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A multiple-state reclamation award
winner, Catenary Coal Company’s Samples Mine Complex has added
another aspect to its ongoing focus on wildlife habitat enhancement.
The company has entered into a cooperative agreement with Riverside
High School as part of the Fellowship Program between West Virginia
University and Catenary’s parent company Arch Coal, Inc.
Greenhouse constructed
to provide tree stem growth, bird nesting,
and accommodate WVU soils
studies.
A greenhouse has been constructed
on-site to propagate trees in native soils. Trees including species
such as Oaks, Chestnuts and Walnuts are grown in order to establish
a long-term food source enhancement for ducks, turkey, deer, quail,
pheasant and black bear.
Tree stem growth at the
greenhouse.
The students fertilize, maintain,
and finally plant the tree seedlings on reclaimed land. They then
monitor growth. The seeds for native trees are stocked at Samples
Mine and planted to provide food sources native to the region. Nuts
such as acorns are 90% of the wild turkeys diet in the fall.
Students planting seeds
at planting beds by the greenhouse.
Catenary Coal has also acquired
equipment to incubate, raise, and release native species of birds to
facilitate wildlife development throughout the area. Students
participating in the “Classroom on the Mountain” project have
released Bobwhite Quail on reclaimed land on the Samples Mine
property.
Quail and incubator in
the greenhouse, with tree stems in the background.
After eggs produced by quail at
the Mine Site are transported to Riverside High School, they are
incubated utilizing the equipment provided by Catenary Coal Company.
The hatchlings are cared for and raised at the school, then released
at the Samples Mine Complex. Other species being adopted into the
program include Turkey, Pharaoh Quail and Ring Necked Pheasant.
Photos courtesy of Catenary Coal Company,
and IMCC
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