Open Collections

Abstract

Establishing post-mine ecosystem targets is necessary to effectively guide mine reclamation and closure practices. Determining ecosystem targets for reclamation and evaluating differences in ecosystems (land capability) between the pre-mine and post-mine landscape are requirements of both the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia (Section 10.9.5) and the Joint Application Information Requirements Guidance Document (JAIR) for new or expanding mines (Section 5.1). These regulations, however, do not provide the methods required to predict post-mine ecosystems. Ecohydrological modelling predicts the ecosystems a site has the capability to support based on topography and the ability of surficial materials to retain and provide plant-available water and nutrients. The process of using an ecohydrological model to predict post-mine ecosystems is iterative and involves interdisciplinary collaboration. Ecohydrological modelling generates spatially explicit reclamation cover depth prescriptions, which can go through rounds of iteration to best support target ecosystems and end land use goals, including optimization to maximize the return of pre-mine ecosystems. Results inform material salvage decisions including salvage depths, stockpile locations, and volume requirements. Collaboration with Indigenous Nations and various mine specialists (e.g., terrestrial ecologists, aquatic and wildlife biologists, mine planners, engineers, hydrologists) increases the quality of the final post-mine ecosystem map. Post-mine ecosystem maps and associated data have several applications. They are tools used to communicate reclamation limitations and expectations of landscape capability, inform closure planning decisions, and create opportunities to identify design changes to better achieve end land use goals. Postmine ecosystem maps also serve as the basis for land use mapping (e.g., wildlife habitat capability/suitability mapping) enabling pre-mine and post-mine comparisons.