Comparison of stormflow responses of surface‐mined and forested watersheds in the Appalachian Mountains, USA

Abstract

Abstract:The results of a hydrological analysis that was conducted as part of a larger, multifaceted, collaborative effort to quantify ecosystem functions in watersheds subjected to land-use and land-cover change are presented. The primary goal of the study was to determine whether a small watershed in the Appalachian region (USA) that was recently subjected to surface mining and reclamation practices produces stormflow responses to rain events that are different from those produced by a nearby reference watershed covered by young, second-growth forest. Water balances indicated that runoff yields did not vary significantly between the two watersheds on an annual basis. Statistically significant differences (p Ä 0Ð05) in runoff responses were observed on an event basis, however, with the mined/reclaimed watershed producing, on average (a) higher storm runoff coefficients (2Ð5ð), (b) greater total storm runoff (3ð), and (c) higher peak hourly runoff rates (2ð) when compared with the reference watershed. Results of a unit hydrograph analysis also showed, unexpectedly, that the modelled unit responses of the two watersheds to effective rainfall pulses were similar, despite the noted differences in land cover. Differences in stormflow responses were thus largely explained by dramatic reductions in cumulative rates of rainfall abstraction (measured using infiltrometers) attributable to soil compaction during land reclamation. Additional field hydrological measurements on other mined watersheds will be needed to generalize our results, as well as to understand and predict the cumulative hydrological impacts of widespread surface mining in larger watersheds and river basins.

Ecological Integrity of Streams Related to Human Cancer Mortality Rates

“…2005; Negley and Eshleman, 2006;Pond et al, 2008;Palmer et al, 2010). Some coal-mediated effects on benthic macroinvertebrates may be linked to human cancer mortality, but others may not.…”

“…Some coal-mediated effects on benthic macroinvertebrates may be linked to human cancer mortality, but others may not. For example, it is improbable that hydrological effects of coal surface-mining (Phillips, 2004;Negley and Eshleman, 2006) could influence human health, but benthic macroinvertebrate communities clearly respond to Figure 3. Spatial distribution of cancer types: a digestive; b breast (female), c genital (female), d genital (male), e oral, f respiratory, g urinary, h ''other'' cancer.…”

Mountaintop Removal Mining and Catchment Hydrology

“…Infiltration rates of minesoil can be an order of magnitude lower than undisturbed forest soils [54,57,65] that cause the initiation of infiltration excess overland flow which dominates storm runoff in mined areas [54,57]. The dominance of surface pathways in runoff generation in mined catchments is further evidenced by the increase in total suspended solids downstream of mining activities [87] that originate from the mine surface during the period immediately following reclamation [88].…”

Predicting release and aquatic effects of total dissolved solids from Appalachian USA coal mines

“…Such possible contributing (or causal) factors include altered hydrology, given that Appalachian mine sites have been found to have increased runoff during storm events relative to undisturbed sites (Messenger 2003;Wiley and Brogan 2003;Negley and Eshlemen 2006;McCormick et al 2009), and/or increased sedimentation and unstable stream substrate conditions, which would be affected by altered hydrology. Other factors such as changes in stream temperature and light intensity may also be influencing the suitability of mining influenced stream reaches considered by these studies.…”