Restoration on a Pipeline Right-of-Way in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Nevada

Abstract

The construction of the nearly 720-mile Kern River 2003 Expansion Project (Project) from Wyoming to California involved crossing approximately 5.4 miles of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and 0.9 miles of the Spring Mountain National Recreation Area in Nevada. These special use areas were established since the original system was constructed in 1991. More intensive restoration treatments were necessary with the goal of eliminating residual impacts to promote the scenic, cultural, and biodiversity values of this special use area. Moreover, it was necessary for a net benefit to be demonstrated for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to amend the original grant of right-of-way (ROW). To demonstrate net benefit, the Kern River Gas Transmission Company (KRGT) designed and implemented more intensive revegetation efforts than required for other segments of the ROW. These measures included: field consultation with BLM and other stakeholders, baseline vegetation surveys; salvage of both succulent and non-succulent shrubs; replanting additional locally available plant materials; topsoil segregation; recontouring of the land surface utilizing rock salvaged from land clearing and trench excavation and placed in such a manner as to enhance visual aesthetics; direct seeding with native species; trial use of specialized/pelletized seed; and, off-highway vehicle (OHV) controls. These treatments were also applied on the adjacent existing ROW. A 6-year monitoring program was developed with the success criteria being to reach 80 percent plant cover, density and richness of native vegetation compared to representative off-ROW reference plots.