ET landfill covers support vigorous grass cover similar to this site in a sub humid climate. The soil in the photo is an undisturbed natural soil profile showing layers of differing properties that is common to most soil. During ET cover construction, the soil layers should be thoroughly mixed, thus improving the properties of the soil placed in the cover. The modified ET cover soil and its grass cover will effectively control infiltrating precipitation. [The photograph is on the USDA, Agricultural Research Service web site http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/graphics/photos/index.html]

ET landfill covers in arid and semiarid sites should provide grass cover equal to or better than the cover shown in this photo of a rangeland site in New Mexico. Grazing is not recommended for ET landfill covers because it is likely to reduce water use by the cover. [The photograph is on the USDA, Agricultural Research Service web site http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/graphics/photos/index.html]