Abstract

Assessment of Tree Height on Reclaimed Mine Sites: Eastern Kentucky
Track: Forestry
Authors: David Jones

Pike County and Magoffin County are located in the Eastern (Appalachian Plateau) region of Kentucky and contain approximately 359,203 acres of permitted mine land. This mine land is located in areas which have deciduous forests that are typically removed from the site and may or may not be re-established during reclamation of the mine sites. Reclamation of the mine sites can include urban uses, reforestation, wildlife refuges, and farmland. Using LIDAR data collected throughout Pike County and Magoffin County, Kentucky tree succession will be monitored by analyzing tree height across these different reclamation land types. The canopy height and/or vegetation height will be calculated to compare the growth of trees since their reclamation bond release date and compare between growth rates of the different reclamation types. It is estimated that reforestation focused reclamation projects will have the highest tree growth while other types may be limited.