Geomorphic Reclamation
The field tour caravan makes its way across a reclamation site giving attendees a first-hand look at geomorphic reclamation for the 2009 Geomorphic Reclamation Forum in Bristol, VA.
Traditional approaches to mined land reclamation frequently disturb the stability of the existing natural landforms and add expensive and often times unnatural measures to try to fix the resulting problems. Hills and valleys are flattened out into uniform slopes or terraced to create stable land forms. Streams are often replaced by rock lined ditches or removed entirely. Due to today’s modern advances in technology it is now possible to quickly and inexpensively design stable landforms and streams that mimic both the look and the functionality of nature. Using modern design tools and the geomorphic reclamation approach it’s possible to reclaim highly disturbed lands and create fully functional natural systems virtually indistinguishable from their surrounding landscapes. Steep rock lined ditches are replaced by meandering streams and uniform or terraced hillsides are replaced by slopes that look natural yet are specifically designed to efficiently convey water without excessive erosion or sediment loading.
Past Geomorphic Reclamation Events
- Advances in Geomorphic Reclamation at Coal Mines: A Technical Interactive Forum and Field Tour
Albuquerque, NM – May 20-22, 2014-
Forum Program
Overview: OSMRE organized its third national technical interactive forum on the science, technology, and field application of improving mined land reclamation through geomorphic reclamation techniques and principals. The forum included one day of talks in Albuquerque, NM by leading experts and practitioners and a choice of field trips to active or abandoned mine lands where these techniques have been implemented in the field.
The Active Mining Field Trip visited the Navajo Mine, San Juan Mine, and the El Segundo Mine. The AML Field Trip visited the Swastika Mine/Dutchman Canyon Mine, Sugarite Canyon Mines and the Yankee Canyon Mine.
Forum Papers and Presentations:
Developments in Valley Fill Reclamation in Central Appalachia: the Design of Stable and Sustainable Landforms
Dr. Leslie Hopkinson and Nathan DePriest, West Virginia University - Morgantown, WVPaper Presentation Assessment of Fluvial Geomorphology Projects at Abandoned Mine Sites in the Anthracite Region of Pennsylvania
Dennis M. Palladino, P.E., Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection - Wilkes Barre, PAPaper Presentation Design of Stable Concave Slopes for Reduced Sediment Delivery during Geomorphic Reclamation
Dr. Eric C. Drumm, Isaac Jeldes, Daniel C. Yoder, Dr. John Schwartz, The University of Tennessee - Knoxville, TNPaper Presentation Assessment of Stream Resources at Regulated Coal Mining Sites in Ohio
Dr. Tarunjit S. Batulia, P.E., The Ohio State University - Columbus, OH, Robert Baker, Baker Environment Services & Testing, and Cheryl Scotch, Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Division of Mineral Resources ManagementPaper Presentation Examples of Geomorphic Reclamation on Mines Lands in Spain: From Pioneering Cases to the Use of the GeoFluv Method
José F. Martín Duque, The Department of Geodynamics, Faculty of Geology, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain and Nicholas Bugosh, GeoFluv - Parma, OHPaper Presentation Geomorphic Principles Applied to Reclamation at BHP Billiton’s Navajo Mine
Cassandra Brandt, T. Ramsey, L. Raymond, BHP Billiton - Farmington, NMPresentation MCKINLEY MINE: A Commitment to Stable Land Forms and Geomorphic Principles
Kyle Kutter, P.E., Mary Siemsglusz, P.E., Frank Rivera, P.E., Golder Associates - St. Louis, MO, and Scott Motycka, P.E., and David Burris EIT, Golder Associates - San Antonio, TXPresentation Topographic Comparison of Traditional and Geomorphic Reclamation Approaches at a Surface Coal Mine in Northwestern New Mexico
Matt Owens, BHP Navajo Coal Company - Fruitland, NM, C. Brandt and C.K. Applegate, BHP Navajo Coal Company - Fruiltand, NMPresentation Evaluating Sediment Production from Watersheds at La Plata Mine
Nicholas Bugosh, GeoFluv - Parma, OH, and E. Epp, BHP Navajo Coal Company - Fruitland, NMPaper Presentation Evaluation of Geomorphic Reclamation Performance and Models in the Southwestern United States
Dr. Mark Stone, J., J. Stormont, C. Byrne, E. Epp, S. Rahman, R. Powell, W. Rider, and S. Perkins, University of New Mexico - Albuquerque, NMPresentation Geomorphic Reclamation of Abandoned Coal Mines on Vermejo Park Ranch near Raton, New Mexico: Design and Construction Oversight
Kate Malers, P.E., R. Spotts, P.E., M. Brennan, P.E., R. Wade, P.E., Water & Earth Technologies, Inc. - Englewood, CO, and Z. Isaacson, New Mexico Abandoned Mine Land Program - Santa Fe, NMPresentation Geomorphic Reclamation of Abandoned Coal Mines on Vermejo Park Ranch near Raton, New Mexico: Reclamation and Revegetation
Kenneth E. Carlson, Robin F. Bay, Richard Spotts, P.E., Habitat Management, Inc. - Englewood, CO, Zoe Isaacson, New Mexico Abandoned Mine Land Program - Santa Fe, NMPaper Presentation
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- OSMRE Geomorphic Reclamation Technical Sessions at ASMR 2013
Laramie, WY - June 2-6, 2013-
Full ASMR Abstracts Full ASMR Proceedings
2013 National Conference
2nd Wyoming Reclamation and Restoration Symposium and 30th Annual Meeting of American Society of Mining & ReclamationBackground: OSMRE's Western Region Technology Transfer (WRTT) team participated in this annual event as an exhibitor. This conference provided an opportunity for scientists, researchers, regulators, and mining and reclamation personnel to exchange information, share ideas, and meet together. The target audience consisted of industry reclamation managers, researchers and technical staff, consultants, state and Federal agencies' natural resource and reclamation staff.
Topics Covered: Innovations in Revegetation; Plant Community Diversity; Forestry; Landscape Stability; Below ground evaluation of reclamation success; Reclamation Success Evaluation Case Studies; Bond Release Case Studies; Coal Bed Methane Water Utilization/Disposal; Reclamation of Land Impacted by Coal Bed Methane, Natural Gas, and Oil Production; Acid Mine Drainage Impacts; and Reclamation of Hard Rock Mining
Target Audience: Reclamation professionals.
Forum Papers and Presentations:
Abandoned Mine Land Geomorphic Reclamation of Abandoned Coal Mines on Vermejo Park Ranch Near Raton, New Mexico I. Design and Construction Oversight
R. Spotts, M. Brennan, R. Wade, K. J. Mahlers, K. E. Carlson, and Z. IsaacsonPaper Presentation Geomorphic Reclamation of Abandoned Coal Mines on Vermejo Park Ranch Near Raton, New Mexico II. Reclamation and Vegetation
K.E. Carlson, R.F. Bay, R. Spotts, P.E., Z. IsaacsonAbstract Active Mining A Comparison of the Vegetation Communities on Geomorphic and Non-geomorphic Reclaimed Mine Lands in Northwestern New Mexico
J. Voss and T. C. RamseyAbstract Achieving Contemporaneous Geomorphic Reclamation at El Segundo Mine, New Mexico
Emily HydruskoAbstract Presentation Integrating Geomorphic Reclamation with Undisturbed and Previously Reclaimed Areas Using A Multi-program Computerized Design Approach at McKinley Mine
H. McCabeAbstract Presentation Natural Stream Design Stream Restoration Initiative at the Jewett Lignite Mine
Jeremiah McKinney, Jacob Young, and Derrel EzellAbstract Presentation A Comparison of Stream Chemistry in Three Restored Illinois Coal Basin Streams: Initial Conditions Vs. 10 And 20 Years Post-Restoration
B. Borries, K. W. J. Williard, J. Schnoonover, and J. NawrotAbstract Presentation A Comparison of Soil Condition, Vegetation Communities, and Soil Redux Characteristics of Surface Mined Wetlands and Natural Wetlands in Southern Illinois
B. Borries, K. W. Williard, J. Schoonover, and S. IndoranteAbstract Presentation Advances in the Science of Geomorphic Reclamation Comparative Analysis of Multiple Softwares Used in Aiding Geomorphic Reclamation
Kristin M. BrownAbstract Presentation Evaluation of Geomorphic Reclamation Performance and Models in the Southwestern United States
M. Stone, J. Stormont, E. Epp, C. Byrne, S. Rahman, R. Powell, W. Rider, and S. PerkinsAbstract Presentation
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- Mid-Continent Region Natural Steam Design Workshop
Mount Vernon, IL - May 17-19, 2011-
Forum Program
Background: Arguably more than anywhere else in the United States, streams within the Midwest are highly impacted by centuries of anthropogenic impacts predominately rooted in agriculture, drainage improvements, and navigational development. Riparian buffers were reduced or lost and stream beds were channelized resulting in increased nutrient load, increased sedimentation, channel incision, and aquatic habitat loss. Traditional mining and reclamation methods often replace these streams with rock lined ditches or remove them entirely. However, due to today’s modern advances in technology, it is now possible to design streams that mimic both the look and the functionality of nature. Steep rock lined ditches are replaced by meandering streams specifically designed to efficiently convey water without excessive erosion or sediment loading and provide a proper mix of habitat zones essential for sensitive aquatic life. Today, mine reclamation may provide a unique opportunity to not just return a Midwestern stream to its pre-mined state, but improve functionality and restore/create a more natural and ecologically sound system.
In recent years, increasing pressure has been put on the mining industry to improve landform reclamation and mitigation of stream impacts. In response, OSMRE sponsored a forum entitled “Geomorphic Reclamation and Natural Stream Design at Coal Mines” in Bristol, Virginia that addressed many aspects of natural landform and stream design from a national scale. Since that forum, state and industry personnel within the Mid Continent Region (MCR) have identified a need for more focused discussion and education on stream design, construction, and monitoring elements unique to the region. The response was to design a workshop more accessible to Midwestern personnel. The workshop focused attention on the unique challenges and ecological benefits of utilizing natural stream design methods and practices for coal mine reclamation in the Midwest. In addition, this workshop provided valuable support to OSMRE’s and the State’s current charge of improving protection for streams affected by surface coal mining.
Topics Covered: Midwestern Stream Characteristics, Design and Engineering, Regulatory Issues, Monitoring, and Stream Reclamation Case Studies. This field intensive workshop included two full-day tours to reclaimed stream projects of widely varying size and age within Southern Illinois and Southwestern Indiana.
Target Audience: Regulators, Industry, and Academia involved in stream reclamation of surface mined lands in the Midwest.
Forum Presentations:>
The Interwoven Roles of Geologic Setting, Human Disturbance, and Time in Shaping the Geomorphic Characteristics of Midwestern Streams
Faith A. Fitzpatrick, U.S. Geological Survey, Wisconsin Water Science CenterPresentation A Survey of Stream Restoration Projects in Illinois
Don Roseboom, U.S. Geological Survey, Illinois Water Science CenterPresentation OSMRE’s New Stream Protection Rule
Paul Ehret, Office of Surface MiningPresentation Mitigation and Monitoring Requirements
Mike Ricketts and Sam Werner, US Army Corps of EngineersPresentation Stream Restoration at Midwest Surface Coal Mines – Keys to Success
Richard Williams, Peabody EnergyPresentation Lessons Learned from a Thousand Streams
Wayne Kinney, Midwest Streams, Inc.Presentation The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Russell Retherford, US Army Corps of EngineersPresentation Hydrology and Sediment Transport Characterization and Management Considerations
Timothy Straub, US Geological Survey, Illinois Water Science CenterPresentation Pipestone Creek and Pyramid State Park
Pat Malone, Illinois DNRPresentation CONSOL Burning Star 4
Bill O’Leary, Illinois DNRPresentation West Fork Creek Mitigation Area
Dave Beeson, ENVIRON Int.Presentation The Squiggly Ditch – The Third Time Around
Dan Hause, Indiana DNR Division of ReclamationPresentation
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- Geomorphic Reclamation and Natural Stream Design at Coal Mines: A Technical Interactive Forum
Holiday Inn, Bristol, Virginia, April 27-30, 2009-
Speaker Bios Abstracts Forum Program Proceedings
Forum Papers and Presentations:>
1st Session: Advances in Geomorphic Reclamation Chairpersons: Roger Calhoun OSMRE, Charleston, WV A Geomorphologist’s Perspective on Stream Restoration in Mined Land
Dr. J. Steven Kite, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WVPresentation Science Basis for Reclamation of Low-Order Streams
Dr. Peter R. Wilcock, Geography and Environmental Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MDPresentation Hydrological Functioning of Surface-Mined Watersheds in Western Maryland: Restoration or Reclamation?
Dr. Keith N. Eshleman and Brian C. McCormick, M.Sc., P.E., Appalachian Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Frostburg, MDPresentation Disturbed Land Reclamation Using Geomorphic Techniques: McKinley Coal Mine, New Mexico, Mining Area 12C
Richard Spotts, P.E., Water and Earth Technologies, Inc. (WET)
Marie Shepherd, P.E., Chevron Mining Inc.
Melissa Robson, E.I., & Ryan Wade, E.I., (WET) Fort Collins, CO
Wayne Erickson, CPESC, Habitat Management, Inc.Presentation Disturbed Land Reclamation Using Geomorphic Techniques: McKinley Coal Mine, New Mexico, Mining Area 12C
Richard Spotts, P.E., Water and Earth Technologies, Inc. (WET)
Marie Shepherd, P.E., Chevron Mining Inc.
Melissa Robson, E.I., & Ryan Wade, E.I., (WET) Fort Collins, CO
Wayne Erickson, CPESC, Habitat Management, Inc.Presentation Tools for Integrating Geomorphic Reclamation into Planning for Eastern Coal Surface Mines
Dr. Charles Yuill and Michael Hasenmyer, Natural Resource Analysis Center, Environmental Design Visualization Group, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WVPresentation 2nd Session: Geomorphic Reclamation in Appalachia Chairpersons: Craig Walker OSMRE, Knoxville, TN Challenges of Applying Geomorphic and Stream Reclamation Methodologies to Mountain-Top Mining and Excess Spoil Fill Construction in Steep Slope Topography (e.g. Central Appalachia)
Peter Michael and Lois Uranowski, OSMRE, Pittsburgh, PA
Mike Superfesky, OSMRE, Morgantown, VAPresentation Can Appalachian Mine Reclamation be called Sustainable using Current Practices?
Nicholas Bugosh, Carlson Software, Ft. Collins, COPresentation Geomorphic Restoration of Coldwater Fork Following Oct. 2000 Slurry Spill
George Athanasakes, P.E., Stantec, Louisville, KYNot Available Modeling Sediment Loss on Geomorphic Regraded Forest Lands in Kentucky
Dr. Richard Warner, Dr. Carmen T. Agouridis and Dr. Christopher D. Barton, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KYPresentation Stream Restoration on the Cumberland Plateau, Tennessee
Dennis Clark, OSMRE, Knoxville, TN
Tim Slone, IRTEC, Caryville, TNPresentation Case Study ‐ Kentucky: Recreating a Headwater Stream on a Head of Hollow Fill
Dr. Carmen T. Agouridis, Dr. Christopher D. Barton, and R.C. Warner, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KYPresentation Use of Natural Stream Channel Design Techniques in the Coal Fields of Virginia
Lance DeBord, D.R. Allen and Associates, Abingdon, VAPresentation 3rd Session: Geomorphic Reclamation in the West Chairpersons: Mychal Yellowman OSMRE, Denver, CO Integrating Natural Processes with Drainage Reclamation Design in Montana
Tom Golnar, Shannon Downey, and Julian Calabrese, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Helena, MOPresentation The Application of Geomorphic Reclamation Methods in Wyoming
Marcello Calle and Jonathan Stauffer, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Cheyenne, WY
Scott Belden, Peabody Energy, North Antelope/Rochelle Mine, Gillette, WYPresentation Geomorphic Reclamation in New Mexico: A Regulator’s Perspective
Dave Clark, New Mexico Mining and Minerals Division, Santa Fe, NMPresentation Geomorphic Reclamation at BHP Billiton New Mexico Coal – Successes, Challenges and Future
Daphne Place, Collette Brown, and Cary Cooper, BHP-Billiton New Mexico Coal, Farmington, NMPresentation 4th Session: Geomorphic Reclamation in the Mid-West Chairpersons: Bryce West Peabody Energy, Evansville, IN Anthropo-Geomorphology of Streams, Wetlands and Landscapes of the Illinois Basin, and Restoration Techniques
Tim Sandefur , Wetland Services, Inc., Corydon, KYPresentation Current Stream Mitigation Requirements & Results
Mike Ricketts and Sam Werner, US Army Corps of Engineers, Newburgh, INPresentation From Rip Rap to Riffles: The Evolution of Stream Reclamation in the Indiana Coal Fields
Ramona Briggeman, Indiana DNR, Division of Fish & Wildlife, Jasonville, INPresentation Illinois Perspective – Past & Current Practices, Benefits and Challenges
David Lamb, Associated Engineers, Inc., Madisonville, KY
Darrin Parrent, T.H.E. Engineers Inc., Lexington, KYPresentation Illinois Stream Restoration - Opportunities for Habitat Enhancement: Policy, Principles and Practices
William G. O’Leary, Illinois DNR, Office of Mines and Minerals, Benton, IL Jack Nawrot, Cooperative Wildlife Research Lab, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, ILPresentation Industry Perspective: Past and Current Practices, Benefits and Challenges
Scott McGarvie, Peabody Energy, Evansville, INPresentation
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