Mapping hydrologically significant categories of spoil deposits across broad areas for purposes of land-use management, warrick county, Indiana

摘要

Surface mining has disturbed approximately 180,000 acres of Indiana. Because many management issues require understanding of how groundwater moves through spoil, practical methods need to be developed for mapping hydrologically significant categories of spoil across broad areas. As part of a pilot study involving cooperation between several state agencies, spoil deposits in Warrick County were targeted for mapping. The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) had conducted a preliminary investigation of mine spoils and suggested evaluation criteria for such materials, in consultation with members of a working group on spoil characterization, four categories of soil replacement were selected for mapping, based on the presence or absence of gradingand thickness of soil cover. The Indiana Geological Survey (IGS) compiled post-mining land-use maps in digital and paper form. Where uncertainties existed, mapping was conducted by IGS, in consultation with the Indiana Department of Reclamation (IDOR),using aerial photographs and topographic maps. The final product consists of a geographic information system (CIS) containing map layers showing the distribution of the four hydrologically significant categories of spoil, together with other layers of hydrologic interest. Users can view these maps in conjunction with map layers showing infrastructure, aerial photographs and topographic quadrangle maps.