Comparison of Groundwater Seepage Modeling in Approximate Original Contour and Geomorphic Valley Fill Design

Abstract

Excess spoil generated during surface mining in southern West Virginia is generally placed in headwater valleys. Known as valley fills, these structures are designed to move water rapidly through constructed drains to maximize geotechnical stability using the conventional design method termed Approximate Original Contour (AOC). Seepage from valley fills tends to be elevated with respect to calcium, magnesium, alkalinity and sulfates and there is evidence that, in high concentrations, these ions can contribute to stream degradation. New fluvial geomorphic principals are being researched to aid in reclamation alternatives to AOC designs. Geomorphic designs have proven successful in semi-arid regions; however, there has been little research performed into the application of this approach for eastern surface mining reclamation.

Electrical resistivity imaging of hydrologic flow through surface coal mine valley fills with comparison to other landforms

“…ERI could assist in filling this knowledge gap because it reveals the holistic differences in landscape structure that were previously interpreted through a black box of point measurements (Miller & Zégre, ). Previous models have forecasted that the geomorphic reclamation design, in which the landscape surface is restructured to allow natural drainage patterns to form, could decrease effluent water contamination (DePriest, ). If ERI was used with traditional water quality analyses, the hydrologic assumptions of such models could be field tested.…”