1. Strategic Watershed Restoration: An Alternative Future for the Appalachian Coal Fields
Todd Petty, Mike Strager, and Michael Hasenmyer
West Virginia University
WV Water Research Institute-Watershed Assistance Center
Division of Forestry and Natural Resources
Landscape Architecture
9th Annual Wetlands and Watersheds Workshop
October 23-26, 2006

2. Active and Permitted Mines

3. The MTM Dichotomy
Preservation: Environmental losses and long-term economic costs of MTM are unacceptable regardless of the near-term economic benefits. Coal should not be mined unless an acceptable approach is used.
Pros: protective of current ecological conditions and services.
Cons: inefficient coal extraction; reduced economic activity; recovery from historic impacts unlikely.

4. The MTM Dichotomy
Development: Highly valuable coal reserves are needed to supply the nation with affordable energy. Mining companies must have the freedom to mine efficiently. Best available technologies are used to minimize and mitigate for necessary environmental impacts.
Pros: efficient coal extraction; minimizes impacts from individual developments.
Cons: cumulative loss of ecosystem services at a watershed scale; recovery from historic impacts unlikely.

5. New mine development is occurring on top of pre-existing impacts
New mine development is occurring on top of pre-existing impacts. This presents challenges and opportunities!

6. Coal River, West Virginia
Basin area 10,000 km2
Population density <50/mi2
# of AMLs >1000
Impaired streams >30%

7. Mine Land Alternative Futures
Historic Condition
Present Condition
Stream and River Condition
Preservationist
Development
Time (years)

8. Mine Land Alternative Futures
Historic Condition
Present Condition
Strategic ?
Stream and River Condition
Preservationist
Current
Time (years)

9. A Strategic Alternative
Identify ecological assets (high quality streams, contiguous forests, wetland complexes) and liabilities (AMLs, impaired streams, degraded riparian corridors) within the MTM/VF region.
Develop strategic watershed development plans that will protect, restore, and connect ecological assets over time (business plans for watersheds).
Facilitate mine development, but manage it in a manner that avoids watershed scale impacts (strategic mitigation).
Integrate mitigation offset spending with other sources of private and public resources (CREP, EQIP, TWG, AML, 319, Private Foundations, State Development Grants).
Conduct regular monitoring of progress and adapt.
Achieve improved watershed scale conditions over time through strategic reinvestment in the region.

10. Prime Timber Resources Strategic Development Environmental Indicators
Alternative Futures Analysis
Human Use Indicators
Population Size
Prime Timber Resources
Tax Revenues
Water Availability
Historic Landscape
Future Landscape
Preservation
Strategic Development
Development
Current Landscape
Environmental Indicators
Riparian Forest
Wildlife Diversity
Water Quality
Stream Condition
Fishery Value
Stakeholder Input

11. Why Alternative Futures Analysis Is So Effective
Analysis of multiple human valued endpoints: social, economic, environmental.
Visualization at multiple temporal and spatial scales using maps, 3-D modeling and descriptive summaries.
An objective / technical underpinning (outputs are not opinions).
Stakeholder dialogue over multiple alternatives.

12. Visualizing Current Conditions

13. “Neighborhoods”
“Houses”

14. EcoUnits: A Mitigation Currency
Muddy Creek (46-km2 Watershed)
LENGTH
WIDTH
AREA
Relative
Current
SEGMENT
NAME KM M
ACRES
SCI
EcoUnits 1
MuddyCreek_3
0.88 10
2.3 84
1.9 83 2
JumpRockRun
3.25 5
4.3 73
3.2 74 3
MuddyCreek_4
1.50 12
4.6 91
4.2 4
UNT_MuddyCreek_3
3.61 71
3.0
GladeRun
2.11 7
3.6 16
0.6 17 6
MartinCreek_1
2.66
3.3 14
0.5 15
FickeyRun
4.63
6.0 8
MuddyCreek_6
2.06 26
13.3 48
6.4 9
CrabOrchardRun
5.26
8.2 43
3.5
MuddyCreek_8
1.67 31
12.8 63 41 60

15. NEED
RESTORATION PRIORITIES
RESTORABILITY
FISH POTENTIAL

16. An Alternative Future for the Appalachian Coalfields
Abandon the Development vs. Preservation Dichotomy
Include the Mining Industry as Part of the Solution to Achieving Watershed Scale Goals
Consider an Alternative Vision for the Future
Develop a Strategic Plan for Realizing the Vision
Develop Public Policy that Facilitates Plan Implementation
What Will the Appalachian Coalfields Look Like in 50 years?