Cleanup Objectives: Restore soil and ecosystems severely degraded by past mining activities conducted upstream

Greener Remediation Strategy:

Applied biosolids and assorted amendments

• Applied 100 dry tons (pellets) of biosolids to each of 20 target acres along 11-mile stretch of river
• Mixed biosolids with lime to reduce soil acidity, supporting increased plant viability and metal insolubility
• Seeded native plants and quick-growing ryegrass
• Added compost and woody material as additional plant nutrients
• Added wood chips to reduce nitrogen (nutrient) leaching
• Covered amended soil with native hay to promote plant growth and seeding

Results:

• Revegetated denuded acreages
• Reduced concentrations/bioavailability of zinc and other metals through bioremediation, phytoremediation processes, and solubility reduction
• Neutralized soil to levels supporting healthier ecosystems
• Reduced soil erosion, river channel degradation, and property loss
• Re-established communities of native plants such as white yarrow and tufted hairgrass

Property End Use: Agriculture and recreation