Columbia Plant Site

About the Program
Occidental Petroleum Corporation’s Columbia Plant Site is located south of Nashville in Columbia, Tennessee. A former mine and landfill, the site is surrounded by wetlands and patches of forest and grassland. The conservation objectives are to provide nesting boxes for eastern bluebirds and nesting structures for ducks and raptor perches.

Practices and Impacts

• The team at Occidental has managed two acres of wetlands since 2008 to provide aquatic habitat for avian species and other wildlife on-site. In the wetlands, the team targets invasive riparian plant species with selective application of water-insoluble herbicides to avoid impacting desirable species. The water level is maintained so that there is always water for fish, amphibians and the macroinvertebrates that form the base of this aquatic food chain.
• The team also erected 10 eastern bluebird nest boxes at the site in 2015 with the help of the local Cub Scout troop. The team conducts monthly monitoring during nesting season and cleans out the boxes at the end of each season. The team noted that 90% of the boxes were occupied by bluebirds in the 2018 and 2019 seasons. The team also installed eight wood duck nesting boxes in 2016 and two duck tubes in 2019 to encourage mallard nesting. In 2019, the team added two raptor perches to encourage raptors to hunt the grasslands and wetlands.
• Team members continue to monitor transects and quadrants for invasive species, and management has transitioned from selective herbicide treatment to more frequent mowing. 
• Occidental has a land conservation with the state of Tennessee after they donated 1,752 acres in order for natural area to be enjoyed by the public.
• Milkweed as well as other native plants were planted in designated pollinator beds to attract and support monarch butterflies. They are photo documented on-site. A policy is in place for no insecticide and limited herbicide use only in areas where treatment of invasive species is needed. 
• The team planted one acre of American holly in a previously mowed area to provide additional shelter and food sources for avian species.