Effects of coal mining on the hydrologic environment of selected stream basins in southern West Virginia. Water resources investigation

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5388342

Borchers, J W; Ehlke, T A; Mathes, M V; Downs, S C

The study was undertaken to help answer questions about the effects of coal mining on streamflow characteristics, stream-water quality, ground-water flow and availability, ground-water quality, concentration, loading and types of suspended sediment in streams, and biological life in streams. Three mined basins and two unmined control basins in southern West Virginia were selected for study. The report defines the effects of coal mining on the hydrologic environment of small stream basins in southern West Virginia. It answers some of the questions that have been raised by coal companies, regulatory agencies, environmental groups, researchers, and the public. The report compares hydrologic data collected in unmined basins to data collected in deep-mined and surface-mined basins. The data include the measurement and description of precipitation, streamflow, ground-water levels, suspended sediment, stream and ground-water quality, and benthic invertebrate life in streams.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Charleston, WV (United States). Water Resources Div.
• OSTI ID: 5388342
• Report Number(s): PB-92-147743/XAB; USGS/WRI--84-4300
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BENTHOS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
COAL MINING
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FLUID FLOW
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
INVERTEBRATES
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SENSITIVITY
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WATER
WATER QUALITY
WEST VIRGINIA