Surface-water hydrology at three coal-refuse disposal sites in southern Illinois: Staunton 1, New Kathleen, and Superior

Technical Report · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6025880

Mele, L M; Prodan, P F

Hydrologic data were collected and analyzed for three coal refuse disposal sites in southern Illinois. The disposal sites were associated with underground mines and consisted of piles of coarse waste (gob) and slurry areas where fine waste rejected from coal washing was deposited. Prereclamation data were available for the Superior washer site in Macoupin County and the New Kathleen site in Perry County. Post-reclamation data were available for the Staunton 1 site in Macoupin County and the New Kathleen site. Data analyzed from each phase (i.e., pre- or post-reclamation) were limited to one year. Storm event runoff coefficients were calculated for each site. Average runoff coefficients were compared for sites within the same reclamation phase to determine the effects of topographical parameters such as gob pile slope and percentage of drainage basin covered by the gob pile. Average runoff coefficients were then compared for pre- and post-reclamation data. Multiple regression analyses were performed on rainfall-runoff data for each site to determine the significance of independent variables other than rainfall in determining runoff. A generalized regression equation corrected data for topographical differences and included only those independent variables that were significant at all sites. Regression coefficients were compared for pre- and post-reclamation sites. The results of rainfall-runoff analysis indicate that the runoff coefficient increases because of reclamation. It is hypothesized that this effect is due to the placement of a soil cover that is less permeable than gob or slurry and occurs despite reduction in slope and the establishment of vegetation.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6025880
• Report Number(s): ANL/LRP-TM-23; ON: DE83015743
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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