Rilling of hillslopes reclaimed before 1977 surface mining law,Dave Johnston Mine,Wyoming

The erosion of hillslopes reclaimed following the surface-mining of coal is an important geomorphologic concern. However, progress in the design of post-mining topography and its hydrologic response has been hampered by the paucity of research focusing on the propensity of rill formation on these disturbed surfaces. This investigation is intended to partially rectify this situation through the development of regression equations for the prediction of rill frequency and magnitude based upon site characteristics. Rill width can be estimated using soil bulk density, hillslope age, and hillslope length with a standard error of 0.152 log₁₀ units at this location. Rill depth can be estimated using soil shear strength, hillslope length, and hillslope age with a standard error of 0.114 log₁₀ units. Rill length can be estimated using hillslope length, percent silt in the soil, hillslope age, Bouyoucos Clay Ratio, and soil bulk density with a standard error of 3.515 m. Rill frequency can be estimated using soil bulk density, Bouyoucos Clay Ratio, soil compaction, soil reaction (pH), and hillslope age with a standard error of 0.241 rills/m. The cross-product of rill width times depth can be estimated using soil shear strength, hillslope length, hillslope age, and soil bulk density with a standard error of 0.260 log₁₀ units. These results must be tested further under various environmental conditions. Nevertheless, prediction of rill formation seems to be a problem capable of solution.