this post was submitted on 09 Aug 2023
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[meme] What would you replace parking lots with if it were up to you? (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

While that is an enviable end goal, it's not as simple as 'giving it back to nature'. I realize you're probably aware you've oversimplified that statement, but here are somethings that need to be considered to return the land to nature:

  • do people even want this reclaimed? You're going to have a shit load of stake holders that all have diffent visions for the land in question What was the pre-disturbance ecosystem?
  • Do you have a plan to unify this patch of land with other ecosystems like it?
  • There is no topsoil, so what are you going to use for a growth media? Usually it's organic amendments mixed with the subsoil.
  • how much will it cost to amend the subsoil with organic amendments (in lieu of topsoil) and where will you get it from?
  • what are the application rates of the amendments that ensure plant growth? " parking lots are compacted, so you'll have to get equipment to decompact it. This will require a minimum of two passes with a dozer ripping to 50-100 cm in depth
  • What planting or seeding rates are you going to use?
  • how will you manage weed ingess? Spraying is relatively easy but it's expensive. Manual pulling sucks
  • how will you know when your reclamation and revgetation efforts are successful?

Again, I'm not trying to tee off on you, here, but I think a lot of people oversimplify reclamation. It is so, so much easier to conserve rather than reclaim.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Yes, I was being simple and romantic my lemon. But I'll engage.

do people even want this reclaimed? You’re going to have a shit load of stake holders that all have diffent visions for the land in question What was the pre-disturbance ecosystem?

Yes, I do. OP asked what I would do and my answer is tear up/redevelop based on proximity to urban centers.

Do you have a plan to unify this patch of land with other ecosystems like it?

No. We're going to have a new ecosystem comprised of scarred earth that will suffer from erosion for a decade or so before vegetation takes hold.

There is no topsoil, so what are you going to use for a growth media? Usually it’s organic amendments mixed with the subsoil.

There won't be topsoil until naturally deposited organic matter decomposes and mixes with minerals at the site. This could take awhile.

how much will it cost to amend the subsoil with organic amendments (in lieu of topsoil) and where will you get it from?

Not applicable. We're doing acclerated erosion until natural depostion and decomposition of organic matter can bring vegetation to the site.

what are the application rates of the amendments that ensure plant growth? " parking lots are compacted, so you’ll have to get equipment to decompact it. This will require a minimum of two passes with a dozer ripping to 50-100 cm in depth What planting or seeding rates are you going to use?

Not applicable...

how will you manage weed ingess? Spraying is relatively easy but it’s expensive. Manual pulling sucks

Weeds will be watered when it rains. They will help control site erosion.

how will you know when your reclamation and revgetation efforts are successful?

When clover and dandelions spring up in April and bees forage them.

That was fun, thank you for asking.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

The best time to tear up a parking lot is 10 years ago.

The second best time is today.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Peaches,

Again, I'm trying to come at this from an educational perspective (not directed at you, but whoever will read it), as reclamation is my area of expertise.

do people even want this reclaimed? You’re going to have a shit load of stake holders that all have diffent visions for the land in question What was the pre-disturbance ecosystem? Yes, I do. OP asked what I would do and my answer is tear up/redevelop based on proximity to urban centers

Here, I'm getting at that you need to consider the sale of the land, the zoning, and neighbourhood and municipal government interests before you can change what land is used for.

Do you have a plan to unify this patch of land with other ecosystems like it?

No. We’re going to have a new ecosystem comprised of scarred earth that will suffer from erosion for a decade or so before vegetation takes hold.

This will take a lot longer than you'd expect, given the soil is compacted and devoid of nutrients. I've seen compacted pads/parking lots remain mostly unvegetated 20 years later. Look at abandoned wellsites, and seismic/cutlines for other examples, and those examples have surrounding seed sources.

There is no topsoil, so what are you going to use for a growth media? Usually it’s organic amendments mixed with the subsoil.

There won’t be topsoil until naturally deposited organic matter decomposes and mixes with minerals at the site. This could take awhile.

Again, this is going to take a very long time. Soil takes 200-500 years to form 1 inch of topsoil under ideal conditions. Most plants need a minimum of 10 cm of topsoil to grow. If you use amendments, you can definitely speed this process up. Look at oil sands or mine site reclamation. They can get some pretty solid establishment after 10-20 years. Despite this, they don't expect to achieve a late seral stage community until 100-250 years out.

how much will it cost to amend the subsoil with organic amendments (in lieu of topsoil) and where will you get it from?

Not applicable. We’re doing acclerated erosion until natural depostion and decomposition of organic matter can bring vegetation to the site.

I don't see how erosion is supposed to be a soil forming factor. natural deposition and decomposition of litter from established plants can definitely build soil, but it takes time. Alders are really good at this. They have nitrogen fixing capabilities, and can grow in some absolutely dogshit soil conditions.

what are the application rates of the amendments that ensure plant growth? " parking lots are compacted, so you’ll have to get equipment to decompact it. This will require a minimum of two passes with a dozer ripping to 50-100 cm in depth What planting or seeding rates are you going to use?

not applicable

yes, applicable. you need to prepare the reclaimed soil profile so that roots can penetrate and you've established soil drainage, lest your plants drown from ponding water.

Re: weeds - there's regulations around some of them (noxious etc). so you'd be forced to treat them. Clover and dandelions is a far cry from whatever pre-disturbance or naturalized system people may want.