Demonstration
Forest Project
September 27, 2000, view of the Demonstration Forest Project (7476-84).
In
2000, Fernald completed the Demonstration Forest Project which
involved converting 18 acres
of former pasture along the northwest border of the site into
forests that are native to southwest Ohio. Fernald workers planted over 1,300
trees and 1,500 wetland plants in a tallgrass savanna and built
several ponds and wetlands, including a vernal pool. The vernal
pool is designed to stay wet and provide amphibian habitat in the
spring, then dry up in the summer. To repair several eroding paths
along Paddys Run Stream, workers used bioengineering techniques. Bioengineering is a
technical discipline that merges engineering concepts with
biological knowledge to design solutions to erosion and land
stability problems.
The
Demonstration Forest Project is one of the 15 ecological restoration
projects outlined n the Fernald Natural Resource Restoration Plan.
It counts as 18 of the 904 acres DOE has dedicated for natural
resource restoration to compensate for damages to natural resources
during site operations and cleanup.
Monitoring
Fernald is required to monitor the Demonstration Forest Project for
a three-year period, 2001 through 2003, to ensure the growth and
progression of the forest. The Fernald Natural Resource
Restoration Design Plan establishes near-term success criteria,
including 80 percent woody plant survival and 90 percent herbaceous
plant survival. Overall,
third-year-monitoring results demonstrated that ecological
restoration is progressing as planned. Woody vegetation
appears to be growing well and survival rates remain close to the 80
percent requirement. Field personnel have observed box elder,
sycamore, cottonwood and black walnut recruits throughout the
project area. Seeded areas are maintaining or improving; almost the
entire project meets the 90 percent survival requirement. To reduce
the impact of invasive species, Fernald continues maintenance
activities and "invasive sweeps" of the area. Annual monitoring
reports are available to the public in the Fernald Public
Environmental Information Center.
For More
Information
Contact Sue Walpole, S. M.
Stoller, at 513-648-4026, e-mail: Sue.Walpole@lm.doe.gov
.
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