Peatland Restoration within the Suncor Millennium Mine (Phase One): South-east Dump Wetland Hydrologic and Vegetation Monitoring Program

This is the first of a three phase project to restore peatland within the Suncor Millennium Mine. This phase examined the water table, vegetation and hydrology of a disturbed fen wetland located near the Suncor Energy southeast dump site to determine natural regeneration of disturbed wetlands as an alternative to complete reconstruction of reclaimed wetlands. Researchers used transects, hydrological indicators, soil and water samples, and groundwater wells equipped with dataloggers to collect data on plant communities and water table fluctuations.

Findings determined that the project area was historically a treed fen, but recent monitoring revealed warmer and drier conditions that lowered the water table and caused stress in wetland vegetation. Nearly half the area still hosts wetland species, yet soil moisture was consistently lower than expected. The shallow water table rarely saturated the rooting zone, contributing to the presence of upland species and reduced plant health. Restoration is recommended to increase water inputs and improve soil moisture, with continued monitoring to evaluate its effectiveness.