Reconnaissance of Stream Geomorphology, Low Streamflow, and Stream Temperature in the Mountaintop Coal-Mining Region, Southern West Virginia, 1999-2000

Wiley, Jeffrey B.; Evaldi, Ronald D.; Eychaner, James H.; Chambers, Douglas B.

Abstract:

The effects of mountaintop removal coal mining and the valley fills created by this mining method in southern West Virginia were investigated by comparing data collected at valley-fill, mined, and unmined sites. Bed material downstream of valley-fill sites had a greater number of particles less than 2 millimeters and a smaller median particle size than the mined and unmined sites. At the 84th percentile of sampled data, however, bed material at each site type had about the same size particles. Bankfull cross-sectional areas at a riffle section were approximately equal at valley-fill and unmined sites, but not enough time has passed and insufficient streamflows since the land was disturbed may have prevented the stream channel at valley-fill sites from reaching equilibrium. The 90-percent flow durations at valley-fill sites generally were 6-7 times greater than at unmined sites. Some valley-fill sites, however, exhibited streamflows similar to unmined sites, and some unmined sites exhibited streamflows similar to valley-fill sites. Daily streamflows from valley-fill sites generally are greater than daily streamflows from unmined sites during periods of low streamflow. Valley-fill sites have a greater percentage of base-flow and a lower percentage of flow from storm runoff than unmined sites. Water temperatures from a valley-fill site exhibited lower daily fluctuations and seasonal variations than water temperatures from an unmined site.

Genre:

USGS Numbered Series

ProdID:

30928

Citation Author:

Wiley, Jeffrey B.; Evaldi, Ronald D.; Eychaner, James H.; Chambers, Douglas B.

Citation Contributing Office:

USGS West Virginia Water Science Center

Citation Datum:

Citation Day:

Citation Edition:

Citation Editor:

Citation End Page:

Citation Issue:

Citation Keywords:

Citation Language:

ENGLISH

Citation Larger Work Title:

Citation LatN:

0410000

Citation LatS:

0370000

Citation LonE:

-0770000

Citation LonW:

-0830000

Citation Month:

Citation No Pagination:

Citation Number Of Pages:

Citation Online Only Flag:

Citation Phsyical Description:

ii, 34 p.

Citation Projection:

Citation Public Comments:

Prepared in cooperation with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Mining and Reclamation

Citation Publisher:

Geological Survey (U.S.)

Citation Series:

Water-Resources Investigations Report

Citation Series Code:

WRI

Citation Series Number:

2001-4092

Citation Search Results Text:

Reconnaissance of Stream Geomorphology, Low Streamflow, and Stream Temperature in the Mountaintop Coal-Mining Region, Southern West Virginia, 1999-2000; 2001; WRI; 2001-4092; Wiley, Jeffrey B.; Evaldi, Ronald D.; Eychaner, James H.; Chambers, Douglas B.