9.5 Landscape Restoration
Hydrogeologic processes play an important role in landscape function when planning landscape restoration (re-construction) following closure of a mine site. For example, the hydrogeologic component of the water cycle is key in planning for eventual closure of the oil sands operations in northern Alberta or at strip mines where land disturbance can cover many tens of km2. Wetlands are an important element in landscape function in many climatic regimes and it is common to see wetlands included as an integral design element in the land surface. Local scale groundwater flow in a constructed landscape needs to be considered as the local systems oftentimes serve to sustain a wetland during dry season conditions. Consideration of groundwater flow paths is also required in evaluating salt loads and potential soil salinization in a restored landscape. The role of hydrogeology in landscape restoration in the oil sands mining area of northern Alberta in Canada is discussed at length in the report “Guidelines for Wetlands Establishment on Reclaimed Oil Sands Leases”, published by the Cumulative Environmental Management Association in 2014. As an illustrative case study, a comprehensive discussion of the closure plan for the Ranger Uranium Mine in northern Australia, including the role of hydrogeology and application of hydrogeologic models in the design of the plan, can be found at the website www.energyres.com.au/sustainability/closureplan.