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U.S. Department of Energy
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Land Reclamation Laboratory: Jim Bridger mine site description of research

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6608942· OSTI ID:6608942
Four subprojects have been developed for the Jim Bridger Mine near Rock Springs, Wyoming. This research addresses the problems associated with vegetative response to stressed environments, water availability in reclaimed spoils, refaunation dynamics, and snowpack management for reclamation. A fifth project, soil microbiota recovery dynamics, will also be done at the mine site. Research on vegetative adaptations to stressed ecosystems concentrates on productivity, population dynamics and energy allocation strategies as indicators of plant response to stress. Water availability studies address erosion and spoil moisture characteristics of the native ecosystem and selected reclamation treatments. Design snowfence systems studies will develop methodologies to maximize the amount of the precipitation which is available to vegetation. Animal species composition and density on revegetated areas are also being examined. Wildlife studies are also investigating the impacts of small mammals on revegetation. The microbiological component of topsoil is being investigated in stored and native topsoil. These experiments are designed to provide insight into the reclamation of communities, not just revegetation of mine spoils.
Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
W-31109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
6608942
Report Number(s):
ANL/LRP-TM--9
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English