TransAlta’s Wabamun power plant needed coal

The Whitewood Mine landscape was transformed after reclamation of a 48 year old coal mine

Aerial seeding filling sack, preparing to heli-seed grass seed mixture at Whitewood Mine.
After 48 years of supplying coal to the nearby Wabamun power plant, TransAlta’s Whitewood Mine closed in 2010. The site is located north of Wabamun Lake, about 70 km west of Edmonton. All 1,900 hectares of the former mine site have been reclaimed into varying land forms and end-land uses. Today, a mix of agricultural, wildlife and wetland habitat are present within the Whitewood Mine footprint. What was once an active coal mine has been transformed to productive agricultural land where cattle graze, lush crops wave in the wind and anglers enjoy fishing and other recreational pursuits at East Pit Lake, which was formed from an end-pit in the mine.

Since 2010, TransAlta has spent close to $20 million completing one of Canada’s largest coal mine reclamation programs. More than 280,000 trees have been planted on reclaimed land since the closure of the mine. These trees include a variety of upland tree species such as aspen, balsam poplar, pine and spruce. Amid large tracts of agriculturally productive lands, there are three end-pit lakes and numerous wetland and wooded areas.

TransAlta’s Wabamun power plant needed coal

The Whitewood Mine landscape was transformed after reclamation of a 48 year old coal mine

After 48 years of supplying coal to the nearby Wabamun power plant, TransAlta’s Whitewood Mine closed in 2010. The site is located north of Wabamun Lake, about 70 km west of Edmonton. All 1,900 hectares of the former mine site have been reclaimed into varying land forms and end-land uses. Today, a mix of agricultural, wildlife and wetland habitat are present within the Whitewood Mine footprint. What was once an active coal mine has been transformed to productive agricultural land where cattle graze, lush crops wave in the wind and anglers enjoy fishing and other recreational pursuits at East Pit Lake, which was formed from an end-pit in the mine.

Since 2010, TransAlta has spent close to $20 million completing one of Canada’s largest coal mine reclamation programs. More than 280,000 trees have been planted on reclaimed land since the closure of the mine. These trees include a variety of upland tree species such as aspen, balsam poplar, pine and spruce. Amid large tracts of agriculturally productive lands, there are three end-pit lakes and numerous wetland and wooded areas.
Aerial seeding filling sack, preparing to heli-seed grass seed mixture at Whitewood Mine.
Plaque at East Pit Lake Park commemorating the creation of the Wabamun Whitewood Conservation Properties, a public access conservation area developed in partnership with the Alberta Fish & Game Association Wildlife Trust Fund. 
TransAlta and the Alberta Fish and Game Association Wildlife Trust Fund have established a long-term partnership to conserve reclaimed wetlands and natural areas for wildlife habitat. 

TransAlta donated 174 hectares of reclaimed land within the Whitewood Mine to the Wildlife Trust Fund as part of the 365-hectare Wabamun Whitewood Conservation property north of the Village of Wabamun.
Tree planting at west end of Whitewood Mine.
Dan Kuchmak, reclamation planning specialist with TransAlta at East Pit Lake — an end-pit lake stocked with fish. The property is open to public access, which was formerly part of the Whitewood Mine. June 2014
Reclamation planning

Reclamation plans for the Whitewood mine were conceptualized long before the mining process began. The goal was to return the land to the same agricultural capabilities after development as there was prior to any disturbance. These plans continued to evolve over the course of the project to meet specific regulations and development changes. “Reclamation of all our mines happens before, during and after the mining process is complete,” says Dan Kuchmak, reclamation planning specialist with TransAlta.
Reclamation certification

As part of the reclamation process, an application is made to the Alberta Energy Regulator for reclamation certification. Throughout the reclamation process timeline, TransAlta monitors agricultural production, ground and surface water, erosion, vegetation and weeds to ensure the capability and sustainability of the reclaimed land. Of the 1,900 hectares of mine land reclaimed at Whitewood, 1,130 hectares are certified by the Alberta Energy Regulator. As the transformation of the Whitewood Mine nears completion, 
TransAlta continues to work with the local municipality and neighbouring stakeholders. Fourteen kilometres of public roads have been built, the lands have been re-zoned and steps are being taken to subdivide the property to enable future sale of the land.
Tree planting at west end of Whitewood Mine.