Reclamation planning for tar sands mining and extraction operation differs greatly from that used in Alberta foothills and plains coal mines. One of the main differences is that the bulk of the surface materials to be placed and vegetated are spent tailings sand. On-site overburden materials suitable for amelioration of the sand consist of peat and glacial till. Tailings sand itself is too low in available moisture and nutrients to support vegetation without amendments. A landscape design concept is described that improves overall nutrient and moisture status of the sands and allows for vegetation diversity on the reclaimed land.
Reclamation objectives in Alberta are determined by government regulations and by the traditional land use of a disturbed area. Provincial regulations require the reestablishment of a land capability at least as good as it was before land disturbance, and the traditional land use in the Athabasca oil sand region has been forestry oriented. Consequently the most typical choice of future land uses in the reclaimed areas are forestry, wildlife and recreation.