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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Effects of contour coal strip mining on stormwater runoff and quality

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5495767

A mathematical model for simulating stormwater response and pollutant yield in strip mined watersheds was developed. This model consisted of a storm hydrograph simulator, a watershed pollutant load simulator and a site erosion simulator. The storm hydrograph simulator, TENN-I, has been optimized for the Tennessee Valley and can be used for both gauged and ungauged watersheds. The watershed soil load simulator, LOAD-I, was based upon development of a suspended load modulus that can be derived from storm hydrographs and sedigraphs. The site specific soil erosion model, ERODE-I, was based upon soil erosion mechanics and overland flow. Erosion, runoff, sediment delivery and total loads were simulated for storm events on both a real time basis and on a design storm basis. A regionalization scheme associated with the model permitted simulation of the effects of alternative development scenarios on stormwater and suspended load. Comparisons of the model are made with pollutant yields from watersheds which have undergone coal contour strip mining and urbanization. This model's ability to relate a watershed's stormwater runoff and pollutant load to measurable, quantifiable, and readily comparable quantities provides a powerful tool to evaluate the effects of land use change before the fact.

Research Organization:
Tennessee Univ., Knoxville (USA). Dept. of Civil Engineering
OSTI ID:
5495767
Report Number(s):
ORO-4946-T1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English