Science for Decision Making on Uranium Mining in Arizona

The recent closure and reclamation performed at the Kanab North Mine north of the Grand Canyon provides an opportunity to test new and innovative restoration approaches. Effective restoration practices implemented at Kanab North have the potential to inform recovery efforts at the Arizona 1, Pinenut, Pinyon Plain (formerly Canyon), and EZ uranium mines, and other mines that may become active in the future.

Although translocation of chemical elements (movement of chemical elements such as uranium and arsenic from the soil into plant tissue) can occur during multiple mining phases (e.g. surface operation development, active mining, ore storage), the mine closure process is a critical step for ensuring that former mine sites are no longer a source of contamination.

Successful approaches developed and tested here could be applied in other uranium reclamation actions in the Grand Canyon ecosystem and in dryland ecosystems of the southwest.

Objectives

• Test alternative soil and site stabilization methods that are not solely dependent on seedling germination (e.g., soil crust inoculation [adding micro-organisms to the soil to help speed formation of soil crusts that are important soil stabilizers in desert regions] and connectivity modifiers [small structures added to the soil surface to help soil and new plants resist wind erosion]).
• Evaluate which seed mixes maximize establishment, survival, and productivity of perennial vegetation, including an assessment of native vs. non-native seed sources.
• Determine how combinations of surface soil amendments, site modifiers, and seed mixes interact to increase soil stability and re-vegetation.

Status

Ongoing

Specific Tasks

Task 19: Determine sensitivity of native wildlife receptors to chemical and radiation exposure

Principal Investigators

Mike Duniway
Research Ecologist
Southwest Biological Science Center
928.556.7530
mduniway@usgs.gov

Photo Gallery

Kanab North Mine Gallery