IMPACT OF SURFACE COAL MINING ON THREE OHIO WATERSHEDS – GROUND-WATER CHEMISTRY1 |
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Authors: | J V Bonta C R Amerman W A Dick T J Harlukowicz A C Razem |
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Abstract: | ABSTRACT: A study was conducted to determine the effects of surface mining and reclamation on ground-water chemistry in three saturated zones in each of three small East-Central Ohio water-sheds. The extensive disturbances of mining and reclamation: (1) caused more changes in constituent concentrations in the upper zone than in lower zones, most of which were statistically significant increases (many were “drastic”); (2) affected ground-water chemistry in lower zones - those that were not physically disturbed; (3) tended to increase the frequency of exceedance of regulated constituents in all saturated zones; and (4) affected the chemistry of surface baseflow water at the watershed outlets. Several constituents were still changing at the end of the project within all sites and zones. |
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Keywords: | baseflow spring flow spoil disturbed land regulations trends |
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