Imprinting for Pipeline Rehabilitation in Southern California Sensitive Habitats

AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc. (AMEC) assisted Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (Kinder Morgan) in planning and rehabilitating a 26-mile section of petroleum pipeline through Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, San Diego County, California. AMEC used its Geographic Information System (GIS) database and a crew of biologists to identify a route for the pipeline that would minimize impacts to sensitive habitats. The pipeline impacted almost 100 acres of undeveloped habitats, including riparian woodland, freshwater marsh, sycamore grassland, oak woodland, and coastal sage scrub. It also affected a number of populations of a federally listed plant species. A land rehabilitation technique termed "imprinting" was used to seed the impacted pipeline corridor. The imprinter utilizes a track-mounted tractor with a rolling drum to create divots or microwells in which seeds and soil inoculum are injected to a depth of ¼ inch. Imprinting technology is a cost-effective and rapid tool for restoring large areas of impacted land and can increase rehabilitation success when compared to other restoration techniques by providing applied seeds a protected microhabitat in which to germinate and establish.