The purpose of this study was to quantify the postsettlement deposition in a 24 900‐m2 (2.49‐ha) sediment basin with a single outlet in a 105 400‐m2 (10.54‐ha) watershed and estimate the sediment delivery to a first‐order stream in northwestern Illinois. Methods included direct measurements of the eroded sediment deposited in the sediment basin. Buried A horizons (dated using fly ash as a time marker) identify the presettlement (≈1854) surface, which was overlain by as much as 116 cm of sediment. Volume of the sediment within the basin was calculated at 11 394 m3 with a weight of 16 480 Mg. The modern soils of the sediment basin were characterized, classified, and the spatial variability of the sedimentation process was examined. Based on representative measurements of postsettlement sediment delivery obtained from research of drainage basins having similar size or soil characteristics, it was inferred that 20 975 Mg of sediment was delivered to the stream with a total of 37 455 Mg of soil being removed from the watershed hillslopes as a result of accelerated soil erosion. The measured rate of postsettlement sediment accumulation has been approximately 0.34 cm yr−1. Based on the tightly packed deposits, redeposition probably occurred as overland flow during storm events, rather than as overland flow occurring after a rainfall or as rain‐splash transport. However, machinery traffic and cultivation could have contributed to the high soil bulk density. Intensive cultivation, biotic activity, and freeze‐thaw are probably responsible for destroying any evidence of stratification.
Sedimentation in and flooding of the West Branch Shade River and its tributaries have been major concerns of residents and State and local officials. The area was extensively surface mined for coal between the mid-1940's and the early 1960's. Reclamation efforts immediately after mining were unsuccessful. The results have been elevated sediment loads and the subsequent loss of channel conveyance. Two sediment and stream-gaging stations were established on West Branch Shade River in the area of past mining to provide data to evaluate the effectiveness of current reclamation activities on reducing sediment loads. A third station was established on the East Branch Shade River in an unmined area as a control. From October 1983 through September 1984, the annual suspended-sediment yield per acre-foot of runoff was approximately two times as high for West Branch Shade River (0.51 ton per acrefoot of runoff) as for East Branch Shade River (0.28 ton per acrefoot). In addition, water quality of West Branch indicates that acidity is higher, pH is lower, and concentrations of dissolved sulfate and metals are higher than for East Branch. The concentration of coal in bed material increased in the downstream direction along West Branch Shade River. The concentration downstream in the West Branch was more than 20 times greater than in the East Branch.
Sedimentation in and flooding of the West Branch Shade River and its tributaries have been major concerns of residents and State and local officials. The area was extensively surface mined for coal between the mid-1940's and the early 1960's. Reclamation efforts immediately after mining were unsuccessful. The results have been elevated sediment loads and the subsequent loss of channel conveyance. Two sediment and stream-gaging stations were established on the West Branch Shade River and one station was established on the East Branch Shade River. These three stations will provide data to evaluate the effectiveness of current reclamation activities on reducing sediment loads. From June through September 1983, suspended-sediment yield was 18 times higher in West Branch (218 tons/mi 2) than East Branch (12 tons/mi^) Shade River. In addition, acidity is higher, pH is lower, and concentrations of dissolved sulfate and metals are higher in the West Branch Shade River basin than in the East Branch Shade River basin.
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