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Use of dredged material for reclamation of area strip-mines

Conference · · Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)
OSTI ID:5407730
The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of using a cover of dewatered dredged material to reclaim surface mine spoils. The study site of 4 plots is located along the Illinois River near Ottawa, IL, and the dewatered dredged material was taken from a Chicago Metropolitan Sanitary District containment area about 71 miles from the strip-mine site. A mixture of grasses and legumes was seeded on each plot. Plant growth was not limited on the three dredged material plots but was nonexistent on the control plot. The runoff water was significantly improved by the addition of dredged material, the pH changed from 3.2 on the control plot to 7.2 on the dredged material treatments. The runoff water, leachate, and groundwater from the dredged material treatments meets the water quality criteria recommended for irrigation water as well as the criteria of the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration. Plant elemental analyses of the leaves of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) showed that heavy metal concentration was low and well within the suggested tolerance levels for agronomic crops.
Research Organization:
Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS
OSTI ID:
5407730
Report Number(s):
CONF-791262-
Conference Information:
Journal Name: Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English