Our Work
Field-based research, education, and partnerships advancing wildlife conservation and resilient landscapes across the Borderlands.
Restoring Plugged Oil and Gas Well Pads in the Permian Basin
Kendall Christensen
Kendall’s research evaluates strategies for restoring native vegetation on plugged oil and gas well pads in the Permian Basin. Compacted soils and exposed caliche surfaces restrict water infiltration, root development, and nutrient cycling, making these sites difficult to restore. Kendall is testing combinations of native seeding, organic matter, biochar, erosion-control blankets, and soil-moisture retention treatments. She is measuring vegetation, soil moisture, soil temperature, and other indicators of ecological recovery to determine which approaches are most effective. The results will provide practical guidance for rebuilding functional native plant communities on disturbed energy-development sites across arid West Texas.
