Hydrologic characteristics of Appalachian loose-dumped spoil in the Cumberland Plateau of eastern Kentucky

• Published in: Hydrological processes Vol. 23; no. 23; pp. 3372 - 3381
• Main Authors: Taylor, Timothy J, Agouridis, Carmen T, Warner, Richard C, Barton, Christopher D, Angel, Patrick N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 15.11.2009; Wiley
• Subjects: coal; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Forestry Reclamation Approach; Freshwater; hydrograph; Hydrology. Hydrogeology; modelling; surface mining; Cumberland Plateau; Appalachians; United States; Kentucky; USA, Kentucky; shale; carbonaceous rocks; surface mining; models; rainfall; spoils; inundations; hydrograph; North America; trees; sandstone; modelling; duration; sedimentary rocks; mines; water quality; Forestry Reclamation Approach; discharge; coal; growth; reclamation; forestry; hydrographs; clastic rocks
• ISSN: 0885-6087; 1099-1085
• DOI: 10.1002/hyp.7443

Heavily compacted lands, typical of traditional surface mine reclamation techniques, have been shown to hinder tree growth, increase levels of flooding, and produce suboptimal water quality. Utilizing loose-dumped spoil, in accordance with the Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA), has demonstrated success with regards to promoting tree growth and survival; however, additional information is needed to assess the potential of FRA to ameliorate other environmental concerns related to water quantity. To better understand the hydrologic characteristics of loose-dumped spoil, key hydrograph parameters (discharge volume, peak discharge, discharge duration, lag time, and response time) were monitored for three common spoil types: (1) predominately brown weathered sandstone, (2) predominately gray weathered sandstone, and (3) a mixture of both sandstones and shale. Although spoil types were found to differ hydrologically, these differences were relatively minor. Measured discharge volumes were low (averaging 12% of rainfall for all events and treatments), peak discharge rates were small (between 2·5 x 10⁻⁵ and 3 x 10⁻³ m³/s), and the duration of discharge was long (6 days on average). From a hydrologic perspective, the results of this study indicate that mine spoils need not be segregated for reclamation as long as the spoil is placed in accordance with the loose-dumped techniques as outlined in the FRA. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.