Powell River Project Programs, 2005 - 2006

2006 Powell River Project Research and Education Program Reports

Major Research:

Reforestation of Mined Land for Timber Production and Environmental Quality. James A. Burger, Department of Forestry

Program Options for Improving Compensatory Mitigation under NWP 21. Kurt Stephenson, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics (through 12/05).

Properties and Potential Water Quality Effects of Post-2000 Coal Combustion Products. W. Lee Daniels, Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences.

Education / Extension / Outreach – Va. Tech:

Area Extension Agent – Mined Land Development and Natural Resource Management. Jon Rockett, Wise County.

Beef Cattle Production on Reclaimed Surface Mined Land. John Hall, Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, and W. D. Whittier, College of Veterinary Medicine.

Teaching Environmental Issues, from Coal to Electricity. John Burton and Mary Quillen, Department of Teaching and Learning.

Joint Undergraduate/Graduate Studio – LAR 4084 and 5005 Advanced Planning and Design. Margaret Bryant, Landscape Architecture.

On-Site Wastewater Treatment on a Reclaimed Mine Site in Wise County, Virginia. Carl Zipper, Ray Reneau, and Mike Saluta. Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences.

Education – Area Colleges:

The Effects of Two Cultural Treatments on Four Christmas Tree Species Grown on Reclaimed Mined Land. Chuks Ogbannaya and Jay Blevins, Mountain Empire Community College.

Soil Attributes at the Powell River Education Center. Peggy Barber, Southwest Virginia Community College.

Funding for Student Research at PRP Education Center. Kevin Jansen. Department of Biology, University of Virginia’s College at Wise.

External Funding for Related Activities

Carbon Sequestration Project on Surface Mined Sites in the Clinch and Powell Valleys of Virginia. J.A. Burger, B. Amichev, and C. Zipper. Supported by The Nature Conservancy Clinch Valley Program.

Co-grazing Appalachian Pastures with Goats and Cattle: Effects on Pasture Quality, Animal Performance, and Farm Profitability. A.O. Abaye, J.M. Luginbuhl, C. Zipper, J. Rockett, D. Whittier. Supported by Virginia Agricultural Council.

Demonstrate the Potential for Large-Scale Carbon Sequestration by Reforestation of Mined Lands Using Managed Forests. J.A. Burger. Supported by Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy / U.S. Office of Surface Mining Applied Science Initiative.

Determining the Ecotoxicological Recovery of Black Creek (Wise County) and Ely Creek (Lee County) after Watershed Restoration of Abandoned Mine Lands and Acid Mine Drainage. D. Cherry, R. Currie, C. Zipper. Supported by Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy / U.S. Office of Surface Mining Applied Science Initiative.

Development of Rapid Assessment Protocols for Beneficial Use of Post-2000 Coal Combustion Byproducts in Virginia Coal Mines. W.L. Daniels. Supported by Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy / U.S. Office of Surface Mining Applied Science Initiative.

Restoring Sustainable Forests on Appalachian Mined Lands for Wood Products, Renewable Energy, Carbon Sequestration, and Other Ecosystem Services. J. Burger, T. Fox, G. Amacher, J. Sullivan C. Zipper, J. Galbraith. Supported by U.S. Department of Energy.

Remote Sensing for Forest Productivity, Carbon Management and Monitoring. R. Wynne, J. Campbell, C. Zipper. Supported by National Aeronautics and Space Administration / George Mason University.