Comparison of Frameworks for the Conceptualization of Watershed-Scale Reclamation

This project explores differences in goals among society, government, and industry when it comes to reclamation priorities, these are referred to as the "Goals Challenge". They provide practical recommendations along the following themes to address the Goals Challenge: Definition and description of Integrated Landscape Reconstruction; current goals and objectives for oil sands reclamation, organized by the perspectives of the different parties that are involved – Society, Regulatory, and Industry; Description of the goals challenge and why it exists, as well as its barriers and opportunities; Key research themes recommended to COSIA Land EPA for consideration in planning R&D to address the "goals challenge" and ILR.

Reclamation goals are not aligned between interest holders and are not consistently interpreted for reclamation certification. Research is needed around the following main themes: 1) Tools and systems to predict water quantity/quality at the landform and landscape scale 2) Best practice/common approach for ILR across COSIA members 3) A reclamation substrate typology guide 4) Risk assessment/risk management approaches for use during mine planning and design to optimize reclamation outcomes 5) Measures of reclamation success in the context of ILR 6) Formal processes for reclamation/ILR monitoring and adaptive management