Taiga Plains Sand Pit Restoration Plan for Pit Lake End Use

Transcription

1 Taiga Plains Sand Pit Restoration Plan for Pit Lake End Use Wilson Dimsdale (#V ) Restoration of Natural Systems Program, University of Victoria Abstract The purpose of the project was to develop a reclamation plan for the closure of the Village of Fort Simpson (VOFS) sand pit, a quarry lease, located within the Mackenzie and Slave Lowlands Mid-Boreal Ecoregion of the Taiga Plains in the Northwest Territories. Permission was granted from the VOFS Town Council to access the site and proceed with the project. Inspection of the quarry lease, site conditions and plant inventory were completed. A relevé plot was selected in an undisturbed jack pine (Pinus banksiana) stand located on a partially excavated sand dune. The purpose of the relevé was for classification of the site and to document a sample of the vegetation and soil structure prior to the excavation of the sand pit. A small vegetation plot was selected along the shore of the flooded sand pit. The purpose of the plot was to document the native species and plant cover. A soil pit was dug at the relevé plot and the soil attributes recorded. The soil pit samples consisted of slightly moist, well drained, nearly pure sand (>90%) and identified as part of the Martin River Association: Brunisolic Order, Great Group: Eutric Brunisol, Subgroup: Gleyed Eutric Brunisols. The sand pit soils are part of the wind modified fluvial deposits of the Liard River formed during the Pleistocene. Major site 1

2 disturbances were identified: (1) sand pit excavations that extended below the summer water table are now flooded, (2) steeply sloped active working face is potentially unstable and vulnerable to the effects of erosion, (3) invasive White Sweet-clover (Melitotus alba) and Yellow Sweet-clover (Melilotus officinalis) satellite population located in the active excavation area, (4) revegetation of disturbed areas by native species is limited due to the lack of topsoil, (5) access roads have compacted soils, (6) and dumped wastes were located on the leased property. Lease requirements and recommended land use guidelines for the reclamation of quarries was reviewed in relation to existing site conditions. I recommend that an end-pit lake be selected as the reclamation ecosystem objective. Phase 1 of the reclamation will focus on the land-shaping and soil reconstruction. Phase 1 of the reclamation plan includes: site cleaning, weed control measures, regrading of steep slopes and application of straw, and scarification of access roads. Phase 2 of the reclamation will require monitoring the site for several years after the reclamation work is completed to insure the site is stable, prevent the spread of invasive species, and to evaluate the functional capacity of the developing ecosystem. 2

3 Table of Contents Abstract... 1 Introduction... 4 Study Area... 6 General Ecoregion Description... 6 Sand Pit Location and Lease Description... 7 General Geology and Topography... 9 Materials and Methods Results General Inspection Plant Inventory Relevé Plot # Soil Pit Vegetation Plot # Recommendations and Conclusion Phase I Reclamation Recommendations Phase II Reclamation Recommendations Conclusion Acknowledgements References Web Site References Appendix I: Plant Inventory Appendix II: Project Photographs Figures 12 to

4 Introduction The municipal government of Fort Simpson, the Village of Fort Simpson (VOFS), will need to begin the process of planning for the eventual closure and reclamation of the municipal sand pit. The sand pit has been in use for at least 28 years as it is featured in a topographical map (Fig. 2) that was created from satellite imagery taken in The remaining sand reserves will be depleted within 2-3 years, according to VOFS management (M.Gast, pers.comm.). The sand pit is located on Commissioner s lands and held by the VOFS as a quarry lease under the Commissioner s Land Act (DOL, 2014). This project develops a reclamation plan for the sand pit with the permission from the VOFS. The reclamation plan is based on site data interpretation and describes site and plant prescription that satisfies the reclamation requirements in accordance to the lease terms and conditions and existing land use guidelines. Commissioner s lands are lands in the Northwest Territories (NWT) under control by municipal governments and the Government of the Northwest Territories (DOL, 2014). The Commissioner s Land Act requires the lessee of the quarry lease to restore the land to the satisfaction of the Director. The Director in this case would be the Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Lands, Regional Superintendent for the Dehcho region. 4

5 Following information requests to the Department of Lands for clarification on reclamation requirements of quarry leases, I was informed that I was to refer to the Indian and Northern Affairs publication Northern Land Use Guidelines: Pits and Quarries when designing a reclamation plan for the sand pit. The main requirement of these guidelines is the reclamation of pit sites to a natural state that conforms to the surrounding landscape (Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, 2009). Similar guidelines were reviewed for further information on accepted standards for sand pit reclamation methodology, including the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources; Sand and Gravel Pit Rehabilitation in Northern Ontario contained useful information on the requirements for site grading and planting and seeding operations (Miller and Mackintosh, 1987). Another important resource for a broad range of issues involved with the reclaiming of sand operations was the Ministry of Transportation and Highways; Reclamation and Environmental Protection Handbook for Sand, Gravel and Quarry Operations in British Columbia. This reference includes particularly useful information about weed control methods, restoring compacted soils, and the creation of wetland habitat (Ministry of Transportation and Highways, 1995). The Deltaic Sand Plain that the sand pit is located on contains a vast resource of readily accessible, high quality silica sand with potential industrial applications beyond the needs of the local community. The sand dunes located on the plain have been identified as an area with high potential as a source for frac sand. Frac sands have particular properties and are in high demand for shale oil and natural gas well stimulation process called fracking (Levson, Pyle, and Fournier, 2012). 5

6 Understanding the reclamation requirements for the VOFS sand pit may have broader applications as Deltaic Sand Plain sand resources are developed for use by the oil and gas industry. Study Area General Ecoregion Description The Village of Fort Simpson and surrounding area lies within the Mackenzie and Slave Lowlands Mid-Boreal (MB) Ecoregion. Covering 22% of the southern region of the Taiga Plains the Mackenzie and Slave Lowlands MB Ecoregion is a cold boreal climate but has the mildest conditions in the NWT. In July the mean temperature ranges from 15.5 C to 16.5 C, the warmest month. Precipitation is delivered nearly evenly split between snowfall (45%) and rain (55%). Mean annual precipitation ranges from 310 mm to 410 mm. The cold climate and wet conditions in poorly drained areas allows for the development of peatlands by limiting the rate of organic matter decomposition. Extensive deciduous and coniferous forests cover areas of better-drained sites (Fig. 1). This southern region of the Taiga Plains is considered to be the northern coniferous forest extension of the North American boreal forest (Scott, 1995). Permafrost is discontinuous in the Mackenzie and Slave Lowlands Mid-Boreal and associated with large fens and bogs (Ecosystem Classification Group, 2007). 6

7 Figure 1. Fort Simpson sand pit satellite image N W. GOOGLE EARTH. May 22, April 22, 2014 Sand Pit Location and Lease Description The VOFS sand pit is located approximately 7 km driving distance heading west along the Mackenzie Highway from the center of Fort Simpson, NWT. The sand pit is reached by way of the Mackenzie Highway (Fig. 2) then off-road to an access road located on the lease parcel. The sand pit access road is traversable for high ground clearance vehicles. 7

8 Figure 2. Map of Fort Simpson and the municipal sand pit. Map 95 H/14, Edition 2, 1:50 000, Energy, Mines and Resources Canada The sand pit (active face) is located at coordinates N W, Map Datum WGS 84. Elevation above mean sea level is 186 m. The sand pit is located within the Commissioner s quarry lease parcel that covers ha. The lease is square shaped (Fig. 3) with each side measuring approximately 250 m in length. The lease parcel frontage runs parallel and is adjacent to the Mackenzie Highway. 8

9 Figure 3. Image of Fort Simpson sand pit. Scale 1:4,032. Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. General Geology and Topography The VOFS lease lies in the Deltaic Sand Plain Physiographic District of the Liard River. Most of the Mackenzie and Slave Lowlands MB Ecoregion area were covered by glacial Lake McConnell during the Pleistocene. The Deltaic Sand Plain consists of fluvial deposits of the Liard River when it flowed into glacial Lake McConnell. The Deltaic Sand Plain sand deposits are deepest near the Mackenzie River and gradually thin out into sandy veneers over morainal deposits in the south. The sand deposits are normally found as gentle undulating forms but large areas of the plain have been formed into parabolic sand dunes by wind modification, as seen in Fig. 4. These sand deposits average 6.09 m deep but can be up to m deep in the dunes. The dunes are heavily wind modified, well sorted, and comprised of nearly pure silica with low clay and organic content. The sand deposits are now vegetated 9

10 and soils of the Brunisolic order have developed under the forest cover over time (Soil Classification Working Group, 1998). The sand deposits provide the parent material for the Brunisols found over the entire plain (Rostad et al, 1976). Lower slopes and areas with a high ground water table and poorly drained depressions can be covered with Organic soils, peaty Rego Gleysols, and Orthic Eutric Brunisols. Figure 4. Deltaic Sand Plain, vegetated sand dunes and peatlands. View towards north bearing. Materials and Methods I was aware of the sand pit lease and suspected that it was nearing the end of its usefulness as a source of sand for the municipal government. I contacted VOFS 10

11 public works staff about the status of the sand pit and learned that no planning had been done to prepare for the eventual closure and reclamation of the site. I then outlined my project proposal to the VOFS Town Council at the regular Town Council meeting May 6, I received permission from the Council at the meeting to begin my project and was granted free access to the sand pit lease. In turn the Council requested that I provide them with a copy of my project report upon completion, to which I agreed. I initially explored the lease by walking around the flooded sand pit and sketching a map of the general location of topographical features and other physical features, such as disturbances caused by the excavation activities. Counting the growth rings from the largest cut down stumps allowed me to the estimate tree stand age. A plant inventory of the lease was recorded during the inspection and plants were identified with the assistance from the field guidebooks Plants of the Rocky Mountains (Kershaw, MacKinnon, and Pojar, 1998) and Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies (Kershaw, 2000). Equipment used for the inspection: A hand held laser rangefinder (Redfield Raider 550) was used to measure topographical features. Vegetation cover and topography were recorded and photographed with an Apple Ipod and a Canon PowerShot ELPH 110 HS digital camera. A Cammenga 3H lensatic compass was used for sighting compass bearings. 11

12 Topographical slope angles were measured using an improvised method. A clinometer application program on an Apple Ipod device was placed on top of a 1 m long straight edge 2 x 4 wood board and the angle recorded. Hand held calculator. Tree stand canopy heights were measured using the tangent method (Fig. 5). A hand held laser rangefinder (Redfield Raider 550) was used to measure distances and a clinometer application program on an Apple Ipod device was used for measuring angles. Heights were measured for 3 main canopy trees. Figure 5. Tree height measurement Tangent Method. A site for a relevé plot was selected that best represented vegetation attributes of the preexisting condition of the lease. The purpose of the relevé plot was to 12

13 document the plant inventory adjacent to the disturbances and for the classification of the site (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 2013). A square 10 m x 10 m plot was selected north of the active face, in an undisturbed stand of trees dominated by jack pine, (Pinus banksiana) and named Plot #1. The jack pine stand was chosen as a good example of the typical vegetation growing on the sand dunes of the sand pit area. Equipment used for relevé plot: A hand held Global Positioning System (Garmin Etrex 20 GPS) unit was used to acquire plot location coordinates. 30 m rolled tape measure. The relevé plot site data recorded included: Date, plot size and location Vegetation group Native Plant project information (vegetation data sheet) Tree diameter measurements, DBH 1.3 m Relevé % assessment of plant coverage Elevation, slope and slope aspect Topographical context Tree stand canopy heights 13

14 A 1 m x 1 m soil pit was dug to the depth of 70 cm in an undisturbed area of the lease and soil attributes were recorded and classified using the Canadian System of Soil Classification. Equipment used for the soil pit included: A shovel was used to excavate the soil pit. 30 m rolled tape measure. Soil pit information recorded included: L-F-H, organic horizon depth Mineral-soil layers General soil texture Drainage class Sphagnum coverage Depth and description each soil layer Plot #2 is a square shaped 3 m x 3 m plot selected along the north shore of the flooded sand pit that best represented the most common type of vegetation regrowth found around the perimeter of the open water. The purpose of the plot was to identify and quantify the abundance of herbs and shrubs as the majority of the shoreline lacked tree regrowth. 14

15 Equipment used for Plot #2: A hand held Global Positioning System (Garmin Etrex 20 GPS) unit was used to acquire plot location coordinates and elevation. 30 m rolled tape measure. Plot #2 site data recorded included: Date, plot size and location Native Plant Community information (vegetation data sheet) Relevé % assessment of plant cover Results General Inspection The sand pit is reached from the Mackenzie Highway by way of a short, doglegged dirt road that leads to the north side of the sand pit. The access road is free of vegetation and is comprised of compacted sand. The access road is closed with a wire rope and snow fencing but not locked. I inspected the lease on foot. The sand pit area is a large area cleared of all trees and topsoil in a roughly rectangular shape 139 m x 86 m. There was evidence of other anthropogenic impacts with signs of tree harvesting south of the sand pit, stumps and girdled trees, and wastes dumped over the southeastern area of the lease. There were no obvious indications of hazardous waste spills on the lease. The south side tree stand average age was recorded by counting growth rings from the largest cut down stumps indicating an average age 15

16 of 50 years. Tree canopy heights were m. There were no obvious stockpiles of topsoil or coarse woody debris that would have been originally stripped from the site. The woody debris may have been burned in piles or buried with the topsoil, although I did not find evidence of burning or a burial location on the site area. Adjacent to the southern border of the lease block are a series of peatlands and fens and these were photographed for reference, see Appendix II, Fig. 16 and Fig. 17. Plant Inventory: See Appendix I. A flooded pit dominates the clearing where sand excavations extended below the summer water table. I assumed that the pit was flooded by ground water seepage as south of the lease are large fens and peatlands with standing water. The pond is roughly rectangular in shape m x 65.8 m. The flooded pit s eastern edge runs very closely to a magnetic north compass bearing. Water depth of the pond is estimated to be < 1 m as tested with a pole dipped from the shoreline. Water depths in the center of the flooded pit were untested. Floating mats of peat mosses (Sphagnum spp.) covered most of the water surface (Fig. 6) with blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria spp.) covering the visible bottom. The water is turbid with low visibility < 0.6 m. There was evidence of water level fluctuations with shoreline areas of exposed moss that appeared to have recently been underwater. 16

17 Revegetation by natural species was occurring in the riparian areas of the flooded pit. The riparian zone is dominated by grasses (Poaceae spp.), horsetails (Equisetum spp.) and peat moss (Sphagnum spp.). There are occasional scattered willow (Salix spp.) and young alder (Alnus spp.) patches. Invasive plant species were located in the active face excavation area of the sand pit and included White Sweet-clover (Melitotus alba) and Yellow Sweet-clover (Melilotus officinalis). These invaders dominated the areas that they had colonized and appeared to be spreading from one location where dump trucks would be loaded with sand and had carried seeds to the site from an outside source. Areas lacking native revegetation were noted along the east and west side of the flooded sand pit. The west side has a barren section of sandy soil that extended along the sloped sides of the pit as shown in Appendix II, Fig. 13. The west side of the pit is defined by an access road that is barren of most vegetation where vehicle tire tracks compacted the sandy soil. The active face area of the sand pit is located north of the flooded sand pit and is steeply sloped ranging from slope angle. 17

18 Figure 6. Viewing east from west shore of flooded pit with peat moss. Photo W.D Figure 7. Sketched site inspection map. W.D

19 A map (Fig. 7) was sketched from field observations indicating notable features of the lease and sand pit. Significant features from the sketched map were also transposed onto a satellite image of the lease in Fig.8. Figure 8. Satellite image of Fort Simpson sand pit. Scale 1:1,352. Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Relevé Plot #1 Date: August 18, 2013 Plot Size: 10 m x 10 m Location: N W, Map Datum WGS 84 19

20 Elevation: Above mean sea level is m Vegetation Group: Wooded upland Native Plant Community: Common Name Jack pine Green alder Prickly rose Bog cranberry Peat moss Spreading dogbane Trembling Aspen Species Name Pinus banksiana Alnus viridis Rosa acicularis Vaccinium oxycoccus Sphagnum spp. Apocynum androsaemifolium Populus tremuloides Tree diameter measurements: Tree Diameters (all trees in plot) Species DBH (cm) Pinus banksiana 56, 38, 92, 83, 51, 27, 34, 29, 23, 18 Populus tremuloides 38, total qty.5 (>20 cm saplings) Alnus viridis total qty. 2 (>20 cm saplings) Relevé % assessment of plant coverage: Plant coverage Common Name Species Name Coverage Class Jack pine Pinus banksiana Continuous (75-100% cover) Green alder Alnus viridis Rare (5-25% cover) Prickly rose Rosa acicularis Patches (25-50% cover) Bog cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccus Rare (5-25% cover) Peat moss Sphagnum spp. Continuous (75-100% cover) Spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium Rare (5-25% cover) Trembling Aspen Populus tremuloides Rare (5-25% cover) 20

21 Slope and slope aspect: Slope 8.1% Aspect: North facing slope Topographical Context: Upper Tree stand canopy heights: 21 m, 19.1 m, 16.8 m Figure 9. Plot #1. Viewing west from plot SE corner. Photo W.D Soil Pit The soil pit samples consisted of slightly moist, well drained, nearly pure sand (>90%) and identified as part of the Martin River Association: Brunisolic Order, Great Group: Eutric Brunisol, Subgroup: Gleyed Eutric Brunisols. The sand pit soils are part of the wind modified fluvial deposits of the Liard River formed during the Pleistocene (Rostad, White, and Acton, 1976). 21

22 L-F-H, organic horizon: 10 cm depth Mineral-soil layers: Ae, Bm General soil texture: Loamy sand Drainage class: Excessively drained Sphagnum coverage: 100% coverage Depth and description of each soil layer: Depth of Layer (cm) Soil Horizon Description 10 L-F-H Moss cover, organic material 10 Ae Light grey loamy sand with roots >60 Bm Yellowish brown loamy sand Figure 10. Soil pit showing L-F-H layer. Photo W.D

23 Vegetation Plot #2 Date: August 18, 2013 Plot Size: 3 m x 3 m Location: N W, Map Datum WGS 84 Elevation: Above mean sea level is m Vegetation Group: Wetland site Native Plant Community: Common Name Northern fir clubmoss Yellow-green peat moss Common cattail Grasses Species Name Lycopodium selago Sphagnum angustifolium Typha latifolia Poaceae spp. Relevé % assessment of plant cover: Plant coverage Common Name Species Name Coverage Class Northern fir clubmoss Lycopodium selago Continuous (75-100% cover) Yellow-green peat moss Sphagnum angustifolium Continuous (75-100% cover) Common cattail Typha latifolia Patches (25-50% cover) Grasses Poaceae spp. Patches (25-50% cover) 23

24 Figure 11. Typical peat moss and grass growing along pond shore. Photo: W.D Recommendations and Conclusion Selection of a closure option for the VOFS quarry lease is determined by the Commissioner s Land Act, that states that the quarry site be reclaimed to the satisfaction of the Director. Currently, the Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Lands controls and regulates quarry leases on Commissioner s lands in the NWT. The Department of Lands was contacted for information on their reclamation requirements for quarry leases. I was instructed to utilize the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs publication, Northern Land Use Guidelines: Pits and Quarries as the accepted guidelines for the reclamation of these quarry leases. These guidelines state that the main reclamation objective for most pit sites in the NWT is to return the site to a natural condition that blends in with the surrounding topography and landscape. Furthermore, an end-pit lake was an 24

25 acceptable closure objective for a flooded pit site (Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, 2009). Based on the reclamation guidelines, existing site conditions, and the fact that the VOFS lease is located adjacent to natural fens and peatlands, I recommend that the Phase I reclamation objective be an end-pit lake. Phase I Reclamation Recommendations Examination and sampling of the VOFS sand pit indicates that natural species are revegetating most of the impacted areas of the site that were originally stripped of topsoil during past sand excavation activities. The flooded sand pit shows similar native plant growth as adjacent fens with peat moss established throughout the water and shores line. I do not think it is necessary to interfere with the flooded sand pit natural revegetation process. Areas of concern that should be addressed during the reclamation include: the barren west and east sides of the flooded pit, the active face area, the access roads, and the invasive plant species. The discovery of significant amounts of dumped wastes in the southeast section of the lease will require a plan to remove and properly dispose of these wastes. Although no hazardous waste spills were located during the investigation of the lease, the area should be carefully examined again for hazardous waste spills that may have initially gone unnoticed. The nonhazardous wastes can either be buried onsite or transported to a suitable waste management facility. Hazardous wastes 25

26 spills located are to be reported to the Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Environment and Natural Resources who are the lead investigation agency for Commissioner s lands. The invasive plant species White Sweet-clover (Melitotus alba) and Yellow Sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis) located in the active face excavation area of the sand pit are a serious threat to the successful reestablishment of native plants in the sand pit as they are capable of out-competing most native plant species. These invaders only live for 1-2 years, but each plant can produce thousands of seeds during its lifespan and these seeds may survive for decades in the soil. As this is a satellite population, I recommend that the plants be pulled out by hand and destroyed by burning. Pulling is an effective method for these species when they are growing on sandy soil (Anderson, 2013). The west side of the sand pit shows the effects of the slope angle increasing the runoff and lack of topsoil reducing the moisture holding capacity of the sloped pit sides. The combined effects appear to be preventing the establishment of natural vegetation. I ruled out erosion as the primary issue as the 15 slope angle is a shallower than the recommended minimum 18.5 slope angle considered to be effective erosion control (Miller and Mackintosh, 1987) and vegetation was reestablished and growing near the water and close to the remaining jack pine (Pinus banksiana) stand at the top of the slope. As no stockpiled topsoil was available at the site, I recommend that a thin layer (1-2 cm thick) of clean straw be used as a 26

27 topsoil substitute and be added over the barren areas of the western side of the pit. I believe the straw application will help trap and retain moisture, allowing natural plants to germinate and survive on the slopes without acting like a mulch and blocking the sunlight from reaching the soil. The straw should have the added benefits of being relatively inexpensive and readily available from Alberta suppliers. The east pit side access road soils and main access road are compacted from past heavy equipment traffic. The compacted soils appear to have formed a traffic pan, a dense layer of soil that limits or stunts root growth (Brady and Weil, 2008). I recommend deep ripping of the access roads to loosen the compacted soils, restore soil structure, and improve support for native plant growth. An addition benefit of ripping the access roads is it should prevent people from driving into the lease and dumping any more wastes. The deep ripping should also be applied at the end of the Phase I reclamation work to allow easy access to the site for as long as possible. The active face of the sand pit is devoid of topsoil and plant growth and the face is steeply angled between slope angle. The maximum slope angle considered for long-term slope stability is 26.6 (Miller and Mackintosh, 1987), the active face should be considered unstable and unsuitable for plant growth in the current state. The exposed sandy soil is vulnerable to the effects of erosion (Brady and Weil, 2008). I recommend that the entire active face slope be resloped to a minimum of 18.5 slope angle for erosion control and insuring long-term slope stability. The resloped surface should have straw spread over the surface to improve moisture 27

28 retention and avoid the issues associated with the west side of the sand pit. I do not recommend seeding operations, as there is the risk of introducing more invasive plant species to the site (Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, 2009). The revegetation of the site should occur naturally by native species that are adapted to the conditions found on the rapidly draining sand dune soils of the Deltaic Sand Plain and the associated peatlands in the wetter areas. Phase II Reclamation Recommendations Phase 2 of the reclamation will require monitoring the site for several years after the Phase I reclamation work is completed. The resloped surfaces should be monitored to insure the site remains stable and is not affected by erosion. The weed control will require yearly monitoring and some active pulling of plants as remaining stockpiles of seeds grow. The application of straw to the barren sloped surfaces will need to be monitored for its effectiveness in improving the survival of native plant species revegetating these areas. The functional capacity of the developing peatland ecosystem of the flooded sand pit will need to be monitored to insure that it resembles the natural fens and peatlands in the surrounding area. Conclusion The VOFS sand pit excavation activities has impacted a large area of the lease block. Fortunately, the reclamation requirements of the Commissioner s quarry lease and the recommended reclamation guidelines allow the flooded pit to remain as an endpit lake. The Deltaic Sand Plain is dotted with many fens and peatlands and the sand 28

29 pit appears to be slowly transforming into a similar wet ecosystem. Resloping the active face to an acceptable slope angle will allow native plant species to revegetate the surface. The addition of straw as a substitute for spreading topsoil should improve the survival of native plant species by increasing the available moisture on barren slopes. Ripping the access roads will improve soil structure allowing native plant species to grow on these areas. Removal of the hard road surfaces should prevent unauthorized access by vehicles to the site. I believe that all of Phase I reclamation work could be completed with the VOFS municipal heavy equipment and human resources if required. Utilizing the VOFS existing capacity will minimize the costs of the sand pit reclamation work. 29

30 Acknowledgements I would like to thank the Village of Fort Simpson elected officials for permitting me to conduct the sand pit reclamation study. I would like to thank Village of Fort Simpson Staff Member Mitch Gast for providing me with additional information about the municipal sand pit. References Anderson, H Invasive White Sweet Clover (Melilotus albus) best Management Practices in Ontario. Ontario Invasive Plant Council. Peterborough, ON. Brady, N.C. and Weil, R.R The Nature and Properties of Soils. Person Prentice Hall. 14 th Edition. Ecosystem Classification Group Ecological Regions of the Northwest Territories Taiga Plains. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, NT, Canada. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Northern Land Use Guidelines: Pits and Quarries. Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada. Kershaw, L.J Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies. Lone Pine Publishing. 30

31 Kershaw, L.J., MacKinnon, A., and Pojar, J Plants of the Rocky Mountains. Lone Pine Publishing. Levson, V.M., Pyle, J.P., and Fournier, M Identification of Potential Silica Sand Deposits in the Northwest Territories. Northwest Territories Geoscience Office. Open File Miller, R.J., and Mackintosh, E.E Sand and Gravel Pit Rehabilitation in Northern Ontario. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Land Management Branch. Ministry of Transportation and Highways Reclamation and Environmental Protection Handbook for sand, Gravel and Quarry Operations in British Columbia. British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources; Ministry of Transportation and Highways, and Natural Resources Canada. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources A Handbook for Collecting Vegetation Plot Data in Minnesota: The Relevé Method. 2 nd Edition. Minnesota Biological and Ecological Land Classification Program. Biological Report 92. St. Paul: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Rostad, H.P.W., White, R.A., and Acton, D.F Soil Survey and Land Evaluation of the Liard and Mackenzie River Area Northwest Territories. Saskatchewan Institute of Pedology Publications. 31

32 Scott, G. A. J Canada s Vegetation: A World s Perspective. McGill-Queen s University Press. Soil Classification Working Group The Canadian System of Soil Classification. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Publication Third Edition. Web Site References DOL Department of Lands, Government of the Northwest Territories. Commissioner s Lands Act. 32

33 Appendix I: Plant Inventory Common Name Jack pine Green alder Prickly rose Bog cranberry Peat moss Spreading dogbane Trembling Aspen Northern fir clubmoss Yellow-green peat moss Common cattail Grasses Labrador tea Bear berry High bush cranberry White spruce Willows Common scouring-rush Common sweet clover White Sweet-clover Red-osier dogwood Common dandelion Species Name Pinus banksiana Alnus viridis Rosa acicularis Vaccinium oxycoccus Sphagnum spp. Apocynum androsaemifolium Populus tremuloides Lycopodium selago Sphagnum angustifolium Typha latifolia Poaceae spp. Ledum groen landicum Arctostaphyles spp. Viburnum edule Picea glauca Salix spp. Equisetum hyemale Melitotus officinalis Melitotus alba Cornus sericea Taraxacum officinale 33

34 Appendix II: Project Photographs Figure 12. Plot #1 Example of moss ground coverage. Photo W.D Figure 13. West side of sand pit looking north. Photo W.D

35 Figure 14. View to the north from south shore of sand pit. Active face in distance. Photo W.D Figure 15. Soil pit Ae and Bm horizon. Photo W.D

36 Fig 16. Peatlands, south of lease block. Photo W.D Fig 17. Peatlands, south of lease block. Photo W.D