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Sedimentation and water quality in the West Branch Shade River basin, Ohio, 1984 water year

Open-File Report 85-552
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr85552

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Abstract

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/acre-ft of runoff was approximately two times as high for West Branch Shade River (0.51 ton/acre-ft of runoff) as for East Branch Shade River (0.28 ton/acre-ft). 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. (Author 's abstract)
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Sedimentation and water quality in the West Branch Shade River basin, Ohio, 1984 water year
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 85-552
DOI 10.3133/ofr85552
Edition -
Year Published 1985
Language ENGLISH
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey,
Description iv, 26 p. :ill., maps ;28 cm.
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