Browsing by Author "Skousen, Jeffrey G."

Now showing 1 - 15 of 15
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    Establishing Groundcover for Forested Postmining Land Uses
    Burger, James A.; Zipper, Carl E.; Skousen, Jeffrey G. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2010-02-19)
    Revegetating mined lands with grasses and legumes (groundcover) is essential to mine reclamation under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA). This publication describes how mining firms can establish groundcover while reclaiming land to forested, postmining land uses.
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    Establishing Groundcover for Forested Postmining Land Uses
    Burger, James A.; Skousen, Jeffrey G.; Zipper, Carl E. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2018-03-15)
    Discusses ways to establish ground cover plants in coal mined lands planned as forests.
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    Establishing Native Trees on Legacy Surface Mines
    Burger, James A.; Zipper, Carl E.; Angel, Patrick N.; Hall, Nathan; Skousen, Jeffrey G.; Barton, Christopher D.; Eggerud, Scott (Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative, 2013-11)
    More than one million acres have been surface mined for coal in Appalachia. Today, much of this land is unmanaged, unproductive, and covered with non-native plants. Establishing productive forests on such lands will aid restoration of ecosystem services provided by forests – services such as watershed protection, water quality enhancement, carbon storage and native wildlife habitat -- and will enable mined lands to produce valued products such as commercial timber. This Advisory describes practices for establishing native forest trees on lands that were surface mined for coal and reclaimed to meet legal standards, and where the mine operator no longer has any legal responsibilities (“legacy surface mines,” Photo 1). These lands often differ from their pre-mining condition with respect to topography, soils, water resource influences, and vegetation.
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    Loosening Compacted Soils on Mined Sites 
    Sweigard, Richard; Burger, James A.; Graves, Don; Zipper, Carl E.; Barton, Christopher D.; Skousen, Jeffrey G.; Angel, Patrick N. (Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative, 2007-07)
    Because successful surface-coal mining businesses must move earth materials efficiently, mining operations today use large and heavy equipment. Track dozers and haul trucks used for mining can weigh in excess of 100 tons each, while wheel loaders and loaded haul trucks often exceed 200 tons. It is becoming well known within the mining industry that successful reforestation of reclaimed sites requires loose and uncompacted surface materials, but some areas become compacted due to machinery operation, traffic, and storage that is necessary for the mining business to be successful. Trees require deep, loose mine soils to survive and grow into healthy, productive forests. Such forests can support viable forest-products’ businesses, protect the watershed, store carbon, and serve as wildlife habitat. This advisory describes procedures that can be used to loosen soils that have become compacted by mining equipment in order to restore land capability for forests.
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    Low Compaction Grading to Enhance Reforestation Success on Coal Surface Mines
    Sweigard, Richard; Burger, James A.; Zipper, Carl E.; Skousen, Jeffrey G.; Barton, Christopher D.; Angel, Patrick N. (Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative, 2007-07)
    This advisory describes final-grading techniques for reclaiming coal-surface mines to forest postmining land uses. Final grading that leaves a loose soil and a rough surface increases survival of planted seedlings and forest productivity. Such practices are often less costly than traditional "smooth grading" while meeting Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) requirements.
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    Mine Reclamation Practices to Enhance Forest Development Through Natural Succession
    Groninger, John; Skousen, Jeffrey G.; Angel, Patrick N.; Barton, Christopher D.; Burger, James A.; Graves, Don; Zipper, Carl E. (Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative, 2007-07)
    Succession is a term used to describe natural changes in plant community composition over time. In the forested Appalachian region, disturbances from storms, fire, logging, or mining can disrupt or destroy established forests. Natural processes that lead to restoration of the forest vegetation after such a disturbance usually begin quickly and result in development of another forest. On former mine sites, the quality of that forest and the speed with which it develops depend upon the conditions created by the mining and reclamation process. Conventional surface mine reclamation as practiced from the late 1970’s to the present commonly featured smooth grading of topsoil or topsoil substitute material followed by establishment of grasses and legumes that grow rapidly to form a thick groundcover. These compacted mine soils and competitive grasses hinder tree establishment and growth and delay the process of succession to forest cover. In contrast, reclamation practices known as the Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA) are intended to encourage succession in a manner that helps the mine operator satisfy regulatory requirements cost effectively and achieve prompt bond release (See Box 1). This advisory describes the ways in which reclamation methods can encourage rapid succession and accelerate development of high quality postmining forests.
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    Passive Treatment of Acid-Mine Drainage
    Zipper, Carl E.; Skousen, Jeffrey G.; Jage, Christopher Raymond (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2018-03-16)
    Discusses wetlands and other methods for passive treatment of acid mine drainage.
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    Passive Treatment of Acid-Mine Drainage
    Zipper, Carl E.; Skousen, Jeffrey G.; Jage, Christopher Raymond (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2011-03-30)
    This publication presents guidance for design of passive treatment systems for acidic mine drainage (AMD).
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    Re-establishing American Chestnut on Mined Lands in the Appalachian Coalfields
    French, Michael; Barton, Christopher D.; McCarthy, Brian; Keiffer, Carolyn; Skousen, Jeffrey G.; Zipper, Carl E.; Angel, Patrick N. (Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative, 2015-06)
    American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was formerly a major component of forests throughout the Appalachian coalfield and beyond. Chestnut’s strong, lightweight wood was naturally rot-resistant, making it a preferred timber tree for many purposes. Unlike many other nut-producing trees that flower early in the year, American chestnuts flower in June and July, so they were less susceptible to a late freeze or frost that could damage the flowers. Due in part to its late flowering, American chestnuts produced a reliable and abundant nut crop that was an important source of nutrition for wildlife, livestock, and humans. However, American chestnut has suffered severe decline throughout the USA; today, few living and mature American chestnut trees remain. This Forest Reclamation Advisory describes efforts to develop new American chestnut varieties, and reclamation and planting techniques for chestnut on mined lands.
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    Reclamation Guidelines for Surface-Mined Land: Revegetation Species and Practices
    Skousen, Jeffrey G.; Zipper, Carl E. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2010)
    This publication summarizes procedures for establishing herbaceous vegetation (grasses and legumes) on mined areas.
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    Revegetation Species and Practices
    Skousen, Jeffrey G.; Zipper, Carl E. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2018-03-26)
    Summarizes procedures for establishing herbaceous vegetation on mined lands. Emphasizes revegetation to control erosion and to establish hayland/pasture as a postmining land use.
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    Revegetation Species and Practices
    Skousen, Jeffrey G.; Zipper, Carl E. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2010-07-28)
    This publication summarizes procedures for establishing herbaceous vegetation (grasses and legumes) on mined areas. The emphasis is revegetation to control erosion and establish hayland/pasture as a postmining land use.
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    Review of Passive Systems for Acid Mine Drainage Treatment
    Skousen, Jeffrey G.; Zipper, Carl E.; Rose, Arthur; Ziemkiewicz, Paul F.; Nairn, Robert; McDonald, Louis M.; Kleinmann, Robert L. (2017-03)
    When appropriately designed and maintained, passive systems can provide long-term, efficient, and effective treatment for many acid mine drainage (AMD) sources. Passive AMD treatment relies on natural processes to neutralize acidity and to oxidize or reduce and precipitate metal contaminants. Passive treatment is most suitable for small to moderate AMD discharges of appropriate chemistry, but periodic inspection and maintenance plus eventual renovation are generally required. Passive treatment technologies can be separated into biological and geochemical types. Biological passive treatment technologies generally rely on bacterial activity, and may use organic matter to stimulate microbial sulfate reduction and to adsorb contaminants; constructed wetlands, vertical flow wetlands, and bioreactors are all examples. Geochemical systems place alkalinity-generating materials such as limestone in contact with AMD (direct treatment) or with fresh water up-gradient of the AMD. Most passive treatment systems employ multiple methods, often in series, to promote acid neutralization and oxidation and precipitation of the resulting metal flocs. Before selecting an appropriate treatment technology, the AMD conditions and chemistry must be characterized. Flow, acidity and alkalinity, metal, and dissolved oxygen concentrations are critical parameters. This paper reviews the current state of passive system technology development, provides results for various system types, and provides guidance for sizing and effective operation.
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    Selecting Materials for Mine Soil Construction When Establishing Forests On Appalachian Mine Sites
    Skousen, Jeffrey G.; Zipper, Carl E.; Burger, James A.; Barton, Christopher D.; Angel, Patrick N. (Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative, 2011-07)
    The Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA) is a method for reclaiming coal-mined land to forest (FRA Advisory #2, Burger and others 2005). The FRA is based on research, knowledge, and experience of forest soil scientists and reclamation practitioners. Forest Reclamation Advisories are guidance documents that describe state-of-the-science procedures for mined land reforestation (see http://arri.osmre.gov/FRA/FRA.shtm). The FRA’s first step is: “create a suitable rooting medium for good tree growth that is no less than 4 feet deep and comprised of topsoil, weathered sandstone and/or the best available material.” This Advisory provides guidance on how to execute step 1 of the FRA. Selection and placement of suitable growth media are critical for successful reforestation on surface mines. Constructing mine soils using suitable materials enhances and accelerates development of diverse forest ecosystems. This Advisory is intended for mining operators seeking to re-establish native forest as a postmining land use with pre-mining capability on coal surface mines.
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    Tree-Compatible Groundcovers for Reforestation and Erosion Control
    Burger, James A.; Davis, Vic; Franklin, Jennifer; Zipper, Carl E.; Skousen, Jeffrey G.; Barton, Christopher D.; Angel, Patrick N. (Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative, 2009-07)
    Productive native forests create economic value for landowners, produce raw materials for wood-based products, and provide benefits such as watershed control, water quality protection, carbon storage, wildlife habitat, and native plant diversity. Owners of lands mined for coal in Appalachia are increasingly interested in assuring that productive forests are restored after mining. Sediment control is essential to coal mine reclamation under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA). Here, we describe how mining firms can achieve good tree survival and restore forest productivity by using tree-compatible ground covers, when necessary, to control erosion and meet ground cover standards.