Virginia Tech’s research on improving the land of surface mines will be presented at The Powell River Project Symposium Sept. 12. The conference will take  at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Water quality, reforestation, soil and wildlife will be among the topics covered. For more information, visit www.prp.cses.vt.edu.

Here is the press release from Virginia Tech.

BLACKSBURG, Va., Sept. 7, 2012 – A conference highlighting Virginia Tech’s research on improving reclaimed surface-mine lands in Southwest Virginia’s coalfield region will be held Wednesday, Sept. 12, from 1-4:30 p.m. at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise at the Chapel of All Faiths in Wise, Va.

The Powell River Project Symposium will include presentations by Virginia Tech faculty and graduate students about their ongoing work to restore mining lands for productive uses while protecting the environment.

“Researchers will communicate their findings to the coal industry, natural resource agency personnel, and local citizens,” said Carl Zipper, professor of crop and soil environmental sciences in the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director of the Powell River Project. Zipper is also a Virginia Cooperative Extension specialist. “Anyone who has an interest in these topics is welcome to attend.”

Subjects that will be discussed include water quality issues; reforestation, biomass production, soil development, and wildlife habitat on reclaimed mine areas; and reconstruction of streams on lands that have been affected by mining.

Since 1980, the Powell River Project has included research and education programs to enhance restoration of mined lands and to benefit communities in Southwest Virginia’s coalfield region. The Powell River Project is a cooperative project of Virginia Tech and the coal industry. Its 1,100-acre center is a hub of research programs focused on developing practical, cost-effective solutions to natural resource problems in central Appalachian coal mining areas. The center also provides a home to education programs operated through Virginia Cooperative Extension that put completed research into practice.

The Powell River Project works collaboratively with other educational entities in the area, including UVa-Wise, where the symposium will be held.
More information on the symposium and mine restoration can be found on the Powell River Project’s website www.prp.cses.vt.edu.

Nationally ranked among the top research institutions of its kind, Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences focuses on the science and business of living systems through learning, discovery, and engagement. The college’s comprehensive curriculum gives more than 3,100 students in a dozen academic departments a balanced education that ranges from food and fiber production to economics to human health. Students learn from the world’s leading agricultural scientists, who bring the latest science and technology into the classroom.