Woody Debris Application And Management

This project aims to investigate the beneficial effects of woody debris application in LFH vs. peat-mineral placement areas to minimize the deleterious effects of burning and to capitalize on woody debris as a useful resource in the reclamation process.

This project did not contain sufficient project results or conclusions, but did note the following: Placing Coarse Woody Debris (CWD) in reclamation areas offers multiple ecological benefits, including enhanced wildlife habitat, improved seed retention, and increased soil organic matter and nutrient cycling. CWD also creates microsites that support microorganisms and mesofauna, contributing to long-term ecological recovery and biodiversity. Large CWD pieces are particularly valuable for erosion control on steep slopes. Future research work will address gaps from earlier studies by examining soil and plant dynamics on areas like the North Toe Berm, where CWD is used for erosion control. Soil chemistry will be analyzed along spatial gradients from CWD sources to detect subtle nutrient variations, while the sparse, large CWD pieces present ideal conditions to study microsite formation, soil moisture, and seed catch.