AML Resources | Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Program Overview

The Iowa Abandoned Mine Land (AML) program strives to return mined land back to its pre-mining condition using federal dollars from active coal mining across the country. Iowa’s abandoned mine sites are surface coal mines that were stripped of their topsoil and overburden to expose the underlying coal. Mining operations that ceased before 1977 had no provisions to reclaim the now heavily disturbed land. There are 300+ abandoned coal mines totaling over 13,000 acres in the AML inventory, located mostly in the southeastern part of the state.

Improving Soil Health

The reclamation process only treats the top 12 inches of soil with lime and organic matter to establish vegetation. Once vegetation is established and growing, nutrients are consumed by the vegetation and recycled by the plants. If you are taking vegetation away you will need to replace those nutrients that are harvested along with the vegetation.

As with any perennial system, it is important to maintain soil fertility to create the most productive environment possible. Soil testing and proper nutrient management will help keep nutrients (nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and/or potassium (K)) in balance. Periodically adding compost or manure to the soil can increase organic matter.

You can also increase soil health by keeping the site seeded to a diverse mix of grasses and legumes. This seeding mix can include native or introduced species. What is most important is to establish a diverse stand of vegetation. In addition, legumes or other flowering plants can be included to benefit pollinators.

Planting trees

Landowners may be interested in planting trees to slow runoff and hold soil in place, to add in the diversity to the landscape, or to attract wildlife such as songbirds, turkey, or deer.

Every tree planting project involves several steps which must be completed with knowledge and care to ensure success. The steps include: selection of suitable tree species that can do well on reclaimed land, site preparation, proper planting of seedlings, and post-planting care and assessment. These steps are more critical on reclaimed mine lands where the landscape is fragile and the soils are not as fertile as undisturbed land.

If not experienced in establishing trees on fragile lands, assistance is available from a forestry professional. Experienced foresters are knowledgeable about the appropriate tree species and care needed to successfully plant on reclaimed lands.

Landowners frequently enter into a 4-year contract (tree planting + 3 years of maintenance) with a forestry professional to ensure the proper site preparation, tree species selection and post-planting maintenance is completed.

The most common reason for a failed tree planting is insufficient control of weeds and grass that outcompete young seedlings for moisture.

Wildlife Habitat

Reclaimed mine sites can be managed as green browse for wildlife. Green browse are living plants intentionally planted to attract and feed wildlife species. Green browse plots are often planted with a mix of grass and perennial legumes.

Green browse plots provide wildlife with bedding, food and brooding sites, and can be customized to attract certain species. Deer and rabbits will feed during the spring, summer and fall while turkey, pheasants, quail and songbirds will use green browse to find insects to feed their young.

To maintain green browse once it is established, mow once a year between July 15 and August 30 to create openings for young birds and mammals to sun themselves and dry off after heavy dews and rains. Mowing will also make the vegetation most appetizing for wildlife. The mowing height should be 4 to 6 inches. Continue to monitor the planting each year. Renovation may be necessary every 3 to 4 years if weeds or grasses take over.

Hay Production

With proper care and management, reclaimed land can be used for hay production. However, it is important to remember that reclaimed land cannot be hayed in the same manner as undisturbed ground.

On reclaimed land it is recommended to wait until vegetation is well established before cutting, which could take several years. When hay is taken, it should be cut high. Reclaimed ground will not tolerate as many cuttings in a year as unreclaimed ground, so it must be monitored closely.

As with any hay ground management system, it is important to maintain soil fertility to generate the most productive crop possible. Each time hay is harvested, soil fertility is removed. Soil testing and proper nutrient management will help keep nutrients (nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and/or potassium (K)) in balance. Replenishing nutrients as necessary will help maintain the best stand possible.

Grazing

With proper care and management, reclaimed land can be grazed. However, it is important to remember that reclaimed land cannot tolerate continuous grazing (animals having unrestricted and uninterrupted access throughout the grazing season).

On reclaimed land, grazing must be limited. Grazing needs to be restricted to short-term events, and is sometimes called “flash grazing.” Animals should not graze until the forages are at least 12” tall. The animals should then be moved to a different paddock once the stubble is 6” tall. This grazing needs to coincide with a dry soil surface. At least 30 days of rest are needed before re-grazing the reclaimed land.

One common form of limited grazing is called “mob-grazing,” where a high density of livestock grazes a small area for a short period of time. A mob grazing system provides more uniform consumption of the forage, distribution of manure and urine, and trampling of uneaten forage into the soil where it is converted to organic matter, which protects and feeds the soil life.

As with any grazing system, it is important to maintain soil fertility to create the most productive pasture possible. Soil testing and proper nutrient management will help keep your nutrients (nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and/or potassium (K)) in balance.