Alberta policy and regulations for grassland reclamation criteria, evolution of the criteria from the 1995 version to today Jody Spady on behalf of Reclamation Criteria Advisory Group (RCAG) Native Prairie Restoration / Reclamation Workshop Regina, Saskatchewan
Outline Why develop criteria for just wellsites? Native Plant Communities in Alberta How are wellsites regulated: Inquiry vs. Audits Native Grasslands: 1995 Reclamation Criteria vs. 2010 Reclamation Criteria 2010 Reclamation Criteria for Native Grasslands Implementation Dates Assessment Process Disturbed vs. Undisturbed Assessments Vegetation Assessment Soil Assessment Where we are now
Why develop criteria just for wellsites? Specific criteria were developed for well sites as they are the most common type of specified land Used to evaluate when a site has been reclaimed to equivalent land capability Evaluating reclamation of other types of specified land done on site specific basis well site criteria often serve as a template
Native Plant Communities in Alberta The desirable plants on a native grasslands lease comprise a suite of species representative of the adjoining native control vegetation Natural Recovery or Assisted Natural Recovery are other methods of reestablishing the native plant community. Native species cultivars can be use, while in others in situ native seed banks can be used to revegetate sites, as can an annual or noncompetitive species to control soil erosion and weeds Prairie and Parkland 5.5 Million Hectares
The Past: The Inquiry Based System On-site Inquiry Reclamation Inspector, company rep, municipal rep, landowner. Issues were resolved on site, applications could be explained and/or verified, landowner concerns discussed. Shovels were used!
The Present: Desktop Review & Audits Since 2003, desktop review and audit system replaced the inquiry system that involves an increased level of technical information. Initial major change in 2003 included the addition of contamination assessments as part of the application (i.e. Phase 1 s, Phase 2 s, drilling waste compliance checklist). Regulatory driver to have a decision-based assessment be supported by data or recorded observations. Deemed necessary to move away from 100% inquiry system to a 15% audit system, and to ensure sufficient information is collected for a technical, desktop review. Assurance of outcome must be clear via a desktop review, which differs from the former, field-based inquiry system.
Native Grasslands 1995 Reclamation Criteria *operability/land management focused Landscape Assessment Drainage, Erosion, Contour, Stability, Gravel & Rock, Debris, Bare Areas Soil Assessment Topsoil Depth, Texture, Consistence, Rooting Restrictions; Structure, %-Admixing Vegetation Assessment Composition; Density; Height; Health; Cover 2010 Reclamation Criteria *Plant community function/positive trajectory focused Similar parameters but improvement in concepts of what was being achieved Similar to 1995 Topsoil Depth, Texture, Consistence, Rooting Restrictions; Structure Soil Color added to replace % Admixing Optional Level 2 that includes soil analyses (i.e., OM, %-Clay, ph, EC, SAR) Significant improvements % Community; Structure; Litter Quantity; Litter Quality; Weeds & Undesirable Plants
Grassland Criteria Implementation Dates Sites constructed after January 1st, 2010 shall comply with all aspects of the 2010 Reclamation Criteria. Sites constructed before January 1st, 2010 shall be assessed as follows: Landscape Criteria: Sites are required to meet all of the landscape components of this document regardless of the construction period, unless otherwise documented as a third-party impact (C&R/IL/97-4; Alberta Environment, 1997). Soils Criteria: Sites are required to meet all elements of the soils criteria except for topsoil replacement, which shall be according to the construction period Vegetation Criteria: Sites not required to meet the percent community, but shall be assessed according to the construction period
Grassland Criteria Implementation Dates Pass or Fail Conditions *Sites Abandoned and/or Reclaimed Pre-1993 The vegetation cover must be 70% or greater when compared to control and comprised of compatible species. Compatible species comprise native and nonnative varieties suitable for grazing purposes: it does not include weeds. Vegetation cover does not include mosses and lichens. Constructed Before January 1, 1993 Constructed After January 1, 1993 *Sites Abandoned and/or Reclaimed 1993-2001 The vegetation cover must be 70% or greater when compared to control, and dominated by native species. Vegetation cover does not include weeds, mosses or lichens. Sites may be certified with whatever introduced forages come up from the seedbank.** *Sites Abandoned and/or Reclaimed After 2001 The vegetation cover must be 70% or greater when compared to control and dominated by native species. Vegetation cover does not include weeds, mosses or lichens. Where introduced problem forages exist, sites may be certified after reasonable effort is documented to control or reduce their presence.** *Sites Abandoned and/or Reclaimed 1993-2010 Undisturbed Assessment: The Total Percent Community Score (vegetation cover) must have 70% native species compared to control. Acceptable native species do not include weed species or problem introduced forages. Disturbed Assessment: The vegetation cover must have 50% total acceptable native species compared to control. Acceptable native species do not include weed species or problem introduced forages. Acceptable species may include native species that are not specific to the surrounding community or reference plant community. *Sites Abandoned and/or Reclaimed after 2010 Undisturbed Assessment: The vegetation cover must have 70% total acceptable native species compared to control. Acceptable native species do not include weed species or problem introduced forages. Disturbed Assessment: The vegetation cover must have 50% total acceptable native species compared to control. Acceptable native species do not include weed species or problem introduced forages. Topsoil Replacement Pass or Fail Conditions by Construction Period Constructed Before April 30, 1994 Constructed After April 30, 1994 Less than 40% variance between lease mean and control mean Less than 20% variance between lease mean and control mean If the average control thickness is <15 cm, topsoil should be distributed across the entire disturbed area but the minimum requirement does not apply.
Grassland Criteria Assessment Process Vegetation override Where the site has met the vegetation criteria (i.e., % Community, litter quantity and quality, etc.), but not the soil criteria, and where activities to meet the conditions described in this criteria risk existing ecosystem functioning, a vegetation override may be appropriate. Landscape Passed Landscape Assessment? NO Mitigate REASSESS Grassland Assessment Assess Parameters Vegetation No, Undisturbed Area Proceed with Undisturbed Assessment: Vegetation Only (Site overview) Is area Disturbed? NO Yes, Disturbed Area Soils Proceed with Disturbed Assessment: Vegetation & Soils (Assessment point) Equivalent capability is the requirement for all land uses under the Act. Native grassland landscapes additionally need to demonstrate a functional, regionally appropriate plant community. YES Meets Undisturbed Criteria? YES YES Meets Disturbed Criteria? No, Soils Issue Optional: Conduct Level 2 Soil Assessment No, Vegetation Issue REASSESS The use of a vegetation override will result in a Non-Routine Application and will result in greater scrutiny by the regulator. Site Passes: Landscape, Vegetation, and Soil (if req d) Criteria Apply for Reclamation Certificate YES Meets Level 2 Soils? NO Mitigate and/or more time needed for establishment
Undisturbed vs. Disturbed Sites Undisturbed areas include areas of the lease or access where there has been no surface soil disturbance and the native plant community has remained relatively intact (b) Full Disturbance (a) Minimal Disturbance (a) (c) Disturbed areas of the lease or access have undergone stripping (e.g., stripping, sod cutting or storage and including points like well-centre and flare pits and longitudinal effects like ruts). Well Center: Rutting: Flare Pit: Undisturbed versus Disturbed Areas Lease was fully disturbed, so there are only two areas (a) Lease Area (b) Control Area Example above: No area identified as being Undisturbed Soil and Vegetation is assessed at all the assessment points 9 Assessment points onsite, 9 Assessment points offsite (b) Undisturbed versus Disturbed Areas Lease was fully disturbed, so there are only two areas (a) Undisturbed Area (b) Disturbed Area ( c) Control Area Well Center: Rutting: Flare Pit: Example above: Two areas on the lease: (a) Undisturbed Area (b) Disturbed Areas 5 Assessment points onsite; 5 Assessment Points offsite Disturbed Area:
Desirable Plants / Community Assessment How are Desirable Plant Species Calculated? Percent Desirable Species: include the Percent Cover Of Infill Species with a portion of seeded native species that are deemed Acceptable Substitutions for native species in the control. Percent Total Acceptable Vegetation: include the combined estimates of Percent Infill species cover and Percent Acceptable Substitutions Infilling species are considered desirable because they are part of the local native plant community and their presence is a measure of native species recruitment Acceptable substitutions include seeded native species that may not be present on the control but are part of the natural subregion. Pass for the Undisturbed Area Assessment Total Percent Community Score of > 70% Pass for the Disturbed Area Assessment Total Percent Community Score of > 50% 15% or greater Cover Of Infill Species
Desirable Plants / Community Assessment Assessment Tool and Calculator help in the decision process
Plant Community Structure If the control is deemed nonrepresentative of the desired plant community, then the reference plant community could be used Significantly reduced implies that the structural layer is reduced by more than 50% compared to the control or reference plant community.
Re-establishment of a Litter Layer Litter conserves moisture by reducing evaporation, improving infiltration, and cooling the soil surface Litter in grasslands has a positive correlation with biodiversity Litter production Pass: Undisturbed Sites: > 65% Pass: Disturbed Sites: > 15% Rating for litter quality and functionality Class 1 (Pass): Decomposition Class 2 (Fail): Slight decomposition Class 3 (Fail): No decomposition
Presence of Weeds and Undesirable Plants Rate the distribution of weeds and undesireable plants Document the presence: Prohibited Noxious Noxious Undesirable plants
Soil Assessments Soils only need to be assessed within the Disturbed Areas identified on the site Assessors can at their discretion use a Level 2 Assessment of soils Level 1 Soil Assessment Topsoil Depth Topsoil Color Texture: Topsoil & Subsoil Consistence: Topsoil & Subsoil Structure: Topsoil & Subsoil Rooting Restrictions: Topsoil & Subsoil Level 2 Soil Assessment Topsoil: Particle Size Analyses, %-Clay, Organic Carbon, ph, EC, SAR Subsoil: ph, EC, SAR
Where we are now. 2010 season was used as a transition period: Practitioners had the option to use the 1995 Criteria or the 2010 Criteria on Native Grassland Jan 1, 2011 only the 2010 Reclamation Criteria can be used to assess new sites All applications using the 1995 Criteria must be submitted by December 31, 2011 Only applications using the 2010 Reclamation Criteria will be accepted after January 1, 2012 Review Committee Reclamation Criteria Advisory Group Members Review comments on the 2010 Reclamation Criteria and submitted data Make changes where appropriate Spring 2010: Submit revised 2010 Reclamation Criteria to Alberta Environment for final approval and release
Questions? Questions and comments can be sent to: shane.patterson@gov.ab.ca 780-643-1744