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Athabasca Vegetation Case Study
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Recommended: Soil erosion
With the loss of infiltration that follows the removal of vegetation, there will likely be an increase in runoff around sites that have been altered for forestry or oil and gas. Vegetation is also key for the prevention of erosion, as the roots anchor the soil in place. Without vegetation the deterioration of the soil organic matter is rapid, (R. L. Baumhardt et al). The soil becomes vulnerable to erosion. This can be of considerable concern in the Athabasca watershed, where many sites that are affected by resource exploration already contain naturally occurring contaminants, such as heavy metals and polycyclic hydrocarbons, (c. Boutin & D. J. Carpenter). Without vegetation to tie up these contaminants it is likely they will be introduced
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