Geology topics

D.E. Stump

Publications and source records attributed to D.E. Stump.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS1986

Effects of surface coal mining on suspended-sediment discharge in a small mountain watershed, Fayette County, Pennsylvania

Data collected in the upper Stony Fork basin from July 1980 to November 1981 indicate that logging operations associated with block-cut surface mining temporarily increased suspended-sediment discharge of Stony Fork. However, the strip-mining operation did not increase the suspended sediment discharges of Stony Fork because of effective sediment-control measures. These controls included diversion control terraces and a large sediment-control pond. The 50-acre mine site yielded an average of 6.9 tons of sediment per acre, whereas, the sediment yield of the 2.5-square-mile study area was 0.13 tons per acre. During most storms, sharp rises in streamflow were accompanied by corresponding rises in suspended sediment concentrations. At the end of a storm, suspended sediment concentrations quickly returned to base-flow levels. Instantaneous stream discharge ranged from 0.02 to 146 cubic feet per second. Suspended sediment concentration ranged from less than 10 to 905 milligrams per liter. The highest daily mean suspended sediment concentration was 176 milligrams per liter. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗

USGS1985

Trap efficiency of a sediment-control pond below a block-cut coal mine in Fayette County, Pennsylvania

The U. S. Geological Survey determined the efficiency of a pond constructed to control sediment from a surface coal mine site by measuring runoff and sediment loads at the inlet to and discharge from the pond during storms. The pond is below a 17.9-acre block-cut coal mine in Fayette County, Pennsylvania and has a permanent pool capacity of 60,000 cu ft. The capacity at the principal spillway and the emergency spillway are 128,900 and 175,500 cu ft, respectively. The pond is equipped with a 3-inch flow control valve, used by the mine operator to regulate the pond stage between the permanent pool and the principal spillway. Data were collected during five moderate storms when the 3-inch control valve was intentionally opened. The ration between the quantity of water in the pond at the start of the storm and the quantity to runoff to the pond was calculated for each storm. The ratios were 3.6, 2.5, 8.6, 2.9, and 1.5 for the five storms. The measured trap efficiencies were 98.1, 92.8, 99.6, 99.1, and 98.2%, for the five storms. (USGS)

Pennsylvania↗

USGS1985

Effects of surface mining on streamflow, suspended-sediment, and water quality in the Stony Fork drainage basin, Fayette County, Pennsylvania

A study of the Stony Fork basin in southern Fayette County, Pennsylvania, from 1977 through 1980 determined the impacts of surface coal mining on surface-water quality. Stony Fork was sampled at six sites, during which time the area of surface mines increased from 0.5 to 5.5 percent of the study area. Streamflow, suspended-sediment, and water quality data were collected at gaging stations upstream and downstream of mining. The total runoff between the upstream and downstream stations differed by one percent; this small difference could not be attributed to the effects of mining. The suspended-sediment yield increased during storms due to erosion from the mining sites. The suspended-sediment yield doubled at the downstream site following mining. Specific conductance was highly variable during storm runoff but generally varied inversely with flow and increased slightly during the study period. The pH ranged between 4.8 and 7.9 with values below 6.0 usually occurring during storm runoff. Concentrations of dissolved zinc and sulfate increased between the upstream and downstream sampling sites. Laboratory analysis of a precipitation sample indicates that acid precipitation may be partly responsible for pH depressions during storm runoff periods. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗