Date of Award

2022

Publisher

North Dakota State University

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Awarded

Master of Science (MS)

Program

Natural Resources Management

Department

Natural Resources Management

College

Agriculture, Food Systems and Natural Resources

Faculty Advisor

Ross, Darrell

Description

Since 2000, the oil industry in North Dakota has grown to become the fifth largest oil producing and the second largest oil production and reserve state in the country. This increase in growth and activity has contributed to large amounts of ecological disturbance and degradation in western North Dakota. Oil companies are required to complete reclamations on disturbed and degraded lands once well pad activity ceases at a site. It is unclear how successful these reclamations are though as studies have found that significant ecological recovery can take multiple decades. This study assessed the recovery of soil properties and vegetation establishment on reclamations varying in age up to 37 years. It was determined that, at least in western North Dakota, soil microbes in reclaimed areas reflect those of undisturbed areas more over time and that time does not appear to have much effect on vegetation presence in reclaimed areas.

Rights

NDSU policy 190.6.2

Rights Link

https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/policy/190.pdf

Handle Identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/10365/33313

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