Peatland reclamation markers of success

In a previous project (fieldwork 2011-2014), seedlings of 17 wetland plant species were introduced to Sandhill Fen to inform selection of the best species for vegetating a bare peat surface. Some individuals of each species survived and 14 species exhibited over 50% survival. Based on this study, continued work was proposed to build on existing data to demonstrate how a suite of specific measurements can be developed into markers of success for oil sands reclamation. This follow-up project (fieldwork 2016-2019) had three objectives: (1) to continue monitoring of Sandhill Fen water chemistry, plant community, carbon dynamics and plant diversity; (2) to establish a new experimental project within Sandhill Fen to examine plant responses to developing salinity regimes; and (3) to determine the most effective markers of success for fen reclamation.

Currently, the plant communities and porewater chemistry of Sandhill Fen present a largely unique set of conditions and plant communities that largely do not match natural wetland site-types of region. Increasing salinity, especially sodicity, and changing water levels provide a background of environmental conditions that make predicting a future site trajectory impossible, and continued assessment of these changing drivers and the plant responses is highly recommended.