Natural Revegetation of 15 Abandoned Mine Land Sites in West Virginia

Abstract Fifteen AML sites ranging in age from 13 to 35 yr in northern West Virginia were selected from three surface‐mined coal beds (Pittsburgh, Freeport, and Kittanning) to evaluate plant invasion and establishment on disturbed sites. Three 10 m by 10 m plots were randomly located on each site, and cover, density, and stem diameter of all woody plant species were measured. Herbaceous and plant litter cover were also estimated in square‐meter quadrats within each 10‐m 2 plot. Total tree cover was significantly different among sites on Pittsburgh and Kittanning coal mined sites, but not among Freeport sites. Among coal beds, Kittanning sites had the lowest tree cover (33% avg), Pittsburgh had an average of 67%, while Freeport sites had a multilayered tree cover averaging >100%. A total of 29 tree species were found on these sites. No tree species occurred on all 15 sites, but black cherry ( Prunus serotina Ehrh.) and red maple ( Acer rubrum L.) were found on 13 sites. Clustering produced three distinct plant communities including (i) an herbaceous community, (ii) a tree community dominated by red maple, and (iii) another tree community of primarily black birch ( Betula lenta L.). Herbaceous communities were found on sites with soil pH > 5.0, while tree communities occurred on sites with pH < 5.0. On disturbed sites with high soil pH, herbaceous plants rapidly invaded and formed an almost complete cover. On low‐pH sites, the invasion of plant species from adjacent undisturbed sites was initiated in favorable microsites where minesoil or environmental conditions were ameliorated.