reclamation of lands disturbed by mining - Government of British ...

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REGIONAL ASSESSMENT OF RECLAMATION IN THE PEACE RIVER
COALFIELD
The Peace River coalfield is located in the foothills on the eastern
slopes of the Rocky Mountains. There are no active mines in this
area but exploration activity has intensified in recent years and,
should the economics of coking coal improve, there is promise of
several major coal developments proceeding in the near future.
In terms of revegetation the climate presents a considerable
challenge. The treeline occurs at elevations of 5,000 feet (1,500 m)
in the Peace River coalfield compared to 7,000 feet (2,133 m) in
the
southeast.
The Peace River coalfield lies in a remote wilderness which has
limited access. However, with incursions by coal interests, seismic
activity and petroleum drilling as well as forestry industries,
the character of the region is rapidly altering.
Most of the coal licences f a l l within the Engelmann spruce-subalpine
f i r zone at lower elevations and the Alpine tundra zone at higher
elevations. In terms of reclamation, areas of both Alpine tundra
and the area of stunted trees between the alpine and true forest
(termed krummholz vegetation) have similar restrictions to successful
revegetation.
Often the areas are combined and referred to as
"areas
above treeline".