SBIR-STTR Award

Quantitative geomorphic guidelines are lacking for the design and construction of reclaimed surface mine topography. Stable topography is necessary for reclaimed areas in order to reduce sediment pollution to offsite areas, to allow rapid development of vegetation, and to meet state and federal laws. Guidelines for geomorphic design of stream channel networks will be developed from analysis of natural terrain surrounding active mine sites. Basin morphometry, particularly drainage density, will be related to basin slope and lithology or soil type of the basin. Drainage density is thought to be an important parameter to design into post-mining topography because it integrates the effects of many basin variables. Furthermore, any increase in drainage density will be reflected in increased sediment yield which may damage downstream sites. Mine operators would be interested in minimizing the time necessary to construct a drainage network by constructing only those channels which would develop naturally. The relationships will be tested by identifying unstable areas of reclaimed topography which do not fit the relationships.