The Effects of Mesotopography of the Performance of Engineered Soil Covers

Salt fluxes into soil covers are strongly influenced by the soil moisture regime of the cover and seem to be related to the slope of the landform underneath the cover. This research project on a saline sodic overburden watershed at Syncrude’s Mildred Lake mine built on this knowledge and aimed to evaluate the effects of mesotopography on soil moisture and salt redistribution in reclamation covers. This knowledge will be applied to the development of optimal designs for reconstructed landscapes for a variety of cover and substrate types.

Results from the research reveal many mechanisms that govern flow and transport in reclamation covers overlying low permeability wastes. These mechanisms include a variety of factors including but not limited to preferential flow, snowmelt conditions, landscape position, subsurface relief, material texture, porosity, and moisture conditions.