Over the past few decades, the largest gas field in Wyoming, and the sixth largest in America, has been under reclamation. new research showsIt has proven to be effective.
The Pinedale Anticline Natural Gas Field stretches across 198,000 acres in west-central Wyoming. It was part of the 2000s oil-and-gas boom.
Almost 70% of the disturbed land is currently in the reclamation process, even though it is still active. It can be difficult to replant these sites, since the area receives very little precipitation and is frost-free.
These are some of the most difficult areas in the country to get vegetation growing, according to Michael Curran, an ecologist and researcher who has studied the area. It’s amazing to see how people from industry have figured this out.
Many well-pad locations have been planted using native grasses as well as floral pollinator plants.
Curran and other researchers, primarily from the University of Wyoming were interested in how the vegetation and insects coexist on the reclaimed areas.
Curran stated that insects can be key indicators for ecosystem functionality. Insects are also a vital component of many bird species’ diets, including the greater-sage grouse.
The Upper Green River Basin includes the Pinedale Anticline. One of the last ecosystemsThe greater sage-grouse thrive in areas where they are decreasing in numbers, but they are still thriving. Nearly listed as an endangered species, the sage-grouse was almost. 2015: Endangered species.
Curran said that he is optimistic about his research. Reclaimed sites were found to be more conducive to insects than similar areas that had not been reclaimed or drilled.
In particular, the insects preferred sites with floral pollinator flowers. In some cases, they observed a six to twelvefold increase in the number of insects and 73 times more beetles.
We know that beetles, especially in the early season, are an essential component of sage-grouse diets, especially for chicks.
Curran stated that a similar follow up study is being done for the Jonah Natural Gas Field, which is located 30,000 acres south-east of Pinedale.
