Channel development on unreclaimed surface mines in the Beaver Creek watershed, Tucker County, West Virginia

• Main Author: Igo, Wendy Dawn
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: The Research Repository @ WVU 2005
• Subjects: Hydrologic sciences; Geology; Environmental engineering; Beaver Creek
• Online Access: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/2182; https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3186&context=etd

Surface mining has impacted channels in the Beaver Creek watershed of Tucker County, West Virginia. Three streams located in areas with similar geology, topography, climate, and mining disturbances were assessed to define similarities in channel development. Soil properties, vegetation coverage, bank stability, and geomorphology were quantified to determine dominant controls on stream form and process.;Streams were unstable and readjusting as evident by inconsistent width-depth ratios, bank instabilities, variable channel gradients, knickpoints, channel incisions, and erosive channels. Dominant controls on channel form were gradient alteration, bank failures, and vegetation coverage. Six classifications of channel types were established.;Without human intervention, instabilities in these streams will continue for many years. If applied adequately, natural channel designs would benefit the restoration of these streams. Reference reaches could be used as the basis of channel re-design. Potential reference reaches were identified, yet most unstable reaches did not satisfy necessary requirements for data extrapolation.