Management of Northern Gravel Sites for Successful Reclamation: A Review

Abstract

In the Arctic and Subarctic, roads and other construction projects require large amounts of gravel to provide well-insulated, stable surfaces. Gravel pits create large disturbed, terrestrial areas and produce significant on-site and off-site impacts, at least some of which are long lasting or even permanent. Gravel substrates are difficult to revegetate since they typically have low moisture- and nutrient-holding capacities. There are several possible approaches to maximize the likelihood of successfully reclaiming northern gravel sites: (1) Minimize their areal extent and visual impact; (2) improve the substrate characteristics for plant growth by such measures as erosion control and reuse of topsoil; (3) select adapted biological materials; and (4) proper siting of gravel pits to enhance reinvasion of native plant species. The extreme conditions of most arctic and subarctic sites require site specific approaches. These conditions also increase the need to use native plant species and to utilize their successional strategies to develop appropriate reclamation plans for gravel sites.