Kern River Apex Expansion Pipeline Restoration Project Plant Mortality

TJ Ersfeld
GEOG 1820: Final Project
Introduction
Between 2010 and 2014, Kern River Gas Transmission Company
constructed a 12 mile gas pipeline east of Bountiful, Utah. Following
the construction of the pipeline, a large-scale restoration project was
completed along the 12 mile construction scar above the new pipeline.
128 planting pods were created by GIS staff and Landscape Architects
from Environmental Planning Group, LLC to visually mitigate the effects
of the scar by placing proper plant species along the pipeline scar based
on background vegetation. Over the course of two years, Kern River
planted and re-planted over 100,000 trees and shrubs within the 128
pods along the pipeline scar. This poster visually summarizes if there is
a correlation between new plant mortality with regard to aspect,
elevation, and slope.

Analysis
Plant mortality data was collected by biologists from Environmental
Planning Group, LLC in September 2014 by walking linear transects
through planting pods. Furthermore, 187 16 by 16 plots were created
within planting pods with an elevation center point. Over the course of
3 weeks, biologists counted over 14,000 newly planted trees and shrubs
and categorized plants as either dead, damaged, and alive. Plant
mortality percentages for each planting pod were calculated in
Microsoft excel and then joined to the geographic location of planting
pods and plots within ArcGIS. Finally raster data of slope and aspect
were color coded and added as a background layer to display if any
visual correlations exist between mortality, slope, and aspect. With
regards to elevation, plant mortality percentages for each 16 by 16
planting plot were calculated within Microsoft excel and were joined to
the center points of planting pods containing elevation data in ArcGIS.
Correlations are displayed visually with maps as well as quantitatively
with excel tables and scatter plots.

Conclusions
There was not a significant correlation between plant mortality with
regards to slope or elevation; however there was a small correlation
between plant mortality and aspect. Plant mortality on south aspects
was between a 5 and 30 percent higher than plant mortality on all
other aspects. Although aspect may have played a role in plant
mortality rates, it is probably not the biggest cause of plant mortality.
Other, more significant, impacts causing plant mortality were likely soil
type, time of year plantings were installed, and lack of supplemental
water.

Data Sources:
Kern River Gas Transmission Company
Environmental Planning Group, LLC