Bingham Canyon Before Project. South Slope Before Mitigation.	Problem: Strip-mined areas, gob piles and industrial mineral waste sites were barren and eroded with a mixture of bench slopes and out slopes of 2:1 or steeper Soils were highly acidic (pH 2.9 to 3.4) without adequate stabilizing vegetation. Erosion caused off-site sedimentation of drainage. Special Client Concerns: Low-cost, low-maintenance reclamation method needed. Most areas not eligible for traditional reclamation techniques under federal abandoned mineland guidelines.
South Slope - 5 months After Mitigation.	Objective: Mine Waste Dumps: Mitigate production of acidic water, stabilize dumps and reduce erosion, establish vegetation and return dumps to wildlife habitat use. Borrow Areas:  Eliminate dust hazards, mitigate erosion, return to beneficial use. Tailings Areas:  Eliminate dust hazards, mitigate erosion, establish wildlife habitat area.
[click to enlarge right and left view] View of the South Slopes	PHC-REC Natural Systems Solutions: PHC-REC experts selected an ectomycorrhizal fungus, Pisolithus tinctorius (Pt), for use in the revegetation project.  This unique fungus is ecologically adapted to adverse and hostile soils. Tree seeding species that matched the site were inoculated with the Pt in a nursery prior to planting. California poppies were drill seeded.    The south slope is on the furthest left.   A seed mix consisting of native grasses, shrubs, forbes, and flowers (poppy) were drill-seeded into the final surface and have now successfully revegetated the reclamation area.
	Results: More than 6,000 acres of disturbed lands have been reclaimed to date, and the client's objectives have been met.  Regulatory compliance has been achieved for local, state and federal agencies.  Thousands of custom seedlings have been planted in the reclaimed areas.  Survival and growth rates of inoculated trees and shrubs are significantly higher than non-inoculated plants.  The client has received three environmental awards for reclamation.  Reclamation of additional disturbed lands continues.