Strategic Watershed Restoration: An Alternative Future for the

Appalachian Coal Fields

Todd Petty, Mike Strager, and Michael HasenmyerWest 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

Active and Permitted Mines

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.

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.

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

Coal River, West Virginia

Basin area 10,000 km2

Population density <50/mi2

# of AMLs >1000

Impaired streams >30%

Time (years)

Historic Condition

Present Condition

Mine Land Alternative Futures

Development

Preservationist

Str

eam

an

d R

iver

Co

nd

itio

n

Time (years)

Historic Condition

Present Condition

Mine Land Alternative Futures

Current

Preservationist

Str

eam

an

d R

iver

Co

nd

itio

n

Strategic ?

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.

Alternative Futures Analysis

Historic Landscape

Current Landscape

Future Landscape

Preservation

Strategic Development

Development

Human Use IndicatorsPopulation Size

Prime Timber Resources

Tax Revenues

Water Availability

Environmental IndicatorsRiparian Forest

Wildlife Diversity

Water Quality

Stream Condition

Fishery Value

Stakeholder Input

1. Analysis of multiple human valued endpoints: social, economic, environmental.

2. Visualization at multiple temporal and spatial scales using maps, 3-D modeling and descriptive summaries.

3. An objective / technical underpinning (outputs are not opinions).

4. Stakeholder dialogue over multiple alternatives.

Why Alternative Futures Analysis Is So Effective

Visualizing Current Conditions

“Neighborhoods”

“Houses”

LENGTH WIDTH AREA Relative Current Relative

SEGMENT NAME KM M ACRES SCI EcoUnits EcoUnits

1 MuddyCreek_3 0.88 10 2.3 84 1.9 83

2 JumpRockRun 3.25 5 4.3 73 3.2 74

3 MuddyCreek_4 1.50 12 4.6 91 4.2 91

4 UNT_MuddyCreek_3 3.61 5 4.2 71 3.0 71

5 GladeRun 2.11 7 3.6 16 0.6 17

6 MartinCreek_1 2.66 5 3.3 14 0.5 15

7 FickeyRun 4.63 5 6.0 10 0.6 10

8 MuddyCreek_6 2.06 26 13.3 48 6.4 48

9 CrabOrchardRun 5.26 6 8.2 43 3.5 43

10 MuddyCreek_8 1.67 31 12.8 15 1.9 15

63 41 26 60

EcoUnits: A Mitigation Currency

Muddy Creek (46-km2 Watershed)

NEED

FISH POTENTIAL

RESTORABILITY

RESTORATION PRIORITIES

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?