Earth Day Award NominationConocoPhillips

Reese Canyon Drill Site

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Project History Overview

Exploration well drilled in 1997 when site was under State ownership

State accepted original reclamation efforts Land ownership was transferred to Grand

Staircase-Escalante National Monument in 1999

ConocoPhillips continued reclamation of the five acre site by seeding in 2002, monitoring in 2003, and replanting in 2004.

Location information

45 miles southeast of Escalante, UT Located in remote area of the

Kaiparowits Plateau Area contains network of canyons

with steep slopes and sandstone ledges

Surrounding vegetation is pinyon-juniper interspersed with sagebrush shrubland

Reese Canyon Setting

Original Reclamation Efforts – Phase 1

Site was regraded and seeded in 1997 with limited success

Native, BLM approved seed mix was used

Dark soils and south facing slopes presented challenges to restoration of the site

Phase 2 Reclamation

Maxim Technologies contracted in 2002 to reseed site with mix of native shrubs, forbs, and grasses

Site was mulched for moisture retention Baseline vegetation studies implemented

to track project success Moderate success due to drought

conditions

Phase 2 Reclamation

Phase 2 Reclamation – Vegetation Studies

Phase 3 Reclamation

ATC Associates contracted in 2004 to conduct further reclamation

Continued vegetation monitoring Innovative strategies such as pocket

planting implemented Small and large woody debris added

to site to retain soil moisture and slow erosion

Phase 3 Reclamation – Pocket Plantings

Pocket plantings

Phase 3 Reclamation – Palmer penstemon

Phase 3 Reclamation

Phase 3 Reclamation

Phase 4 Reclamation – 2005 Activities

ConocoPhillips/ATC Associates will conduct a reconnaissance trip this spring to determine extent of any erosion

Erosion control structures will be implemented as needed

Russian thistle seedlings will be removed Annual vegetation monitoring data will be

collected

Award Justification

Continued commitment to reclamation of site regardless of state approval

Use of innovative techniques to achieve reclamation success

Establishment and seed production of native species on a site with poor growing conditions