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Woody Plant Abundance in the Red Rocks Canyon Landfill. Laura Holder Caity Ross Becca Willis. Landfills are a part of the urban landscape. www.learn.co.uk/.../ks2/ rubbish1/article1.asp. www.eeingeorgia.org/eic/eic_schools/ columbia.htm. Problems With Reclamation. Elevated pH
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Woody Plant Abundance in the Red Rocks Canyon Landfill Laura Holder Caity Ross Becca Willis
Landfills are a part of the urban landscape www.learn.co.uk/.../ks2/ rubbish1/article1.asp www.eeingeorgia.org/eic/eic_schools/ columbia.htm
Problems With Reclamation • Elevated pH • High soil moisture • High methane levels • Low abundance of woody plants
Effects of pH Leachates Decomposing refuse Basic Soil Inhibited plant growth
Effects of Soil Moisture Water binding Clay Cap Dense soil Poor Root Growth
Effects of Methane Methane release Organic Waste Methanotrophs Poor plant growth Excess CO2
Lack of Woody Plants Basic soil + Moist clay cap + Anoxic conditions = Poor plant growth
Red Rock Canyon Landfill • Location • Operated from 1970 until 1986 • Fifty feet of debris covering the 80 acre landfill area • Clay-capped in 1986
Hypothesis • Low abundance of woody plants in landfill because of: -Acidic Soil -High Soil Moisture Content -High Methane Levels
Methods: Establishing Plots http://www.saveredrockcanyon.com/location.htm
Results 1) Abundance 2) Temperature 3) Moisture 4) pH 5) Methane
Furthering Studies • More time/plots • Deeper soil tests • Trace metals and cations • Leachate composition • Seed dispersal • Redox tests • DNA probe
Societal Impact http://www.saveredrockscanyon.com/photos.htm http://www.saveredrockscanyon.com/photos.htm
Works Cited: Arthur, J.J., Leone, I.A. Leone, and F.B. Flower. 1981. Flooding and Landfill Gas Effects on Red and Sugar Maples. Journal of Environmental Quality. 10: 431-433. Ellis, D. 2000. The Landfill. Red Rock Rag. 2: 2-3 Ellis, D. 2000. Keep this Map. Red Rock Rag. 7: 2-3 Ettala, M., P. Rahkonen, V. Kitunen, O. Valo, and M.S. Salonen. 1988. Quality of Refuse, Gas, and Water at a Sanitary Landfill. Aqua Fennica. 18: 15-28. Fernandez, I.J. and P.A. Kosian. 1987. Soil Air Carbon Dioxide Concentrations in a New England Spruce-Fir Forest. Soil Science of America Journal. 51: 261-263. Foster, G. A. 2001. Assessment of Landfill Reclamation and the Effects of Age on the Combustion of Recovered MSW. MSW Management. Gilman, E.F., Flower, F.B, and I.D. Leone. 1985. Standardized Procedures for Planting Vegetation on Completed Landfills. 3: 65-80. McDonnell, M.J., and E.W. Stiles. 1983. The Structural Complexity of Old Field Vegetation and the Recruitment of Bird-Dispersed Plant Species. Oecologia. 56: 109-116. Whitney, G.G. 1991. Relation of Plant Species to Substrate, Landscape Position, and Aspect in North Central Massachusetts. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 1245-1252. Wise, M. G., J. V. McArthur, and L. J. Shimkets. 1999. Methanotroph Diversity in Landfill soil: Isolation of Novel Type I and Type II Methantrophs whose Presence was suggested by Culture-Independent 16S Ribosomal DNA Analysis. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 65: 4887-4897. Wong, M. H. 2003 Landfill Restoration for Sustainable Waste Management and Land Utilization. Proceedings of the Internet Conference on Ecocity Development.
Acknowledgements: • Sharon Hall • Shar Samy • Terry Putman • Joss McKinnen • The RRCL Security Guard • The German Women Hiking Group