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Monongahela Forest Restoration

Notice: This project page is no longer being updated as of January 2023.

Healthy and diverse forests are more resilient to variations in the climate.

Some native plants have traits that make them more adaptable to changing climate conditions. Restoring soils can increase infiltration, recharge groundwater, and slow runoff. These changes help to make the forest and surrounding area more resilient during droughts, extreme temperatures, and intense rainfall. 

Areas within the Monongahela National Forest were mined for coal in the 1970s and 1980s. To reclaim the land after mining, trees and grasses were planted to stabilize slopes and control soil erosion. However, many of the species that were planted were non-native.  In addition, efforts to reshape the landscape to its original contour compacted the soil. Today, the U.S. Forest Service is working with partners to restore these areas and enhance their long-term resilience to climate change. These efforts will also help to improve the watershed, provide wildlife habitat, and restore native ecosystems. 

The U.S. Forest Service is partnering with the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI). ARRI is dedicated to restoring forests on coal mined lands in the Eastern United States. Core Team members come from the Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) as well as a number of State agencies that regulate coal mining. In this project, the Forest Service and ARRI joined with Green Forests Work, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, and many other partners to make restoration a success.

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The Monongahela National Forest is located in the north central highlands of West Virginia. It is one of the most ecologically diverse national forests in the country. Visitors can enjoy the views and recreational opportunities of the area. This “working” forest also produces timber, water, grazing, and minerals. 

In the 1970s and 1980s, this region was primarily mined for coal. To reclaim the area, the land was reshaped and trees and grasses were planted to increase stability and control erosion. However, many of the trees that were planted are non-native species, and the reshaping efforts compacted the soil. Today, the U.S. Forest Service is working with partners to restore these areas in ways that enhance long-term resilience to climate change. These efforts will also help to improve the watershed, provide wildlife habitat, and restore native ecosystems. Shane Jones, U.S. Forest Service Greenbrier District Wildlife Biologist, introduces us to the project.

This project took off because of the contributions of many partners. It all started with the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement’s Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative.  The initiative focuses on restoring forests on coal mined lands in the Eastern United States. The guidance of the U.S. Forest Service helped to make the restoration efforts more sustainable in the face of a changing climate. Green Forests Work, a non-profit group, served as the fiscal agent for the project. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources provided know-how on creating early successional habitat. While these are just a few of the partners, the success of this project shows the importance of a shared approach to restoration.

The U.S. Forest Service is committed to responding to climate change. Because climate change affects many land owners and land use types, the Forest Service recognizes that any climate- related efforts require working with others and building partners. 

Whitney Bailey, U.S. Forest Service Greenbrier District Forest Ecologist,  makes the connection to climate change.

During the first post-mine reclamation, non-native conifers were planted. As part of the forest restoration project, these non-native trees were removed by bulldozers.  The next step was to mechanically break up the compacted soils.  Felled trees were then scattered back across the landscape to provide woody debris and organic matter to the soil. These methods follow the forest reclamation approach developed by the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative.  This practice provides wildlife habitat, helps promote natural succession of native plants, and will improve soil health.

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As part of the restoration project, wetlands were created to increase water and sediment holding capacity. Wetlands improve water quality and capture sediment that would have eroded away.  Wetlands also provide habitat for many species of animals.

Vernal pools are depressions that fill with the meltwater and runoff from winter and spring snow and rain but dry out later in the summer. These temporary ponds can be an important habitat for certain species. For example, some frogs and salamanders only live in an aquatic environment for a portion of their life cycle. While there, these animals may also serve as a critical food source for predators.

The Central Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative knows the importance of the red spruce-northern hardwood forests. The initiative is made up of private, state, federal, and nongovernmental groups. The U.S. Forest Service and partners work to restore historic sites across the high elevations of Central Appalachia.  Areas that have been stripped, like the one you can see off in the distance, are a focus for restoration efforts.  The emphasis on renewing the landscape also offers an opportunity to prepare for climate change.

Jack Tribble, U.S. Forest Service Greenbrier District Ranger, on spruce management:

“Forests make up 90% of the US carbon sink pool and sequester approximately 10% of US CO2 emissions.” Functioning and diverse forests can help to mitigate climate change. The Northern Institute for Applied Climate Science describes where carbon is stored in a forest and techniques to maintain (and increase) a forest’s ability to act as a carbon sink.

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Large bull dozers with steel ripping blades were used to plow the soil to a depth of about 3 feet to reduce the compaction that occurred during mine reclamation. This practice slows runoff, increases infiltration, and recharges groundwater.  The result is that more water is retained within the landscape. This will help make the forest and surrounding area more resilient during droughts and hot weather.

Stephanie Connolly, U.S. Forest Service Forest Soil Scientist, explains how to manage healthy watersheds. 

And to see how the Appalachian restoration work is planned and completed with climate change in mind, check out this video by the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science.

The NRCS Appalachian Plant Materials Center collected native plant materials and seeds within the project area. New plant materials were grown in a greenhouse to be used for replanting.  At the site, soils were prepared to lessen compaction and were sown with a seed mix designed for the soil conditions. Native plants were used because they often have genetic traits that make them more adaptable and resilient to a changing climate. Retaining native trees as a seed source helps to maintain the mixed hardwood stand over the long term.

Stephanie Connolly, U.S. Forest Service Forest Soil Scientist, explains the importance of soil health and its role in climate change adaptation.

Forest staff are working to improve the long-term resiliency of the spruce forest in the Monongahela National Forest. A number of resources were used to help them develop a sound restoration plan. First, model results from the Central Appalachians Vulnerability Assessment were used to determine how tree species might respond to climate change over the next century. They also consulted the Forest adaptation resources: Climate change tools and approaches for land managers. This resource helped to identify possible adaptation approaches and tactics to use. Finally, the Adaptation Workbook was used to develop a list of actions to help them achieve their restoration goals. A range of uncertain future climate conditions were considered.

 

Location

Huttonsville, WV

Project Status

Ongoing

Partners

U.S. Forest Service, Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science