The following study has been done by an individual who was working independently of any government or scholastic agencies. The individual has no degree in the fields of botany or extensive knowledge of existing native bryophytes. Level of education would be High School graduate 1980. Individual is an author having published two books on the history of coal mining in southern West Virginia. Knowledge in mountain herbs that are being harvested commercially in the state and general curiosity in reclaimed mine lands and practices.

    I developed an interest in the way our state reclaims abandoned mine sites, both surface and deep mine areas. As I completed research on the practice of reclamation for my books, I noticed that the material and plant species that were and still are used for re-seeding did not including native plant species. It should also be noted that there are a hand full of coal operators who have and still do native hardwood re-seeding . It was well apparent that the government agencies responsible for developing a lands reclamation plan that coal companies had to follow never truly had the concept of restoring the land back to its natural pre-mined conditions.

    The current method of reclamation will not allow the successful re-introduction of native plant species to thrive on mined areas. Current methods of rebuilding hollows on refuse piles and valley fill areas, are more designed towards water drainage and erosion prevention. Certain plant species that have been used to re-seed these areas have shown to be aggressive species. The grasses used do in fact, grow rapidly and sod well hindering soil erosion but on the other hand, they tend to cover the ground too thickly and do not allow native vegetation to germinate.
    The photo at the left shows a reclaimed are on Buffalo Creek in Logan County. It is currently leased to the Hatfield McCoys ATV trail system, local ATV riders are not allowed unless they purchase permits to ride it.

    The area has been reclaimed by today's laws. The land is green and grass grows where rock once was removed. But the area will never boast of the native vegetation that it once had prior to strip mining. Contrary to university studies done in the 1970's, abandoned mine lands will never re-seed themselves with natural plant life, this will take the intervention of man. If such is done by nature, it will take nearly 100 years or better to achieve full recovery.

    Certain varieties of plant species in West Virginia depend on hollow areas that hold a large content of moisture. The hollows that are reconstructed by mine site reclamation are constructed to allow water drainage of these man made hollows and therefore will not allow retention of water. The species of plant life that depend of this moisture cannot and will not grow back in these areas.

    The reclamation laws allow for the re-seeding of native hard woods and vegetation but because of cost and the urgency to reclaim reclamation bonds posted prior to actual mining, re-introduction of native plant life isnt practiced. The re-seeding required by law only demands that a quick type tree canopy be established in these areas along with a type of sod grass that will cover quickly and ensure soil erosion prevention. To re-introduce native plant life back into these mined areas would constitute spending more money than coal companies or the state and federal government wish to spend.

    Problems arise in the soil itself as well as water content and soil water saturation. The chemical make-up of topsoil on reclaimed mine sites differ from un-mined areas greatly. Before natural growth of native species could take place, the top soil would have to be tested, fertilized and chemically treated to match pre-mined levels. ( Keeping in mind that this is only an amateur hypothesis and not based on actual scientific facts.)

    The first thing I planed on doing was to take soil and water samples from 5 different mountain areas:
1.Timbered area.
2.Strip mine area (reclaimed).
3.Strip mine area (recently reclaimed).
4.Untouched region of forest area.
5.Deep or drift mine area.
The samples will also include water runoff from nearby streams. Testing for current TDS (Total Dissolved Solids ) and general chemical compositions that I am able to determine.

    The area of reclaimed strip mine I plan on introducing native species back in, has been abandoned and reclaimed by todays standards. It has been allowed to grow and mature on its own for over 20 years. This site has been seeded with sod grasses possibly mixed with three grass species:
1. Flattened Meadow Grass, Poa Compressa
2. Orchard Grass, Dactylis glomerata
3. Buffalo Grass, Buchloe dactyloides
These grasses are planted for 3 major reasons, (1) Cost, (2) sod properties, (3) growth rate.

    They germinate quickly and cover the area in which they were planted on. The large sod quality that these species are famous for help stop or impede soil erosion which is vital to reclaimed areas, especially on strip mine sites where steep mountainsides are covered. But the down side of these plant species are they grow too rapidly, cover too much ground too thickly and will not allow the native plant species seeds to germinate and grow. All the species of plant life currently being used to reclaim lands in West Virginia are aggressive plant species which will not allow native plant growth.

    The previously thought of some lawmakers was that the land would eventually reclaim itself. Site A, where most of my studies in re-introducing native species back onto reclaimed land, has been abandoned and re-seeded with current methods and plant species. It has been nearly 25 years since the last bulldozer moved on the site and to date, no native hardwoods or valuable herb species have ever shown any signs of recovery.

    On September 11, 2004, three samples of water were taken at three separate areas. Two were taken at Coal Mountain, WV. The first sample was taken from a small stream that drained the strip mine site. This site had been closed and reclaimed for over 20 years.
    The second was taken from abandoned mine drainage from the same area as well as a soil sample from undisturbed mountainside.
    The third was taken from Lynco,WV. The sample was taken directly from a pipe that drained mine water into sediment treatment ponds. This drain runs constantly with a current out flow of + - 300 gallons a minute.
Samples were compared to municipal drinking water from the town of Oceana, WV.
Location                                     TDS                 PH                 Alkalinity                 hardness                 Cyanuric acid
Oceana Municipal                     150ppm                 7.2                 80ppm                  100ppm                     0ppm
Lynco Mine Drainage                 650ppm                                       5.0 0 ppm           800 ppm                   0 ppm
Coal Mountain Mine Drainage     466 ppm             7.5                 120 ppm               800 ppm                     30-50 ppm
Coal Mountain Runoff                 241 ppm             7.5                   80 ppm                 200 ppm 0 ppm

    Samples can later be compared to other water sources in the general area. The reason for the sample taken was to compare the water quality in the reclaimed area and compare it with water drainage from untouched areas and timbered areas. Keeping in mind that some of these areas, ie; Coal Mountain, has numerous deep mine sites that continuously drain water from underground abandoned mine.

    Soil samples were also taken from four specific areas. The first being untouched land from Coal Mountain. It should be noted that the untouched soil sample taken was from an area between abandoned mine sites and should not be labeled as purely untouched. In general observation of the land from sample #1, many species of native plants were thriving, but not as they would if the land had not been touched. Species of Black Cohosh (cimicifuga racemosa) and Blue Cohosh (caulophyllum thalicictroides) Wild Ginger (asarum canadense), colts foot ( tussilago farfara) and one plant of ginseng (panax ginseng) and at least 20 other distinct plant species were abundant in the area.

The area nearby was reclaimed over 20 years ago. Grasses planted by the reclamation company has filled the area completely. The area titled Site A, where the second soil sample was taken, had at least 3 inches + - of decaying grass mulch on the forest floor. The grass was too thick to allow any type of plant life other than brier and thorny thickets to grow. In an area observed, close to 200 feet square land, after 20 years the planted legumes and smaller tree species such as black locust and autumn olive were thriving and covered the entire area. Thickets of Tree of Heaven were prominent in the area as well. The observed area only had 3 other noticeable tree species showing signs of growth after 20 years. In this area, 6 stocks of sycamore ( psuedo-platanus (?) ) and 2 plants of white poplar and one small plant of maple, exact species of maple unknown.

In an independent study done by Professor Patricia Muir of the University of Oregon, the state of West Virginia has 47 distinct species of moss and lichens. These species grow in almost every area of the state. When mining, especially strip mining takes place, these species are wiped out of existence.            ginseng (panax ginseng)

Certain species of lichen such as Reindeer Moss, takes years to fully grow. If devastated in a small forest fire, Reindeer Moss will take as long as 30 years to regrow. They spread by means of spores which are easily destroyed. The above mentioned area had no sign of reindeer moss on the 200 square foot research site. Three other species of lichen were found down near the border of the reclaimed area, but again, the grasses hindered any such re-seeding of these lichens back onto the reclaimed area.

    Officials or even researchers on mine land reclamation have reported that our lands would eventually heal and re-grow or re-seed themselves. Based upon limited observation with abandoned mine sites, I have came to a conclusion that whoever reported this had no ideal what they were talking about. The reclaimed lands I have observed have not re-seeded themselves after all these years. Quite the contrary, the shrubs, grasses and other legumes that they planted have taken over these lands and not allowed room for native species to re-grow. As reported in some documents, the mine lands were to be used for livestock grazing. The grass planted in these areas are not even of needed quality for animals to eat.

    What would it cost to begin to plant natural species back in these areas? Instead of waiting generations for nature to reclaim itself, man needs to begin the process and help nature begin to heal. Money is a main reason this isnt done. The faster ground cover is established and the land smoothed over, reclamation bonds are released back to the mine operators. The land basically becomes useless. No longer will hardwoods be harvested. The coal is already gone. What's left ?

    The way that our mine lands are reclaimed isnt the fault of the coal or timber companies, it lies with-in the hands of state and federal legislators. It is up to law makers to come up with viable land reclamation that will help restore the state back to a condition that will benefit everyone and including our wildlife.And not many of our elected officials can or will do anything about this simply because they, themselves, have financial interest in the harvesting of timber.

A timber company wanted to harvest a certain forest in the Pacific Northwest. Apparently, this land was the home of an endangered species of owl. Controversy over whether this timber should be harvested or left alone because of this species of endangered animal caught the nations attention on the evening news. My first thoughts was, how silly! What is one species of plant or animal going to affect? After I had only completed a very limited study into the ecosystem of an area, how our environment works one a domino effect, and i species of plant or animal can have serious harmful effects on the remaining plant and animal life. I had changed my mind. Also in the study done by Professor Patricia Muir of the University of Oregon, I realized that one plant species driven to extinction can and does affect all other species and throws the entire ecosystem out of balance.

    So how can we continue to mine coal and harvest or natural hardwood trees without destroying a fragile ecosystem? Research. Extensive research into the areas that are to be mined and timbered. Law makers who will see the potential damage to our environment and find ways to continue to harvest our natural resources while at the same time, protecting our environment. This may seem like a impossibility but these are things that we, as a responsible inhabitant of our world must do.