Impact of surface mining and reclamation upon hydrology and water quality of two small watersheds in Ohio

Conference · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)

OSTI ID:5473661

Amerman, C R; Bonta, J V; Harlukowicz, T J; Hall, G F; Smeck, N E; Dick, W A; Haghiri, F; Helgesen, J O; Razem, A C; Hamon, W R

An investigation was begun in 1976 on the impact of surface mining and reclamation upon the hydrology, erosion, and chemical water quality of two watersheds in the size class of 50 acres. The approach consisted of instrumenting the water-sheds prior to mining, monitoring and sampling to the extent possible throughout the period covering mining and reclamation of the watershed, and reinstrumenting where necessary to continue monitoring and sampling into the postreclamation period. By the time reclamation was completed, 88% of one watershed had been disturbed, 99% of the other. Surface and subsurface waters were monitored and sampled. The data document increases in flow rates and drastic increases in the sediment concentrations during the period when the watersheds were actively disturbed. Sediment concentrations returned to near premine levels after reclamation was completed. A perched saturated zone occurs above the shallowest coal bed in each study watershed. The saturated zones were destroyed above the mined coals, but have begun to be reestablished above the nonpierced underclays. Water quality at the surface outlets of the two watersheds generally deteriorated during active mining and tended to improve after reclamation. Throughout the study, only a few such constituents as suspended solids exceeded drinking water or OSM standards. Ground-water quality below the mined coal did not at first respond to the mining. Within three years after reclamation, however, a trend toward increasing sulfate concentrations has been noticed at some places.

• Research Organization: Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, DC
• OSTI ID: 5473661
• Report Number(s): CONF-821175-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900* -- Coal
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& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
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Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHEMISTRY
COAL MINING
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FEDERAL REGION V
FIELD TESTS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LAND RECLAMATION
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MINING
MONITORING
MONITORS
NORTH AMERICA
OHIO
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RESOURCES
SURFACE MINING
SURFACE WATERS
TESTING
USA
WATER
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER POLLUTION
WATER POLLUTION MONITORS
WATER QUALITY
WATER RESOURCES
WATERSHEDS