Utah Water Science Center

Assessment of the long-term hydrologic effects of subsidence caused by underground coal mining in the drainage basin of the North Fork of the Right Fork of Miller Creek, Carbon County, Utah

Project Number: 9716BGD
Cooperating Agency: Bureau of Land Management
Project Chief: Chris Wilkowske, USGS Salt Lake City, Utah
Project Period: 2004-2006

Problem: Longwall coal mining is the principal underground mining method in Carbon County and in other areas in Utah. Longwall mining involves the complete extraction of the coal, at depth, contained in a large rectangular block or “ panel” and allowing the roof in the mined-out area to collapse. Federal resource land managers charged with assessing the suitability of this method and its eventual environmental impacts are in need of additional, accurate information on the effects, both short-term and long-term, of mining-related subsidence on overlying water resources and ecosystems.

Objectives: The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) studied the Cyprus Plateau Mine near Wattis in Carbon County, Utah from 1988-1992 to determine how the hydrologic system was altered by land subsidence caused by underground longwall mining. The objective of the proposed study is to reassess the hydrologic system overlying the mined area 14 years after the completion of longwall mining and compare the results to hydrologic conditions observed prior to and shortly after longwall mining ended.

Relevance and Benefits: This study will provide new data on the long-term effects of longwall underground coal mining on overlying hydrologic systems. Results will assist the Bureau of Land Management in managing and mitigating the effects of mining in this and other watersheds. This study will provide critical science support to the BLM, another Department of Interior Agency. The objectives and benefits of this proposed study address goals outlined in the WRD Strategic Direction for 1998-2008. The proposal also addresses USGS business activities as described in the USGS Strategic Plan, 1996-2005. The proposed work is within the mission of the USGS.

Approach: The general approach of this study is to revisit the surface water and spring hydrologic data-collection network that was used in the study by Slaughter and others (1995). Discharge measurements and water-quality samples will be collected at the same sites at approximately the same time of year as in the original study. Data sets from before mining, after mining, and 14 years after mining will be compared and analyzed. Results will document the long-term effects of mining on the water resources and will be used by Federal and State agencies to assess the ecological effects of mining.

Products: Results of the study will be published as a U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report. Data collected as part of the study will be entered into the NWIS database.

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Page Last Modified: Wednesday, 10-May-2006 16:07:49 EDT