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Abstract
Eight years of streamflow data are analyzed to show the effects of strip mining on chemical quality of water in six first-order streams in Breathitt County, Kentucky. All these watersheds were unmined in August, 1967, but five have since been strip mined. The accumulated data from this case history study indicate that strip mining causes large increases in the concentrations of most major dissolved constituents in the runoff waters, the concentration of most of these reaching a maximum some time after mining has ceased, then holding steady for several years. The maximum concentration of dissolved salts occured during the low flow of the dormant season, whereas maximum salt loads occurred during the high flow of the early part of the growing season.
Citation
Dyer, Kenneth L.; Curtis, Willie R. 1977. Effect of Strip Mining on Water Quality in Small Streams in Eastern Kentucky, 1967-1975. Res. Pap. NE-372. Upper Darby, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 13p.
