|
|
|
AdvertisementUW's reclamation center offers research, training to reclaim disturbed Wyoming landsWyoming With temperatures dipping and winter planning how to best sock the state, it's time for--planting? Energy companies wait until late October to plant seeds to help reclaim disturbed areas. Soils are cool; so, seeds typically won't germinate until soils warm in the spring, and the seeds can also take advantage of moisture from winter snowpack, said Pete Stahl, director of the Wyoming Reclamation and Restoration Center at the University of Wyoming. The WRRC in the College of Agriculture offers research, expertise and training to energy companies, contractors--anyone--to help reclamation efforts be successful. Its website is www.uwyo.edu/wrrc. "I feel strongly about the center," said Stahl, a professor of soil ecology in the Department of Renewable Resources in the College of Agriculture. He's been working with energy companies conducting restoration and reclamation research for more than 30 years. "Wyoming is a super-stressful environment," he said. "It has high elevations and cold temperatures, and it is dry with shallow soils. It's not easy to reclaim lands in Wyoming. One of the things we try to do is provide good reclamation practices. We try to teach people the importance of reclamation planning before they even create a disturbance." Part of the WRRC's mission of teaching and research is outreach. A "Reclamation 101" was held Oct. 22, in Rawlins. Participants spent half the day in the classroom, and the afternoon in the field for hands-on experiences. Topics included soils, weed problems, wildlife issues, water and hydrology, revegetation and monitoring. Gov. Dave Freudenthal during the last legislative session tapped the WRRC to receive about $2 million in Abandoned Mine Land funds, with the College of Agriculture to raise another $10 million to create a permanent endowment. The WRRC works with a web of entities: state and federal government regulatory agencies, energy companies and contractors, and it also attends to training undergraduate and graduate students for a minor or certificates in land restoration and reclamation. The energy industry has been very helpful to the center, Stahl said. "They have supported the center financially, attend our workshops and are supportive of helping develop the reclamation technology they are so dependent upon to successfully accomplish their mission." The recent oil and gas boom has made the energy industry the most in need of reclamation assistance, even though the activity is slowing down, he said. The coal mining industry has been conducting reclamation for many years. Advertisement
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2009. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
Market Snapshot Inside Futures |
61704