Establishment of Trees and Shrubs on Mined Land in the Grande Cache Area

The Terrain Sciences Department of the Alberta Research Council has been conducting a reclamation research program at the operations of Smoky River Coal Limited in the Grande Cache area since 1972.  The revegetation work has involved research into the establishment of an initial erosion cover supplemented with trees and shrubs.  It was demonstrated that a tree and shrub cover could be established by the use of conifer seedlings and cuttings of deciduous species.  Trees and shrubs are also establishing in significant numbers by natural means.  Results of direct seeding trials indicate that direct seeding may be a viable method for establishing trees and shrubs in reconstructed soil areas at the Smoky River site.