Erodibility of low‐compaction steep‐sloped reclaimed surface mine lands in the southern Appalachian region, USA

Abstract

Abstract:The use of loose spoils on steep slopes for surface coal mining reclamation sites has been promoted by the US Department of Interior, Office of Surface Mining for the establishment of native forest, as prescribed by the Forest Reclamation Approach (FRA). Although low-compaction spoils improve tree survival and growth, erodibility on steep slopes was suspected to increase. This study quantified a combined K C factor (combining the effects of the soil erodibility K factor and cover management C) for low compaction, steep-sloped (>20°) reclaimed mine lands in the Appalachian region, USA. The combined K C factor was used because standard Unit Plot conditions required to separate these factors, per Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) experimental protocols, were not followed explicitly. Three active coal mining sites in the Appalachian region of East Tennessee, each containing four replicate field plots, were monitored for rainfall and sediment yields during a 14-month period beginning June 2009. Average cumulative erosivity for the study sites during the monitoring period was measured as 5248.9 MJ·mm·ha À1 ·h À1. and also on average were lower, being more similar to the other two sites after the rill development period. Based on an initial K C factor (K e ) measured during the first few storm events, the average C factor (C e ) was estimated as 0.58 for the rill development period and 0.13 for the post-rill development period. It appears that larger size fractions of spoils influence K C and C e factors on low-compaction steep slopes reclamation sites.

Forest restoration following surface mining disturbance: challenges and solutions

“…Factors usually considered in the selection of species include time of year, availability and cost of seed, plant functional group, soil and site characteristics, and land use goals (Skousen and Zipper 2010). It is important to establish vegetative cover before the annual period of high intensity storms, when most rill development occurs (Hoomehr et al 2014) Comparison of a percent cover (mean and standard error) and b richness (number of species found in 96 1 m 2 plots) for all species (total), native species and species characteristics of mature boreal forest in year 1, 2 or 3 following direct placement of forest floor material at two depths: shallow (15 cm) and deep (40 cm). Asterisk indicates a significant difference between depths for that year.…”

Potential changes in rainfall erosivity under GCM climate change scenarios for the southern Appalachian region, USA

“…Land uses in the New River basin include a long history of logging and coal mining since the late 1800s (Gardner, 2006). Disturbances from coal mining and timber harvest in this steep-sloped terrain are still problematic with respect to excessive soil erosion contributing to increased basin sediment yields (Massey, 2008;Hoomehr and Schwartz, 2013;Hoomehr et al, 2014). The New River basin is located in the humid subtropical region having a moderate average annual temperature of 12.3°C (54.2°F) and an abundant 1358 mm (53.4 in.)…”

Hydrologic Response and Erosion Modeling of Geomorphic Landform Reclamation in Mountainous Terrain

“…These results followed documented trends that showed soil erosion was highest when soil was completely bare and erosion decreased as time progressed and permanent vegetation was established (Hoomehr et al, 2015). Hoomehr et al (2015) quantified the erodibility and erosivity of low-compaction, steep-sloped (>20°) reclaimed surface mine lands in the three active coal mining study sites in East Tennessee.…”

“…Soil erosion can occur by many means, including wind and water, with water being the main erosional force acting in Central Appalachia. Land use change, especially surface mining and valley-fill construction, increases the possibility of soil erosion and surface runoff due to the removal of vegetation, movement of burden material, excessively compacted soils, and prolonged soil exposure prior to re-vegetation (Warner et al, 2009;Hoomehr et al, 2015). Changes in erosion could lead to longterm changes in the shaping of the landscape and the sediment load in nearby bodies of water (Chen et al, 2011).…”

“…Rill and gully development and the inability of vegetation to establish are signs of water erosion and are of particular concern on mine reclamation sites in Central Appalachia due to the steep, complex topography of the sites and changes in soil characteristics (Carroll et al, 2000;Yao et al, 2008;Berger et al, 2010). Rill growth typically stabilizes once vegetation, typically grass, has been re-established (Hoomehr et al, 2015); however, long-term erosion and impacts can continue to occur on the reclamation sites.…”