Vegetation characteristics on a pipeline right-of-way twelve years after construction in southern Alberta

A long-term project to monitor revegetation on native rangelands in southeastern and southwestern Alberta was initiated by the NOVA Corporation in 1986. The two pipeline laterals are the Milo lateral and the Porcupine Hills lateral; in both cases the rights-of-way are 18 m. wide. Revegetation sites that crossed five ecoregions were selected. Four sites were established on each lateral. Revegetation was completed in 1986 and 1987, respectively. Topsoil was conserved using ditchline stripping. Vegetation assessments were made annually for the first five years after reclamation and again in 1998. Twelve years after the pipelines were constructed grazing appeared to have had little impact on the density of forbs on either of the pipelines. There was evidence of impact of grazing on grasses, however, without consistency between the two pipelines or the variables or the manner in which they were affected. Rights-of-way zone effect was greater in the Milo grass variables, however, no firm conclusions can be stated due to differences in soil characteristics, grass species and climate