Hydrologic monitoring of selected streams in coal fields of central and southern Utah - Summary of data collected, August 1978-September 1984

Book · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6682308

Price, D; Plantz, G G

The US Geological Survey conducted a coal-hydrology monitoring program in coal-field areas of central and southern Utah during August 1978-September 1984 to determine possible hydrologic impacts of future mining and to provide a better understanding of the hydrologic systems of the coal resource areas monitored. Data were collected at 19 gaging stations - 18 stations in the Price, San Rafael, and Dirty Devil River basins, and 1 in the Kanab Creek Basin. Types of data collected at each station included quantity and quality of stream-flow; suspended sediment concentrations; and descriptions of stream bottom sediments, benthic invertebrate, and phytoplankton samples. Also, base flow measurements were made annually upstream from 12 of the gaging stations. Stream bottom sediment sampled at nearly all the monitoring sites contained small to moderate quantities of coal, which may be attributed chiefly to pre-monitoring mining. Streamflow sampled at several sites contained large concentrations of sulfate and dissolved solids. Also, concentrations of various trace elements at 10 stations, and phenols at 18 stations, exceeded the criteria of the EPA for drinking water. The data collected during the complete water years (1979-84) of monitoring do provide a better understanding of the hydrologic systems of the coal field areas monitored. The data also provide a definite base by which to evaluate hydrologic impacts of continued or increased coal mining in those areas. 14 refs., 32 figs., 21 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6682308
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AROMATICS
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COAL MINING
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
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HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
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STREAMS
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SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
UTAH
WATER POLLUTION