The objective of this surface reclamation project was to reclaim 57 acres of abandoned surface mine land and reduce the first major source of abandoned mine drainage that pollutes Twomile Run, which is a Class A native brook trout stream above the AMD pollution. Reclamation was accomplished through regrading the site, followed by bio-capping with an organic soil substrate, and completed with establishing permanent vegetative cover. Regrading and successful establishment of vegetation controls erosion on the site and reduces surface water infiltration, and has resulted in significantly reducing the amount of abandoned mine drainage that is formed. Some flows of AMD continue from the site, which is to be expected, and these remaining flows will be treated by a passive treatment system recently funded in 2008 by grants from the Growing Greener Program, Office of Surface Mining, and other grant programs.
This project is one of a series of projects that has been laid out in the strategic Lower Kettle Creek Restoration Plan, a comprehensive assessment followed by prioritized recommended treatment options for the abandoned mine drainage problems in the lower watershed. Funding for this project has been made possible by the Growing Greener Program and the Office of Surface Mining's Appalachian Clean Stream Initiative.