The Appalachian Regional The Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative –

R i F Mi d Restoring Forests on MinedLand Land

Patrick N. Angel Ph.D.Patrick N. Angel, Ph.D.Senior Forester/Soil Scientist

USDI, Office of Surface MiningLondon KentuckyLondon, Kentucky

Virginia Tech Powell River Project

Unweathered ShaleUnweathered ShaleWeathered SandstoneUnweathered SandstoneForest Topsoil

15-year response of trees and forages

University of KentuckyStarfire Research ComplexStarfire Research Complex

1 yr 7 yr3 yr

Compacted siteNon-compacted site

West Virginia Universityg yCatenary Coal Samples Mine Research

Methods

University of KentuckyUniversity of KentuckyBent Mountain Research Complex

What do trees want?• Physical properties

At l t 4 f t d• At least 4 feet deep• Non-compacted• Rocks easily weatheredy• A sandy loam texture

• Chemical properties• Low to moderate levels of soluble salts• An equilibrium pH of 5.5 to 6.5

Low pyritic sulfur• Low pyritic sulfur• Fertility

• Adequate levels of N, P, K and other essential nutrientsAdequate levels of N, P, K and other essential nutrients

The Forestry Reclamation yApproach

STEP 1:Create a suitable rooting medium forCreate a suitable rooting medium for good tree growth that is no less than 4 f t d d i d f4 feet deep and comprised of topsoil, weathered sandstone and/or the best available material

The Forestry Reclamation yApproach

STEP 2:Loosely grade the topsoil or topsoil substitute established in step one tosubstitute established in step one to create a non-compacted growth mediummedium

Ohio Kentucky

TennesseeWest VirginiaWest Virginia

The Forestry Reclamation yApproach

STEP 3:Use ground covers that are compatible with growing treeswith growing trees

The Forestry Reclamation yApproach

STEP 4:Plant two types of trees – early successional species for wildlife andsuccessional species for wildlife and soil stability, and commercially valuable crop treesvaluable crop trees

The Forestry Reclamation yApproach

STEP 5:Use proper tree planting techniques

Mined land reforestation productivity potential

83Tree Height (ft)

Site Index 70 ft

Site Index 56 ft66 good site

siteSite Index 45 ft

33

50 average site

poor site

Relative StemV l /

16

33

Age

25

Relative StemValue/acre$ 20x

Relative StemValue/acre$5Value/acre

$ 1x

mine soil quality and quantity0 5 10 15 20 25 300

Base

A

poor good

$ 5x

Age (years)p g

Study conducted by Jim Burger, Virginia Tech

The FRA as EPA’s BMP for HFs and MTRs?

• Carbon sequestration rates of 3 Mg/ha/yr (Maharaj et al., 2007)

for HFs and MTRs?

• Reduced runoff and erosion (Taylor et al., 2009)

• Improved water quality (Angel et al., 2008)

A l t d t l i• Accelerated natural succession (Hall et al., 2009; Angel et al., 2007; Cook, 2007)

• American Chestnut restoration (French et al., 2008)

• Cost savings and economic returns (Michels 2008)Cost savings and economic returns (Michels, 2008)

50000

"Old" C "New" C Biomass 2500

2008 Avg = 290 uS

20000

30000

40000

il C

arbo

n (k

g/ha

)

1000

1500

2000

uS/c

m

Mixed 4Mixed 5Linear (Mixed 4)Linear (Mixed 5)

2008 Avg. = 290 uS

0 2 3 8Stand Age (years)

0

10000So

0

500

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 432005                              2006                             2007

The Appalachian Regional pp gReforestation Initiative

Restoring healthy productive forests on mined land Restoring healthy productive forests on mined land

ARRI is a joint effort between…OSM and the Appalachian coal states

ARRI’s goals:ARRI s goals:•Plant more high-value hardwood trees...

•increase the survival rates and growth rates of planted trees...p

•and expedite the establishment of forest habitat through natural succession

Appalachian Regional Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative

ARRI’s Science TeamOhio UniversityOhio State University

US Forest ServiceUS Geological SurveyOhio State University

Pennsylvania State University Purdue University

US Geological SurveyTACF OSMPurdue University

Southern Illinois UniversityUniversity of Kentucky

OSM

University of MarylandUniversity of TennesseeVirginia Polytechnic InstituteWest Virginia UniversityWest Virginia State UniversityWest Virginia State University

ARRI’s Science Team

Since 2004…about 70 million trees have been planted

on about 103,000 acres

ARRI’s work on legacy mines…

177 500 trees177,500 treesover 2,500 volunteers

250 acres22 sites in 6 states22 sites in 6 states

MISSION T iMISSION: To restore ecosystem services on disturbed lands through reforestation to 

h h li f lif f A i i ienhance the quality of life for American citizens.

green forests workgreen forests work…..

….to mitigate climate change,

….to improve water quality, 

….to restore habitat,

….to create economic opportunities.

green forests work….for Appalachiagreen forests work….for Appalachiag ppg pp(≈1 million acres of reclaimed grass/shrub lands in Appalachia)

•CCC modeled program to stimulate economy, create jobs and improve the environment

•Plant millions of trees on several hundred thousand  acres of barren mine landmine land

•Create much needed jobs in Appalachia

planting for the futurep g f f

…one tree at a time

coming soon: www.greenforestswork.org

http://arri.osmre.gov