Reports, Powell River Project
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Recent Submissions
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Long-Term Mine Soil Weathering and TDS Release
(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” ... -
A Study to Determine the Preference of Nesting Box Entrance Hole Size of Sialia sialis (Eastern Bluebird): Year 2
(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 ... -
Total Dissolved Solids in Appalachian Coalfield Streams: Current Research Approaches
(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
(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 ... -
Selected Carbon Dynamics as Functional Indicators of Restoration Success: Progress From the First Two Years
(Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2011) -
Wildlife Response to Surface Mine Reclamation in Southwest Virginia
(Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2011) -
Tree Stock and Fertilizer Effects on Black Locust Biomass Production on Mined Lands
(Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2011) -
Reclaimed Mined Land for Forests and Forestry
(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. -
Restoring Ecological Function to Reforested Mined Lands: Connecting Soils with Forest Productivity and Ecosystem Service
(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 ... -
Tree Species, Density, and Fertilizer Effects on Woody Biomass Production on Mined Lands: Year Three Report
(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 ... -
Forest Composition and Growth After 9 Years on a Virginia Mine Site
(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, ... -
Economic Viability of Woody Bioenergy Crops as a Potential Mine Reclamation Procedure
(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 ... -
Organic Matter Dynamics as Functional Indicators of Stream Condition in Constructed Streams on Virginia Coal Mine Sites
(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 ... -
Predicting TDS Release from SW Virginia Soil-Overburden Sequences
(Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2012)Release of total dissolved solids (TDS) from Appalachian coal mine spoils to headwater streams has emerged as a significant concern for the coal mining industry, its regulatory agencies, and non‐governmental organizations. ... -
Restoring Ecological Function to Reforested Mined Lands: Connecting Soils with Forest Productivity and Ecosystem Services
(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
(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 ... -
Wildlife Response to Strip-Mine Reclamation in Southwest Virginia
(Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2012) -
Long-Term Effects of Herbaceous Species and Trees on Reclaimed Mine Soil Properties
(Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2012)The selection of plant species is critical for successful establishment and long-term maintenance of vegetation on reclaimed surface mined soils. Over long terms, the plant species present on reclaimed coal mine sites may ... -
Project Coal to Electricity
(Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2012)Provide teachers a week long field experience to improve their understanding of a variety of environmental and economic issues relating to coal extraction, preparation, transportation, and utilization. Also, to introduce ... -
Reforestation and Biomass Production on Coal-Mined Lands: Research Application, Technology Transfer, Improving the Process
(Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2012)The Powell River Project mined land reforestation research and outreach program has developed prescriptions for re-establishing hardwood forests through reclamation that are being applied by many coal-mining firms to satisfy ...