Sariyildiz, O.; Gyawali, B.R.; Antonious, G.F.; Semmens, K.; Zourarakis, D.; Bhatt, M.P. Stream Chemistry and Forest Recovery Assessment and Prediction Modeling in Coal-Mine-Affected Watersheds in Kentucky, USA. Environments2024, 11, 40.
Sariyildiz, O.; Gyawali, B.R.; Antonious, G.F.; Semmens, K.; Zourarakis, D.; Bhatt, M.P. Stream Chemistry and Forest Recovery Assessment and Prediction Modeling in Coal-Mine-Affected Watersheds in Kentucky, USA. Environments 2024, 11, 40.
Sariyildiz, O.; Gyawali, B.R.; Antonious, G.F.; Semmens, K.; Zourarakis, D.; Bhatt, M.P. Stream Chemistry and Forest Recovery Assessment and Prediction Modeling in Coal-Mine-Affected Watersheds in Kentucky, USA. Environments2024, 11, 40.
Sariyildiz, O.; Gyawali, B.R.; Antonious, G.F.; Semmens, K.; Zourarakis, D.; Bhatt, M.P. Stream Chemistry and Forest Recovery Assessment and Prediction Modeling in Coal-Mine-Affected Watersheds in Kentucky, USA. Environments 2024, 11, 40.
Abstract
: Kentucky is one of the largest coal producing states and surface coal mining has led to changes in natural land cover, soil loss, and water quality. This study explored relationships between actively mined and reclaimed areas and vegetation change and water quality parameters. The study site evaluated 58 watersheds with Landsat-derived variables (reclamation age, mining percentage, reclaimed forest percentage, and reclaimed woods percentage) as well as topographic variables (such as elevation, slope, drainage density, and infiltration). Water samples were collected in spring (n=9), summer (n=14), and fall (n=58) 2017 to study changes in water quality variables (SO42-, alkalinity, conductivity, Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Al3+, and Fe2+,Fe3+) in response to changes in land cover. Pearson correlation analyses indicated conductivity has strong to very strong relationships with other variables of water quality variables related to coal mining (except Al3+, Fe2+,Fe3+, Mn2+, elevation, slope, and drainage density) and land cover variables. In addition, separate multivariate regression analyses were performed with conductivity values based on samples collected in the fall. First, conductivity response to mining percentage, reclamation age and topographic variables were examined (adjusted R2=0.818, p < 0.01). Next, vegetation cover change parameters were added to the same model, which yielded slightly improved R2 (adjusted R2 = 0.826, p < 0.01). Finally, reclamation age and mining percentage were used to explain the quantity of reclaimed forested areas as a percentage of watersheds. The model was significant (p < 0.01) with an adjusted R2 value of 0.641. Results suggest that the quantity (area as a percentage) of reclaimed forests may be a predictor of mining percentage and reclamation age. This study indicated that conductivity is a predictable water quality indicator that is highly associated with Coal Mine Related Stream Chemistry in areas where agriculture and urban development are limited. These findings may help the scientific community and key state and federal agencies improve their understanding of water quality attributes in watersheds affected by coal mining as well as refining land reclamation practices.
Keywords
Appalachia; Coal mining; conductivity; reclamation; vegetation change; water quality
Subject
Environmental and Earth Sciences, Environmental Science
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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