The Coal Valley Mine, approved in 1976, was the first Alberta mine with a prescribed post-disturbance forest end land use. At that time, unlike reclamation of mined lands on an agricultural land base, the technology and methodology for reclamation to a forest land base were not well established. Considerable information existed regarding reforestation of forestry cut-blocks and other such disturbances, and these general principles were applied to reforestation of reclaimed mined lands. However, because initial site conditions on newly reclaimed lands differ from those on cut-blocks, it is necessary to modify to standard reforestation operations. Strict adherence
Coniferous planting is the main reforestation technique used at Coal Valley, and has been for the past five years. Seedlings used in the program are generally container-grown lodgepole pine seedlings (1 - 0 stock) produced in Spencer-Lemaire 'Fives' (65 c.c. rooting volume). All seedlings are grown from a local provenance.