department in a timely manner, certifying completion of seeding project.

E. Protection of native grass seeded area: the person, owner or operator who has elected to use native seeding as a control measure shall be responsible for protecting and caring for the seeded area until plants are fully established. After project completion, the owner or operator shall repair any damage to seeded areas caused by pedestrian or vehicular traffic or vandalism. During periods of low rainfall, supplemental watering may be required to successfully establish the native grass seed. Because the owner is responsible for the fugitive emissions leaving the property, failure of the reseeding project shall not be a defense to enforcement of 20.11.20 NMAC. The owner or operator may find it necessary to reseed or use other reasonably available control measures to bring the property into compliance. The department strongly recommends that any area being seeded or mulched be adequately fenced and posted to prevent trespass traffic.

F. Seed specifications and rates should be used as established by the most recent edition of "city of Albuquerque standard specifications for public works construction - native grass seeding" section as updated by the city or as approved in writing by the department.

G. Variations in seeding due to special environmental conditions: the owner or operator may use a different seeding mixture in order to address special environmental conditions that make it unlikely for success of the reseeding effort. Use of an annual rye (Lolium sp.) or cool season grasses (e.g. barley at 10 pounds per acre) may be added to the seed specification in order to help stabilize soils, especially for disturbed areas comprising 25 acres or more when a significant amount of the publicly-owned land or privately-owned real property is not expected to be built upon within one year.

N.M. Admin. Code § 20.11.20.24

20.11.20.24 NMAC - Rp, 20.11.20.24 NMAC, 3/17/08