Evaluating Peat‐Mining Hydrology Using Drainmod
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 114, Issue 3
Abstract
A process that uses the field‐scale model DRAINMOD to simulate the hydrologic response of a watershed to peat mining is presented. An eastern North Carolina watershed has been proposed as the site of a peat mining project. Within the watershed are several distinct soils, land uses, and drainage characteristics. Land use, drainage, and even soil characteristics change as peat soil is mined and reclaimed. The hydrologic response of this watershed is determined for each year of the proposed mining project by combining the field hydrology model with a simple reservoir model, a spreadsheet program, and a statistical program. Results show that peat mining alone increases the annual runoff volume and peak outflow rates. However, by mining land in small sections, by reclaiming the land for agricultural and forest uses, and by installing water retention reservoirs, the annual runoff and peak daily flows from the watershed can be reduced to the magnitude of those presently occurring on the unmined site.
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References
1.
Broadhead, R. G., and Skaggs, R. W. (1984). “Hydrologic effects of peat mining.” Paper No. 84‐2068, Amer. Society of Agric. Engrs., St. Joseph, MI.
2.
Gale, J. A., and Adams, D. A. (1984). “Cumulative impacts of peat mining—final project report.” CEIP Report No. 40, North Carolina Coastal Energy Impact Program, North Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources and Community Development, Raleigh, N.C.
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Copyright © 1988 ASCE.
History
Published online: Aug 1, 1988
Published in print: Aug 1988
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