|
ABSTRACT |
|
|
TITLE: |
Right-of-Way Disturbances and Revegetation
in Alpine Tundra: An Evaluation of Natural Revegetation on |
|
AUTHOR(S): |
Laura A. Van Ham - lvanham@neb-one.gc.ca Richard D. Revel - revel@ucalgary.ca |
|
Reclamation of abandoned rights-of-way at
alpine and subalpine elevations as well as in arctic locations has long been
a formidable task for industry. As a means to further explore reclamation
options for high elevation and northern locations, the authors undertook an
alpine revegetation research project on the summit of the Plateau Mountain
Ecological Reserve (elevation 234-2500 m asl), located near the south
end of Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada (50º13’N, 114º31’W). Plateau
Mountain is one of a limited number of Southern Rocky Mountain permafrost
sites, and as such, exhibits characteristics of alpine and arctic tundra
soil, vegetation and climate. Plateau Mountain was developed for sour gas
production in the early 1950s and several rights-of-way and well sites have
since been abandoned but not formally reclaimed. This site provided an
excellent opportunity to study natural revegetation processes operating in an
alpine/arctic tundra environment. Two linear right-of-way (road, pipeline)
and one point (well site/surface clearing) disturbance types were studied and
four levels of disturbance recognized: undisturbed,
near disturbance, severe, and less
severe. Natural revegetation of disturbed sites was analyzed via an
adapted transect and point frame sample plot vegetation inventory that
included both disturbed and adjacent undisturbed terrain. Measured
reclamation parameters (e.g.,
species presence, frequency of occurrence, species richness, and similarity
to undisturbed vegetation (Iss) are
indicative of successful natural revegetation of disturbed sites. Portions of
the field results are presented, including the species list and species
presence in the four distinguishable terrain types (undisturbed, near disturbance, severe disturbance, less severe
disturbance). Based on these and an extensive literature review of alpine
and arctic tundra disturbances, considerations for reclamation of high
evaluation and arctic disturbances focusing on enhancement of natural
revegetation processes are discussed. Keywords: Natural revegetation, disturbance, reclamation, petroleum
industry, right-of-way, alpine |
|
