Hydrology of Area 25: eastern region, Interior Coal Province, Illinois

Technical Report · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:6149727

Zuehls, E E; Ryan, G L; Peart, D B; Fitzgerald, K K

A nationwide need for information characterizing hydrologic conditions in mined and potential mine areas has become paramount with the enactment of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. This report is designed to be useful to the mine owners, mine operators, and others by presenting information about the existing hydrologic conditions and by identifying sources of hydrologic information. General hydrologic information is presented using a brief text with an accompanying map, chart, graph, or other illustration for each of a series of water-resources-related topics. The summation of the topical discussions provides a description of the hydrology of the area. Study area 25 is located in west-central Illinois. It includes parts of three physiographic divisions; the Galesburg Plain, the Springfield Plain, and the Bloomington Ridged Plain. The drainage basins in the area are the Spoon River, Sugar Creek, Kickapoo Creek, and small tributaries to the Illinois River. Coal is found in Pennsylvanian rocks underlying most of the study area. Water from surface-water impoundments and rivers makes up 97 percent of all the water used. Precipitation averages 34 to 35 inches across the area with about 22 inches occurring from April to September. The US Geological Survey operates a network of eight hydrologic monitoring stations in the study area. Streamflow, water levels, and water-quality data are collected. The major hydrologic problems related to surface mining are degradation of water quality and sedimentation. Water quality can be altered as a result of drainage of mine sites into the surrounding area and into the streams. Natural conditions may neutralize acidic waters but increased concentrations of dissolved trace elements can remain in the waters. High rates of sedimentation can result from the lack of soil cover and the disturbed conditions left by mining operations.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Champaign, IL (USA). Water Resources Div.
• OSTI ID: 6149727
• Report Number(s): USGS/WRI/OFR-81-636; ON: TI85901068
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
011000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
58 GEOSCIENCES
580100 -- Geology & Hydrology-- (-1989)
COAL DEPOSITS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FEDERAL REGION V
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
HYDROLOGY
ILLINOIS
LAWS
MAPS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINING LAWS
NORTH AMERICA
RESOURCES
SEDIMENTATION
SURFACE MINING ACTS
USA
WATER QUALITY