Carl Zipper

Program Focus

My research generates scientific information that aids management of land and water resources and development of related public policy. Primary areas are mined land restoration and water quality. Current research areas are restoration of forested and aquatic ecosystems, and production of biomass, on reclaimed coal-mine areas; characterizing effects of mine discharge water quality in surface water streams; and landscape-level analyses of ecosystem recovery in coal mined areas of eastern USA.

Future research

I and colleagues are continuing our work to understand and aid management of ecosystem restoration and recovery processes in streams and forests that are being re-established on coal mined lands. A major concern is total dissolved solids (TDS) in coal-mine discharge waters. We are continuing efforts to determine how aquatic community composition is affected at various TDS concentrations, and we’ll be working with industry to develop mine-spoil management methods to both control mine waters’ TDS and accelerate terrestrial ecosystem restoration. Longer term research goals concern linkages between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem recovery, mine reclamation practices that can accelerate both terrestrial and aquatic recovery, and exploring how “lessons learned” from coal mine reclamation might apply to ecosystem restoration science more generally.

Role of graduate students

Graduate students are major contributors to my research programs. If and as funding becomes available, I will be seeking to engage new graduate students in the areas of mine spoil management for TDS control; mined land reforestation and biomass production; landscape-level characterization of forested ecosystem recovery processes in Appalachia; and management of aquatic ecosystem effects in streams receiving coal-mine water discharges

Education

M.S., Agricultural Economics, Virginia Tech, 1987

Ph.D., Agronomy, Virginia Tech, 1986

B.S., Agronomy, Virginia Tech, 1981

B.A., Social Science, Lehigh University, 1970
Experience

2012 – Present – Professor, Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech

2002 -2012 – Associate Professor, Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech

1996 – 2002 – Assistant Professor, Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech

1989 – 1996 – Research Scientist, Department of Agronomy / Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech

1986 – 1988 – Research Associate, Departments of Agronomy and Agricultural Economics, Virginia Tech