Well-Site Reclamation, Restoring Pine, Boreal Mixed Woods

This project evaluated a range of forest reclamation and restoration strategies across Foothills, Boreal, Mixedwood, Peatland, and Rich Fen sites. At Foothills lodgepole pine sites, treatments tested the effects of logging slash chipping debris, seeding versus planting, and tillage/incorporation on regeneration and nutrient dynamics. Boreal jack pine objectives focused on water infiltration patterns in dune systems, as well as the role of woody debris in reducing erosion and improving seed establishment. For Mixedwood systems, the project tested methods for protecting the forest floor in cut-and-fill operations, using geotextile fabric, frozen-in stabilization, and natural protection compared to standard rollback. Peatland research aimed to assess whether mechanical creation of microtopography could improve moss, herbaceous, and woody vegetation recovery following well pad abandonment. Rich Fen studies extended this approach by testing ripping and frozen peat block relocation to enhance microtopography and support long-term vegetation recovery.

Foothills lodgepole pine trials showed that chipping debris influenced seedling germination, soil temperature, and nutrient cycling, with moderate chip depths offering regeneration benefits while excessive depths hindered establishment. Early Boreal jack pine work suggested that surface amendments slowed erosion and improved soil moisture, though longer-term data are needed to confirm vegetation recovery. Mixedwood experiments demonstrated that protecting the forest floor during cut-and-fill operations significantly improved aspen regeneration and plant diversity, with protected plots supporting over 80,000 stems per hectare in the first summer. In Peatland sites, results showed that microtopography was essential for moss and tree recovery, with regenerating sites supporting Sphagnum fuscum and tamarack compared to sedge-dominated non-regenerating sites. Rich Fen trials confirmed that mechanical treatments could restore microtopographic variation, with ongoing monitoring to track decomposition rates and vegetation establishment. Overall, these studies highlight the importance of soil protection, organic matter amendments, and microtopography restoration in achieving effective ecosystem recovery across diverse forested landscapes.