Satellite imagery provides a relatively inexpensive tool to monitor and assess vegetation regrowth over time, and thus, was identified as an added benefit to the VIP method. Imagery can help determine where vegetation regrowth is not occurring. Figure 19 shows a revegetated area (in green) on the McKinley mine site and the associated change or increase in vegetation growth over time. This image was generated by subtracting the 2010 vegetation map from the 2006 vegetation map, resulting in a map that shows vegetation growth between the two dates. The inspector can further refine and quantify vegetation growth trends with supporting field sampling. This proof-of-concept application can assist the inspector in assessment of vegetation growth or decline over time if needed.
Vegetation Change over Time