Rangeland Ecology & Management

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PROMISING RESULTS RESTORING GRASSLAND DISTURBANCES FROM ENERGY DEVELOPMENT
Author
Anne Naeth, M.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2015
Body

Grassland ecosystems around the world provide many important environmental services. They can support a diversity of plants and wildlife including rare species, reduce soil erosion, increase water infiltration, enhance groundwater recharge, and produce high quality forage for livestock. Agricultural, residential and energy industry developments threaten and continually decrease the area and health of grassland ecosystems. Pipelines and well sites and their associated roads and facilities have a number of impacts, including admixing of soil horizons, soil compaction, contamination of soils by hydrocarbons and salts, alteration of soil thermal regime, loss of vegetation cover and invasion by non native plant species. Although many energy developments are relatively small, they can contribute substantially to habitat fragmentation due to their sheer number and the network of roads that they require. In some North American jurisdictions, the energy industry is required to reclaim disturbances to equivalent land capability. Research, over 30 years, demonstrates that successful reclamation is possible and must begin prior to construction. Careful consideration must be given to development siting, construction techniques including soil handling and storage and methods to minimize soil compaction by vehicles and equipment. Selection of appropriate plant species and revegetation methods based on site conditions leads to establishment of a diversity and abundance of native species facilitating restoration of grassland environmental services. Microsites and organic amendments aid in establishment of native species and conservation of soil water, nutrients and temperature regimes. This presentation will address key research results, how they can be applied to future energy developments and identify areas where further research is required.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM Sacramento, CA