A method for establishing base-line soil loss rates on surface mine sites
Issue Date
1989Keywords
Universal soil loss equation.Soil erosion -- Simulation methods.
Strip mining -- New Mexico -- Farmington Region.
Coal mines and mining -- Environmental aspects -- New Mexico -- Farmington Region.
Advisor
Thames, JohnMetadata
Show full item recordPublisher
The University of Arizona.Rights
Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.Abstract
Surface mining operations require a comparison of post-mining erosion rates with pre-mining soil loss to ascertain if remedial measures are needed. In this study the Universal Soil-Loss Equation (USLE) was modified to reflect conditions of western rangelands to develop a procedure for estimating pre-mining soil loss rates. The modification used back-calculation for the C-Factor and an adjusted R-Factor based on storm size. Soil loss simulation based on stochastic precipitation patterns is appropriate to the site--the La Plata mine area in northern New Mexico--and increases the flexibility of the USLE as a soil loss predictor for western rangelands.Type
textThesis-Reproduction (electronic)
Degree Name
M.S.Degree Level
mastersDegree Program
Graduate CollegeRenewable Natural Resources