Statistical approach to evaluate the relation of coal mining, land reclamation, and surface-water quality in Ohio. [779 sites; 1975 to 1982]
Coal mining and reclamation activities have influenced low-flow water quality of streams in Ohio. In order to document how water quality has changed, and by how much, data collected from 779 sites during June 1975 through September 1982 were compiled and analyzed. Sites were classified into five categories: unmined (100% unmined land), abandoned (50% or more abandoned surface mines), reclaimed (50% or more reclaimed surface mines), deep-mined (50% or more underground mines), and mixed (all others). Specific conductance, pH, alkalinity, acidity, sulfate, dissolved iron, total iron, and total manganese in streams draining basins in the coal region were the eight characteristics selected for analysis. Correlation analysis of rank-transformed data revealed that different combinations of variables were related for each of the categories of upstream mining activity. However, use of a regression equation to predict levels of the eight properties and constituents from land-use information alone was not successful. Analysis of variance and Tukey's studentized range test were used to determine if there were significant differences between mining categories, and if so, which categories produce higher levels of each property or constituent relative to the others. These analyses revealed that at least one mining category was different from the others for all eight water-quality variables studied. Discriminant-function analysis was used to determine how accurately upstream mining-related land use could be predicted from water-quality data. When all eight water-quality variables were used, discriminant analysis correctly classified the mining category for 93% of the observations. Moreover, 79% of the observations were correctly classified when only specific conductance and pH data were used. 13 refs., 9 figs., 13 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Geological Survey, Columbus, OH (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5244184
- Report Number(s):
- USGS/WRI-84-4117; ON: TI86900032
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
OHIO
SURFACE WATERS
WATER QUALITY
ABANDONED SITES
COAL MINING
CORRELATIONS
DATA ANALYSIS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GEOLOGIC SURVEYS
LAND RECLAMATION
PH VALUE
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
SURFACE MINING
UNDERGROUND MINING
WATER RESOURCES
DATA
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FEDERAL REGION V
INFORMATION
MATHEMATICS
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RESOURCES
STATISTICS
SURVEYS
USA
010900* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Environmental Aspects