Right-of-Way Disturbances and Revegetation in Alpine Tundra: An Evaluation of Natural Revegetation on Plateau Mountain, Alberta

摘要

Reclamation of abandoned rights-of-way at alpine and subalpine elevations as well as in arctic locations has long been a formidable task for industry. As a means to further explore reclamation options for high elevation and northern locations, the authors undertook an alpine revegetation research project on the summit of the Plateau Mountain Ecological Reserve (elevation 2348-2500 masl), located near the south end of Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada (50°13'N, 114°31'W). Plateau Mountain is one of a limited number of southern Rocky Mountain permafrost sites, and as such, exhibits characteristics of alpine and arctic tundra soil, vegetation and climate. Plateau Mountain was developed for sour gas production in the early 1950s and several rights-of-way and well sites have since been abandoned but not formally reclaimed. This site provided an excellent opportunity to study natural revegetation processes operating in an alpine/arctic tundra environment. Two linear right-of-way (road, pipeline) and one point (well site/surface clearing) disturbance types were studied and four levels of disturbance recognized: undisturbed, near disturbance, severe, and less severe. Natural revegetation of disturbed sites was analyzed via an adapted transect and point frame sample plot vegetation inventory that included both disturbed and adjacent undisturbed terrain. Measured reclamation parameters (e.g., species presence, frequency of occurrence, species richness, and similarity to undisturbed vegetation (Is_s) are indicative of successful natural revegetation of disturbed sites. Portions of the field results are presented, including the species list and species presence in the four distinguishable terrain types (undisturbed, near disturbance, severe disturbance, less severe disturbance). Based on these and an extensive literature review of alpine and arctic tundra disturbances, considerations for reclamation of high elevation and arctic disturbances focussing on enhancement of natural revegetation processes are discussed.