Powell River Project

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2008 Powell River Project Research and Education Program Reports
(Powell River Project Research and Education Center, 2008)
2009 Powell River Project Research and Education Program Reports
(Powell River Project Research and Education Center, 2009)
2010 Powell River Project Research and Education Program Reports
(Powell River Project Research and Education Center, 2010)
The Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative
Angel, Patrick N.; Davis, Vic; Burger, James A.; Graves, Don; Zipper, Carl E. (Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative, 2007-07-18)
The Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) is a cooperative effort by the States of the Appalachian Region with the Office of Surface Mining to encourage restoration of high quality forests on reclaimed coal mines in the eastern USA. ARRI's goals are to communicate and encourage mine reforestation practices that 1) plant more high-value hardwood trees on reclaimed coal mined lands in Appalachia; 2) increase the survival rates and growth rates of planted trees; and 3) expedite the establishment of forest habitat through natural succession. These goals can be achieved when mines are reclaimed using the Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA).
Assessing Flow-driven Effects on Local and Downstream Water Quality in Central Appalachian Headwater Streams Influenced by Surface Coal Mining
Schoenholtz, Stephen H.; McLaughlin, Daniel L.; Entrekin, Sally A.; Hotchkiss, Erin R.; Timpano, Anthony J.; Cianciolo, Thomas R.; Word, Clayton S. (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2020-10)
Benthic Macroinvertebrate Community Temporal Dynamics and Their Response to Elevated Specific Conductance in Appalachian Coalfield Headwater Streams
Boehme, Elizabeth A.; Schoenholtz, Stephen H.; Zipper, Carl E.; Soucek, David J.; Timpano, Anthony J. (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2013)
Protecting integrity of benthic macroinvertebrate communities, which are used to assess stream condition in Appalachian coalfield headwater streams, is essential. Previous studies have suggested elevated total dissolved solids (TDS) and closely related specific conductance (SC) in streamwater have negative effects on sensitive benthic macroinvertebrates (Timpano 2011, Bernhardt et al. 2012, Cormier et al. 2013a, Cormier et al. 2013b), although effects varied based on selected metric, chosen effect level, and in some cases, potential influence of confounding water-quality- or physical-habitat conditions. Most importantly, previous studies have relied on point-in-time measurements of SC, which may not be representative of exposure levels in the days, weeks, or months prior to sampling of benthic macroinvertebrates.
Calm Temperament Improves Reproductive Performances of Beef Cows
Whittier, William Dee; Kasimanickam, Ramanathan K.; Assay, M.; Schroeder, S.; Kasimanickam, Vanmathy R.; Gay, John M.; Hall, John B. (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2015)
Profitability of a beef operation is determined by breeding season pregnancy rates and proportion of cows attaining pregnancy early in the breeding season. Many factors including temperament contribute to these reproductive parameters. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of temperament on reproductive performances of beef cows. In experiment 1, Angus and Angus cross beef cows (n=1546) from 8 locations received body condition score (BCS; 1-emaciated; 9-obese) and chute-exit and gait score (1 = slow exit, walk; calm temperament; 2 = jump, trot or run; excitable temperament). Cows were grouped with bulls (1:25 to 1:30; with satisfactory breeding potential and free of venereal disease) during the entire 85 day breeding season. Pregnancy status and gestation length of cows was determined by per-rectal palpation at 35 days after the end of the breeding season. Controlling for BCS (P<0.01) and handling facility (P<0.0001) and handling facility by temperament score interaction (P<0.001) the breeding season pregnancy rate was different between excited and calm cows [88.6% (798/901) vs. 94.1% (607/645); P<0.001]. Cows with excitable temperament took 24 more days to become pregnant in the 85 day breeding season compared to calm cows (median days to pregnancy: 35 vs. 59 days; P<0.0001). In experiment 2, Angus and Angus cross beef cows (n=1407) from 8 locations received body condition score (BCS; 1-emaciated; 9-obese) and chute-exit and gait score (1 = slow exit, walk; calm temperament; 2 = jump, trot or run; excitable temperament). All cows were grouped with bulls (1:25 to 1:30; with satisfactory breeding potential and free of venereal disease) during the entire 85 day breeding season. Pregnancy status was determined by per-rectal palpation at 2 and 6 months from the beginning of the breeding season to determine the pregnancy loss. Controlling for BCS (P<0.05), the pregnancy loss was different between excited and calm cows, 5.5 (36/651) vs 3.2 (20/623), respectively (P<0.05) In conclusion, beef cows with excitable temperament had lower reproductive performance than calmer cows. The modified 2-point chute exit-gait scoring method is repeatable and can be used to identify cattle with excitable temperament.
Characterizing Microbial Community Development in Reclaimed Mine Soils
Badgley, Brian D.; Sun, Shan (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2014)
A significant amount of the research to date at the Powell River Project (PRP) has been focused on reforestation, with the assumption that tree growth will ultimately lead to the re-establishment of a fully functioning forest ecosystem. Soil microorganisms are a critical component of this system because they mediate many of the ecosystem services for which forests are valued including carbon sequestration, soil formation, nutrient retention, watershed protection, and groundwater purification. We are characterizing the response of soil microbial communities to land reclamation approaches in the PRP to provide critical information about the restoration of the microbial component of the forest ecosystem. The objectives of this project are threefold: 1) characterize the recovery of soil microorganisms over time; 2) determine if alternate reclamation practices affect microbial diversity and community structure; and 3) compare restored microbial communities to un-mined forest soils to identify potential indicators that ‘healthy’ microbial communities are returning to reclaimed soils. We have identified a variety of reclamation plots within the PRP that represent a range of ages between 5 and 30 years to look at the effects of time. We have also sampled two other sets of to determine effects of reclamation practices: one where soils were amended with biosolids and another that was planted with pines as opposed to the standard hardwood mix. We are using genomic sequencing to fully characterize bacterial and fungal organisms present in soil samples from each plot to determine microbial diversity and community structure. Preliminary results suggest that bacterial communities recover quickly, becoming indistinguishable from communities in undisturbed soils within 10 to 30 years. In addition, certain taxa such as Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, and Gemmatimonadetes appear to respond to age since reforestation and may contain taxa that can be used to gauge restoration progress.
Characterizing TDS Risk in Appalachian Landscapes: Techniques to Identify Mine Spoil TDS Generation Potentials
Johnson, Daniel K.; Daniels, W. Lee (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2016)
Surface mining for coal in the Central Appalachians contributes total dissolved solids (TDS) to headwater streams, especially below larger mines and associated valley fills. The objective of this study was to characterize the geochemical properties of a range of surface soils and associated geologic strata from the Central Appalachian coalfields and to relate those properties to simple field indicators, such as color or rock type. We hypothesized that these indicators can accurately predict certain geochemical properties. Thirty‐three vertical weathering sequences were sampled from eight surface mines throughout the Central Appalachian coalfields, for a total of 204 individual samples. No differences were found among sites in overall saturated paste specific conductance (SC; used as a proxy for TDS) levels, but significant geochemical differences existed among samples. Sulfate release dominated SC levels, followed closely by Ca and Mg. Surficial soils and sandstones were yellowish‐brown in color and low in SC, compared to the underlying grayish to black sandstones, shales, and mudstones. Saturated paste extractable As and P levels were higher in A horizons, whereas Se was significantly higher in unweathered bedrock than in soil or weathered bedrock. Samples generating exothermic reactions with 30% H2O2 produced higher SC levels, sulfate, Mg, and Se. In the field, weathered surface materials were frequently abruptly separated from underlying non‐weathered strata by thin shale layers or coal seams. In conclusion, the mine spoils studied varied widely in geochemical properties. The simple field indicators presented here, such as color, weathering status, rock type, and H2O2 reaction can provide valuable guidance for identifying TDS risk which would greatly improve operator’s ability to actively minimize TDS release. We recommend using soil and weathered, yellowish‐brown sandstone layers as a source of low TDS spoil material whenever possible. Underlying unweathered bedrock layers should be treated as "potentially high TDS spoils". The H2O2 field test is useful for identification of both TDS and Se risk in these layers. Particularly high risk spoils include gray to black mudstones and shales, coals, and coal associated shales, mudstones, and clays directly associated with coal seams. We recommend hydrologically isolating these spoils using techniques similar to those used historically for acid‐forming materials.
Choosing Plant Species for Reclamation to Better Resist Invasion from Exotic, Invasive Plants
Barney, Jacob; Franke, Morgan (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2017)
Post‐mining landscapes are currently reclaimed using the Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA) developed at Virginia Tech that seeks to achieve high hardwood tree canopy cover following establishment of “tree‐compatible groundcover”. FRA has been successful in advancing development of ecosystem structure (e.g., ground cover, species diversity, stem density). However, as Dr. Burger and colleagues pointed out in 2010, FRA results in more bare ground, which “allows more invasion by plant species from nearby areas.” They point out this is often from adjacent native species from natural dispersal or by animals. However, the gaps left by FRA leave much of the ground open to invasion by exotic plants as well, that may have negative impacts to desirable vegetation and ecosystem function. Exotic invasive plants are known to have negative impacts to ecosystem structure and function in a wide range of systems. However, the effect of these exotic plants can be especially problematic on reclaimed mine sites due to the harsh growing environment.
Chronic Toxicity of Trace-Metal Mixtures to Juvenile Freshwater Mussels
Timpano, Anthony J.; Jones, Jess W. (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2019)
Funding from Powell River Project in FY2019 provided partial support for completion of data analysis and communication of findings from a prior ecotoxicological study funded by The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Our communications included oral presentations at two scientific meetings, three webinar presentations to federal agency staff, preparation of a final technical report, and preparation of a manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Completed analyses of study results and sharing of findings should aid efforts to conserve and restore mussel populations in the Clinch and Powell rivers, thus advancing the environmental science mission of the Powell River Project to enhance management and restoration of environmental resources affected by mining in the Appalachian coalfield. This Annual Report contains a summary of research findings from the study supported by TNC, followed by a summary of activities described above that were supported directly by Powell River Project.
Coal-resource Contracting Terms for Productive Postmining Forests
Bratsch, Tony (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2010-02-26)
Many coal resource owners also own the overlying land surface; such owners negotiate contracts with mining firms as a way to generate revenue. Here, we suggest contracting terms that can be offered when the resource owner desires a productive forest on the land surface that can serve as an economic asset after mining.
Constructing Mine Spoil Fills to Reduce TDS in Discharged Waters
Buckwalter, Joseph D.; Zipper, Carl E.; Clark, Elyse V.; Daniels, W. Lee (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2016)
Control of Autumn Olive on Reclaimed and Pasture Land in Southwest Virginia
Hipkins, P. Lloyd (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2013)
Conversion of Sericea Lespedeza-dominant Vegetation to Quality Forages for Livestock Use
Wolf, Dale D.; Fike, John H.; Zipper, Carl E. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2010-09-01)
The purpose of this publication is to describe recommended strategies for converting the sericea-dominant vegetation typically found on older surface-mined benches to more favorable forages that can be more effectively utilized by livestock.
Conversion of Sericea Lespedeza-Dominant Vegetation to Quality Forages for Livestock Use
Wolf, Dale D.; Fike, John H.; Zipper, Carl E. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2018-03-15)
Discusses sericea lespedeza as a reclamation species for strip mines. Also discusses a two-year program for suppression of this species and the introduction of an improved pasture species mix.
Cows as a Biological Monitors of Surface Coal Mining Contamination of Biological Systems by Micro and Macro Element Toxins
Whittier, William Dee (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2012)
The focus of this project is to demonstrate efficient and profitable production of beef cattle on surface mined land in southwestern Virginia. A herd of forty-five beef cows and ten replacement heifers owned by Penn Virginia Coal are being maintained at the Powell River Project demonstration site in Wise County. The owners have provided pasture; day to day care and management, supplemental feed as needed, and labor to care for the cattle. Virginia Tech, through the co-investigators, has provided advice and assistance with breeding and health management, marketing, maintenance of pasture productivity, record keeping, selection of sires as needed and strategies for obtaining replacements over time. The overriding goal is sustainable beef cattle production with minimum inputs so that costs can be kept low enough to generate profit. The phase of the project here reported deals with an investigation into the healthiness and healthfulness of cattle raised near a mining site on reclaimed strip-mined pastures.
Creation and Management of Productive Minesoils
Daniels, W. Lee; Zipper, Carl E. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2010-08-27)
Existing minesoils tend to be quite variable in the field, but they can be managed effectively once their chemical and physical properties have been correctly determined. Soil testing procedures are useful for comparing overburden materials for use as minesoils, but they cannot be interpreted with the same degree of accuracy as natural soils.
Creation and Management of Productive Minesoils
Daniels, W. Lee; Zipper, Carl E. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2018-03-15)
Discusses the creation and improvement of soils on coal mined lands in southwestern Virginia.
Developing Field and Lab Predictors of Appalachian Surface Coal Mine Spoil Leachate Geochemistry
Johnson, Daniel K.; Daniels, W. Lee; Orndorff, Zenah W.; Ross, L. Clay; Klopf, Sara K. (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2015)

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