Motorized Activity on Legacy Seismic Lines: A Predictive Modeling Approach to Prioritize Restoration Efforts

Abstract

Natural regeneration of seismic lines, cleared for hydrocarbon exploration, is slow and often hindered by vegetation damage, soil compaction, and motorized human activity. There is an extensive network of seismic lines in western Canada which is known to impact forest ecosystems, and seismic lines have been linked to declines in woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). Seismic line restoration is costly, but necessary for caribou conservation to reduce cumulative disturbance. Understanding where motorized activity may be impeding regeneration of seismic lines will aid in prioritizing restoration. Our study area in west-central Alberta, encompassed five caribou ranges where restoration is required under federal species at risk recovery strategies, hence prioritizing seismic lines for restoration is of immediate conservation value. To understand patterns of motorized activity on seismic lines, we evaluated five a priori hypotheses using a predictive modeling framework and Geographic Information System variables across three landscapes in the foothills and northern boreal regions of Alberta. In the northern boreal landscape, motorized activity was most common in dry areas with a large industrial footprint. In highly disturbed areas of the foothills, motorized activity on seismic lines increased with low vegetation heights, relatively dry soils, and further from forest cutblocks, while in less disturbed areas of the foothills, motorized activity on seismic lines decreased proportional to seismic line density, slope steepness, and white-tailed deer abundance, and increased proportional with distance to roads. We generated predictive maps of high motorized activity, identifying 21,777 km of seismic lines where active restoration could expedite forest regeneration.

Modeling multispecies predator–prey dynamics: predicting the outcomes of conservation actions for woodland caribou

“…, Hornseth et al. ). For example, the removal of select features might prevent use by humans that suppress natural revegetation or access by wolves to larger areas of caribou range.…”

“…This could include replanting roads or seismic lines with vegetation or blocking the lines to prevent use by wolves (Pyper et al 2014). Strategic restoration recognizes the purposeful removal of particular linear features that increase the overall effect of a restoration program over a broader area (Pigeon et al 2016, Hornseth et al 2018. For example, the removal of select features might prevent use by humans that suppress natural revegetation or access by wolves to larger areas of caribou range.…”

Grizzly bear response to spatio‐temporal variability in human recreational activity

“…Further methods that model potential activity based on landscape variables, such as trail vegetation and industrial footprint (see Hornseth et al. ), could allow expansion of current recovery plan targets that rely primarily on road densities. Our observed responses by grizzly bears to recreational activity suggest that management actions to restrict human access, specifically for motorised recreation, could benefit grizzly bears; although further information is required to determine if human‐recreational activity is ultimately reducing grizzly bear survival or reproduction (Lamb et al., ).…”

The influence of forest harvesting activities on seismic line tree and shrub regeneration in upland mixedwood boreal forests

“…The study area falls within the Manning Forest Products (MFP) Forest Management Agreement (FMA) area where many conventional seismic lines overlap with historical or near-term approved future timber harvest areas. The average seismic line density in this boreal region of northwestern Alberta is 3.57 km km -2 with a maximum density of 21.90 km km -2 (Hornseth et al, 2018). This area is also considered an important climate refuge for boreal wildlife including the threatened Chinchaga boreal woodland caribou population, where 96% of their range is disturbed by seismic lines and 71% of this range is tenured by FMAs and/or quotas (Alberta Wilderness Association, 2020; Government of Alberta, 2017).…”

“…In Alberta's foothills region, an area of high oil and gas activity, seismic line density is more than double that of roads, railways, power-lines, and pipelines combined (Pattison et al, 2016). From the 1950s until the 2000s, conventional seismic lines were generally 5-10 m wide and cleared using bulldozers (Dabros et al, 2018;Hornseth et al, 2018). In more recent decades, low impact seismic technology has been developed to create narrower meandering 2-4 m wide lines with minimal soil disturbance (Dabros et al, 2018).…”