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SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE WATER QUALITY HYDROLOGY IN SURFACE MINED WATERSHEDS. PART I: TEXT
Citation:
McWhorter, D., J. Rowe, M. Liew, R. Chandler, AND R. Skogerboe. SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE WATER QUALITY HYDROLOGY IN SURFACE MINED WATERSHEDS. PART I: TEXT. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/7-79/193A.
Description:
Surface mining disturbs the natural sequence of geologic strata, and, therefore, potentially modifies the quantity and quality of water on a watershed disturbed by surface mining. Such a watershed disturbed by surface mining was monitored in Colorado. In addition, surface runoff, subsurface drainage, and sediment production were studied on a plot scale in the field. The most significant effect of mining on water quality was an increase in dissolved solids. Models were used to analyze water quality and hydrologic data and to estimate the contribution of the mined area to the total salt load. The effect of surface mining on water quality and flow patterns in aquifers were estimated.