1 / 16

Strategic Watershed Restoration: An Alternative Future for the Appalachian Coal Fields

Strategic Watershed Restoration: An Alternative Future for the Appalachian Coal Fields. Todd Petty, Mike Strager, and Michael Hasenmyer West Virginia University WV Water Research Institute-Watershed Assistance Center Division of Forestry and Natural Resources Landscape Architecture.

thuyet
Download Presentation

Strategic Watershed Restoration: An Alternative Future for the Appalachian Coal Fields

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Strategic Watershed Restoration: An Alternative Future for the Appalachian Coal Fields Todd Petty, Mike Strager, and Michael Hasenmyer West Virginia University WV Water Research Institute-Watershed Assistance Center Division of Forestry and Natural Resources Landscape Architecture 9th Annual Wetlands and Watersheds Workshop October 23-26, 2006

  2. Active and Permitted Mines

  3. The MTM Dichotomy Preservation: Environmental losses and long-term economic costs of MTM are unacceptable regardless of the near-term economic benefits. Coal should not be mined unless an acceptable approach is used. Pros: protective of current ecological conditions and services. Cons: inefficient coal extraction; reduced economic activity; recovery from historic impacts unlikely.

  4. The MTM Dichotomy Development: Highly valuable coal reserves are needed to supply the nation with affordable energy. Mining companies must have the freedom to mine efficiently. Best available technologies are used to minimize and mitigate for necessary environmental impacts. Pros: efficient coal extraction; minimizes impacts from individual developments. Cons: cumulative loss of ecosystem services at a watershed scale; recovery from historic impacts unlikely.

  5. New mine development is occurring on top of pre-existing impacts. This presents challenges and opportunities!

  6. Coal River, West Virginia Basin area 10,000 km2 Population density <50/mi2 # of AMLs >1000 Impaired streams >30%

  7. Mine Land Alternative Futures Historic Condition Present Condition Stream and River Condition Preservationist Development Time (years)

  8. Mine Land Alternative Futures Historic Condition Present Condition Strategic ? Stream and River Condition Preservationist Current Time (years)

  9. A Strategic Alternative • Identify ecological assets (high quality streams, contiguous forests, wetland complexes) and liabilities (AMLs, impaired streams, degraded riparian corridors) within the MTM/VF region. • Develop strategic watershed development plans that will protect, restore, and connect ecological assets over time (business plans for watersheds). • Facilitate mine development, but manage it in a manner that avoids watershed scale impacts (strategic mitigation). • Integrate mitigation offset spending with other sources of private and public resources (CREP, EQIP, TWG, AML, 319, Private Foundations, State Development Grants). • Conduct regular monitoring of progress and adapt. • Achieve improved watershed scale conditions over time through strategic reinvestment in the region.

  10. Alternative Futures Analysis Human Use Indicators Population Size Prime Timber Resources Tax Revenues Water Availability Historic Landscape Future Landscape Preservation Strategic Development Development Current Landscape Environmental Indicators Riparian Forest Wildlife Diversity Water Quality Stream Condition Fishery Value Stakeholder Input

  11. Why Alternative Futures Analysis Is So Effective Analysis of multiple human valued endpoints: social, economic, environmental. Visualization at multiple temporal and spatial scales using maps, 3-D modeling and descriptive summaries. An objective / technical underpinning (outputs are not opinions). Stakeholder dialogue over multiple alternatives.

  12. Visualizing Current Conditions

  13. “Neighborhoods” “Houses”

  14. EcoUnits: A Mitigation Currency Muddy Creek (46-km2 Watershed)

  15. NEED RESTORATION PRIORITIES RESTORABILITY FISH POTENTIAL

  16. An Alternative Future for the Appalachian Coalfields • Abandon the Development vs. Preservation Dichotomy • Include the Mining Industry as Part of the Solution to Achieving Watershed Scale Goals • Consider an Alternative Vision for the Future • Develop a Strategic Plan for Realizing the Vision • Develop Public Policy that Facilitates Plan Implementation • What Will the Appalachian Coalfields Look Like in 50 years?

More Related