Reports, Powell River Project

A Study to Determine the Preference of Nesting Box Entrance Hole Size of Sialia sialis (Eastern Bluebird): Year 2

Burkart, C. A.; Russo, A.; Aldridge, A.; Aldridge, N.; Collins, D.; Fitzgerald, N.; Franklin, J.; Fraley, B.; Greer, A.; Hall, L., IV; Johnson, T.; Kilgore, R.; Lawson, J. D.; Lindsey, M.; McKnight, G.; Skeens, M.; Slemp, S.; Townsend, R.; Woods, N. (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2011)

For a second breeding season, nesting box preference was tested between boxes with large entrance holes and boxes with the traditional entrance hole diameter. As in the previous season, birds (Eastern Bluebirds, chickadees ...

Long-Term Mine Soil Weathering and TDS Release

Orndorff, Zenah W.; Daniels, W. Lee; Beck, Mike; Eick, Matthew J.; Zipper, Carl E. (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2011)

The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) of 1977 contained a number of contentious provisions including return to original contour (AOC), long-term liability bonding periods, and return to “equal or better” ...

Selected Carbon Dynamics as Functional Indicators of Restoration Success: Progress From the First Two Years

Krenz, Robert J.; Schoenholtz, Stephen H.; Zipper, Carl E. (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2011)

Wildlife Response to Surface Mine Reclamation in Southwest Virginia

Latimer, Chris E.; Stauffer, Dean F. (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2011)

Tree Stock and Fertilizer Effects on Black Locust Biomass Production on Mined Lands

Evans, Daniel M.; Zipper, Carl E.; Burger, James A. (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2011)

Reclaimed Mined Land for Forests and Forestry

Burger, James A.; Strahm, Brian D.; Evans, Daniel M.; Zipper, Carl E. (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2011)

This report lists products of research and education activities concerning reforestation of mined lands conducted during the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

Tree Species, Density, and Fertilizer Effects on Woody Biomass Production on Mined Lands: Year Three Report

Evans, Daniel M.; Zipper, Carl E.; Burger, James A.; Fields-Johnson, Chris (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2011)

Under-utilized, previously mined lands may be used to produce woody biomass materials for energy production and C sequestration. Past research trials have shown that tree growth on mined lands can be highly productive if ...

Restoring Ecological Function to Reforested Mined Lands: Connecting Soils with Forest Productivity and Ecosystem Service

Strahm, Brian D.; Craig, Nina G. (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2011)

This project contributes to the legacy of reforestation research at the Powell River Project and provides benefit to the larger Appalachian Coal Region. Dr. Brian Strahm has recently (2009) joined the faculty of the ...

Total Dissolved Solids in Appalachian Coalfield Streams: Current Research Approaches

Zipper, Carl E.; Schoenholtz, Stephen H.; Soucek, David; Timpano, Anthony J.; Boehme, Beth (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2011)

Issues concerning total dissolved solids (TDS) in streams affected by mining operations are important to the coal industry. In this article, we present background concerning TDS as a water quality concern, and we describe ...

Levels of Dissolved Solids Associated with Aquatic Life Effects in Headwater Streams of Virginia Central Appalachian Coalfield Region

Timpano, Anthony J.; Schoenholtz, Stephen H.; Zipper, Carl E.; Soucek, David (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2011)

Benthic macroinvertebrate communities in headwater streams influenced by Appalachian coal mining often differ from communities in minimally disturbed streams. Elevated levels of total dissolved solids (TDS) associated with ...

Forest Composition and Growth After 9 Years on a Virginia Mine Site

Zipper, Carl E.; Burger, James A.; Evans, Daniel M.; Donovan, P. (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2011)

The eastern USA’s Appalachian region contains abundant coal resources and supports extensive deciduous forests. Appalachia’s forests provide ecosystem services, including carbon storage, watershed and water quality protection, ...

Organic Matter Dynamics as Functional Indicators of Stream Condition in Constructed Streams on Virginia Coal Mine Sites

Krenz, R. J.; Schoenholtz, Stephen H. (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2012)

The Clean Water Act [section 404; stream mitigation rule] mandates that operations permitted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) must mitigate streams impacted by valley fill and other mining activities (Register ...

Economic Viability of Woody Bioenergy Crops as a Potential Mine Reclamation Procedure

Leveroos, Maura; Sullivan, Jay; Evans, Daniel M. (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2012)

Planting woody biomass for energy production can be used as a mine reclamation procedure to satisfy the SMCRA and provide renewable energy for the United States. This study examines the productivity of woody biomass on ...

A Study to Determine the Preference for Nesting Box Design of Sialia sialis (Eastern Bluebird): Comparison of the Traditional Nesting Box and the Peterson Box

Burkart, C. A.; Russo, A.; Baker, W.; Belcher, M. H.; Brown, B.; Collins, J.; Crouse, N.; Dickenson, A.; Dotson, H.; Evans, T.; Funk, B.; Goforth, A.; Hall, L.; Helbert, S.; Hobbs, L.; Ingle, K.; Jessee, S.; McDaries, J.; Mullins, B.; Odle, C.; Orndorff, E.; Page, C.; Pillkenton, K.; Price, T.; Smith, S. (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2012)

For the 2012 nesting season along the trail at the Powell River Education Center, nesting preferences were studied comparing the traditional box design and the Peterson box. Peterson boxes differ from the traditional boxes ...

Cows as a Biological Monitors of Surface Coal Mining Contamination of Biological Systems by Micro and Macro Element Toxins

Whittier, W. D. (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 ...

Restoring Ecological Function to Reforested Mined Lands: Connecting Soils with Forest Productivity and Ecosystem Services

Strahm, Brian D.; Craig, Nina G. (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2012)

This project contributes to the legacy of reforestation research at the Powell River Project and provides benefit to the larger Appalachian Coal Region. Dr. Brian Strahm has recently (2009) joined the faculty of the ...

Temporal Dynamics of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities and Their Response to Elevated TDS in Appalachian Coalfield Streams

Boehme, Elizabeth A.; Schoenholtz, Stephen H.; Soucek, David J.; Timpano, Anthony J. (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2012)

Maintaining integrity of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in Appalachian coalfield headwater streams is a key concern. Total dissolved solids (TDS) are ubiquitous as dissolved constituents in surface waters and often ...