Rehabilitation and Restoration of Urban Landscape Soils - Case Studies of Success and Challenges.

Soils have been critical to the success of major landscape restorations for the George Bush Library in Dallas, the St. Louis Arch, and the University of Notre Dame Sculpture Garden, among many others. Fundamental soil science  is key to success, but within the application of soil science principles are also new challenges that we are discovering in developing successful strategies for restoring urban spaces and ecosystem services. Often, the soil physical structure is the dominant consideration of soils in restoration, primarily for drainage and stability. However, integrating all of a soils pedological characteristics, including recreating soil profiles, natural soil chemistry, and especially soil biology, is found to be the key to success, and in many cases, distinct challenges. While we know that soil formation processes don't happen overnight, we have abilities to "kick start" the process to enable natural environments to be restored. Soil scientists have a necessary role in working with landscape architects and engineers in creating effective urban environments, all of which relate to the soil as the fundamental factor.