Hey, I put up those signs.
This looks like one where they are trying to restore a naturally or semi-naturally disturbed area/habitat loss.
I start from zero: mined out areas, contaminants, geochemistry issues, and formulate a plan to put it all back.
What are you like a geohydrauligist or something?
What sort of geochemistry issues? I assume they would all be related to contamination, what other kind could there be that would be an issue?
Sulphide-bearing rock if left exposed to oxygen, or oxygenated water can result in metal leaching/acid rock drainage (ML/ARD). Not all exposed rock contains sulphides, but a lot where mines are do.
Onset times can be relatively fast (years) to long term (decades).
Tailings can be a huge source of this, so can waste rock piles. To stop this, we often create engineered covers to limit infiltration and reduce exposure to oxygen. In cases where we can't manage this, the water is directed to a mined out pit or something similar and treated either actively or passively
Ha, that's so cool!
It makes sense, this was close to a creek and the area is significantly fire-prone. I am sure that the recovery after a wildfire would be way harder if people were to have free access to such a sensitive habitat.
Agreed. I love that.
It's a shame people can't be trusted to act responsibly and such measures are necessary, but it's nice that some places care to do it.
That is true. I’m glad that here there are people who look after our ecosystem.
But I like to think that in most cases where hikers disturb the environment, it is due to ignorance. I don’t think most people realize how fragile some habitats are and what is or isn’t okay to do, that’s why signs and barricades and whatnot are important.
