Mine Spoil Land

Mechanism

Mine spoil sites can be reclaimed to productive mature forests when the following practices are used to accelerate natural succession: 1) Create a suitable rooting medium for good tree growth comprised of topsoil, weathered sandstone, and/or the best available material; 2) Loosely grade the topsoil or topsoil substitute to create a non-compacted growth medium; 3) Use ground covers that are compatible with growing trees; 4) plant two types of trees – early successional species for wildlife and soil stability, and commercially valuable crop trees; 5) Use proper tree planting techniques (Groninger et. al. 2007). Depending on the existing seed bank and the proximity of a mature forest from which to recruit seeds, ruderal forests may regain a mixed forest stand. Nevertheless, sites subjected to mining will have significant soil disturbance which may include compaction, erosion, loss of native soil structure, loss of soil organic matter, disruption of soil microorganisms, all which affect the soil’s nutrient availability and water holding capacity. These characteristics favor recolonization by plant species that have wind dispersed seeds (verses those that propagate through underground roots called rhizomes, or which have heavy seeds that stay near the parent tree), are shade intolerant, have rapid to moderate growth rates, and drought tolerance. These communities are distinctly different from the reference forest state (Dyer, 2010).

The following conservation practices from the Natural Resources Conservation Service Field Office Technical Guide can be used for restoration efforts (FOTG-USDA): Brush Management-314; Critical Area Planting-342; Early Successional Habitat Development-647; Fence-382; Forest Stand Improvement-666; Herbaceous Weed Control-315; Tree/Shrub site Preparation-490; Upland Wildlife habitat management-645; Prescribed burning-338

Relevant conservation practices

Mechanism

Mine spoil sites can be reclaimed to productive mature forests when the following practices are used to accelerate natural succession: 1) Create a suitable rooting medium for good tree growth comprised of topsoil, weathered sandstone, and/or the best available material; 2) Loosely grade the topsoil or topsoil substitute to create a non-compacted growth medium; 3) Use ground covers that are compatible with growing trees; 4) plant two types of trees – early successional species for wildlife and soil stability, and commercially valuable crop trees; 5) Use proper tree planting techniques (Groninger et. al. 2007). Depending on the existing seed bank and the proximity of a mature forest from which to recruit seeds, ruderal forests may regain a mixed forest stand. Nevertheless, sites subjected to mining will have significant soil disturbance which may include compaction, erosion, loss of native soil structure, loss of soil organic matter, disruption of soil microorganisms, all which affect the soil’s nutrient availability and water holding capacity. These characteristics favor recolonization by plant species that have wind dispersed seeds (verses those that propagate through underground roots called rhizomes, or which have heavy seeds that stay near the parent tree), are shade intolerant, have rapid to moderate growth rates, and drought tolerance. These communities are distinctly different from the reference forest state (Dyer, 2010).

The following conservation practices from the Natural Resources Conservation Service Field Office Technical Guide can be used for restoration efforts (FOTG-USDA): Brush Management-314; Critical Area Planting-342; Early Successional Habitat Development-647; Fence-382; Forest Stand Improvement-666; Herbaceous Weed Control-315; Tree/Shrub site Preparation-490; Upland Wildlife habitat management-645; Prescribed burning-338

Relevant conservation practices