On April 13, 1997 Henry Prellwitz,
Ph.D. candidate in geology from the University of Pittsburgh led a tour
of the slag heaps. Henry began by taking us up to look at an Ames Limestone
outcrop just below the Jewish home for the aged, then through, around
and up and over the border of the slag heap. He identified various geologic
features on the border of the slag/natural landscape and began an interesting
discussion about the diversity of potential study areas on the site
and the need for an extended exploration. [Sleep the Heap, and the possibility
of an onsite symposium were floated!] He also explained that he has
currently made an application for Heinz foundation funding, for test
borings related to a groundwater inquiry for his PHD thesis. Henry was
supported by Dr. Michael Bikerman his advisor during the tour. Steffi
Domike invited Mining Engineer Chris Mark to participate as well. At
the same time, John Stephen led a small group of educators and water
biologists on a tour of the wetlands area of the site. Jody Krug a South
Hill educator, Louise Davis a wetlands scientists/artist; Nancy Rackham
a DEP water pollution biologist, and various folks from the educational
curriculum offices at Pittsburgh City Schools.
John
Buck
John
with Eva once again, discussing his techniques
of mushroom compost and seedlings
for reclaiming slag hillsides.
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On March 16, 1997, John
Buck, Environmental Scientist, and his daughter Eva led a tour of
areas upon which he'd conducted reclamation and revegetation experiments
with Black Locusts and other species, 10 years ago. On steep slopes
Black Locust and Bristly Locust seedlings were planted by volunteers
suspended by ropes in the spring of 1986. They are now 12+ feet
tall and have survived two significant droughts (1988 and 1995).
The soil treatments that worked included surficial application of
spent mushroom compost, without incorporation (plowing under), followed
by seeding a mixture of warm- and cool-season grasses, birdsfoot
trefoil (a legume), and planting of day lily bulbs. In the fall
of 1995, lucky timing (merciful rains) and application of commercial
fertilizer and winter rye seed alone also worked and nearby seed
sources have since colonized the soil surface with perennial species.
Compare the bare nature of this slope, with the following photograph.
John Buck is employed
as a Project Manager for the firm of Civil and Environmental Consultants
Inc.
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