The Solvay Settling Basins 9-15, a New York State Class 3 inactive hazardous waste disposal site, is a complex of former tailings ponds comprising ~600 acres near Onondaga Lake, Syracuse. The tailings are a byproduct of local soda ash industry. Since the last deposition ~30 years ago, the tailings have dewatered to an alkaline, infertile material that comprises the main rooting substrate on site. A phased research, development, and commercialization program began in 2003 to minimize leachate generation via an evapotranspiration (ET) cover system for the site. Implemented over ~125 acres, the cover system, based on fast-growing willow vegetation, also is designed to produce renewable energy via woody biomass. With the proper combination of organic amendments and site preparation, willow production on this site has reached and sometimes exceeded levels measured on agricultural soils in the region. Growing season ET crop coefficients ranged up to 3 and averaged 1.1, suggesting substantial enhancement of background ET rates and reductions in leachate generation. A program of monitoring, improving site preparation and pest management, and screening new willow varieties is ongoing to ensure long-term system performance. Willow website: http://www.esf.edu/willow/
Paper: http://eventservices.penton.com/events/2016/gwms/content/abstracts/Individual_Presentations/Ung_Cambria_presenting_co-author_Development_of_a_Willow-based_Evapotranspiration_Cover_System.pdf
Slides: http://www.obg.com/uploads/insights/GWMS-WillowETCoverSystem-Ung.pdf