Evaluation of Amphibious Restoration Equipment on Muskeg Sites

Restoration of linear features in woodland caribou habitat is a key topic of interest and investment for many COSIA companies. No single technology is suitable for all restoration conditions; instead, need a diverse “tool box” of technologies to fit site-specific requirements, increase operating windows, reduce inefficiencies and lower restoration costs. Enabling habitat restoration in non-frozen conditions could increase productivity and extend annual window for restoration to 4-5 months, well beyond the current winter period (1-2 months). The objectives of this field trial, delivered in non-frozen conditions on the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range from October 18–22, 2016, were to: (1) test four treatment technologies in non-frozen field conditions: amphibious excavator, low ground-pressure ( Nodwell) excavator, a pull-behind implement for creating microsites ( Shark Fin Drum), and a tree spade; (2) evaluate performance of these technologies with a common set of trial questions and metrics; and (3) evaluate technology based on predicted costs/benefits of each approach.

(1) amphibious excavator: performed extremely well upland and lowland conditions; notable drawback of a slow transit speed of 1.2 km/h. (2) Nodwell excavator: high potential; transit speed slow (2 km/h), but could increase with alternate equipment configurations to 5.2–6.2 km/h. No stability or footprint concerns noted. Main issue was operator fatigue – significant ‘wobbles’ during treatment delivery let to operator muscle and joint pain and nausea. Undercarriage modifications could provide more stability and reduce operator fatigue. (3) tree spade: not recommended; slow transplant time (400m/day) and didn’t address high water table in wetland sites (predicted to result in rapid tree death). (4) shark fin drum: very effective on upland sites; created many microsites, potential to cover 1,500 m/h, a significant increase in efficiency. Would need to provide seed source/physical seeding, fell trees/ stem bending with another implement, can’t treat lowland habitats, and unsure about long-term microsite viability.