Mitigating recovery of mixedgrass prairie under high voltage powerline construction

自欧洲人定居以来，工业干扰对天然草原的影响一直在增加， 越来越威胁到这些生态系统的保护。在加拿大西部， 包括石油和天然气开采以及高压输电线建设，这两个方面都有重大影响 原生草原植被和底层土壤。由于这些活动构成了经济的关键组成部分， 在加拿大草原省份，了解可以减轻 能源开发的不利影响，以及最大限度地恢复草原后， 完成，对于私人和公共牧场的管理者，以及那些工业 用户寻求最大限度地减少其环境足迹。在这项研究中，我们正在进行一项合作， 与ATCO Energy Ltd.签订协议，为了1）评估受干扰的天然草地的恢复， 工业活动与高压电力线建设，2）了解土壤的作用 生物物理特征，包括微生物学，在促进这种恢复，和3）发展最好的 保护草原使用接入rigmats的管理做法。总的来说，信息 本研究所提供的信息将减少未来工业干扰对天然草地的环境影响， 促进能源开发与其他土地利用相结合。

The footprint of industrial disturbance on native grasslands has been rising since European settlement, and increasingly threatens the conservation of these ecosystems. In western Canada, common industrial activities include oil and gas extraction and high voltage power-line construction, both of which are significant impacts to native grassland vegetation and underlying soils. As these activities form a key component of the economy in the Canadian Prairie Provinces, understanding the specific management practices that can mitigate detrimental impacts of energy development, as well as maximize grassland recovery following their completion, are important for the managers of private and public rangelands, together with those industrial users seeking to minimize their environmental footprint. In this study, we are entering into a collaborative agreement with ATCO Energy Ltd., in order to 1) evaluate the recovery of native grassland disturbed by industrial activities associated with high voltage power-line construction, 2) understand the role of soil biophysical characteristics, including microbiology, in facilitating this recovery, and 3) develop best management practices for the use of access rigmats for conserving grasslands. Collectively, the information provided by this study will reduce the future environmental impact of industrial disturbance in native grassland, and promote the integration of energy development with other land uses.