Growing up in rural Alberta meant winters filled with adventure, and nothing captured that spirit more than snowmobiling down seismic cutlines. The endless white corridors carved through the forest, getting stuck, and yes, the snowmobile lighting on fire at one point. The paths felt like they were made just for us, guiding us through the wilderness while offering both freedom and security. Today, those same cutlines are at the center of reclamation research, as energy companies work to restore habitat and protect wildlife.
Childhood Memories on the White Highways
For anyone raised in rural Alberta, winter was more than just a season, it was a playground and sometimes a crucial time to work around muskeg. Snowmobiles were our ticket to exploration, and seismic lines, or cutlines, became our trails. These straight, cleared paths stretched for kilometers, slicing through dense boreal forest. Riding down them felt like flying along a private highway, the snow sparkling under the sun, the trees standing tall like walls on either side.
December brought another ritual: searching for the perfect Christmas tree. We would head down the cutlines, knowing they offered easy access deep into the woods. The lines became a security blanket. No matter how far you wandered, every trail eventually led back to a road, ensuring you were never truly lost. You could see forever down a good cutline.
Learning About Reclamation
As part of my career in the energy industry, those childhood highways took on new meaning. I began to learn about reclamation research and the ecological consequences of seismic lines. While they gave us joy as kids, they also created challenges for wildlife. I learned that Caribou, for example, are more vulnerable because predators like wolves used the clear sight lines to track prey.
That’s where energy companies stepped in. Cenovus Energy, for instance, has been pioneering restoration techniques to rewild these corridors. As they explain:
“Find out about the innovative techniques we’re using to regenerate forest growth along old seismic lines to help protect and restore wildlife habitat. We’re testing a number of treatments — mounding the ground, planting coniferous trees, adding woody debris and leaning tree stems into the pathways — with the goal of restoring the forest structure and giving young trees a chance to grow more quickly, while making the seismic lines less attractive as travel corridors as regrowth is taking place.”
This work is subtle, often happening far from public view. Researchers and crews quietly reshape the land, planting trees and adding debris to mimic natural forest conditions. Over time, the cutlines fade back into the wilderness, invisible until you stumble upon them while hunting or snowmobiling.
The Hidden Work of Restoration
What strikes me most is how quietly this work is done. There are no billboards or headlines announcing progress. Instead, reclamation unfolds patiently across Canada’s boreal forests. It’s a long-term investment in ecological health, one that restores balance to landscapes altered decades ago.
When complete, the transformation is almost invisible. The once-clear corridors become dense with saplings and woody debris. Snowmobilers may notice the trails narrowing, hunters may find the paths harder to navigate, but the forest itself regains its resilience. It’s a small price to pay for protecting endangered species and restoring the wild protections that existed before human exploration.
Art as a Lens for Understanding
To help explain this process, you can see a life-size painting, (four feet by six feet) at Hotel Arts, depicting the cutlines in winter. The canvas captures the feeling of being watched from afar. This large piece allows the viewer to experience the need for these innovations without bundling up in a parka or trudging through the forest. It becomes a visual reminder that the landscapes we once took for granted are being carefully restored.
Looking Ahead
The seismic lines of my youth were places of wonder, freedom, and family tradition. Today, they are also symbols of change. Restoration efforts by companies like Cenovus show that industry can play a role in healing the land, ensuring that future generations experience both the thrill of snowmobiling and the richness of intact ecosystems.
For a deeper look at these efforts, see this video on YouTube, which illustrates the reclamation process in action.
If you are interested in having this art display in your office, please reach out to Shannon directly at shannoncarlaking@gmail.com.