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Abstract Jensen, Lee E., Anthony J. Anderson, Suzy L. Noecker, and Thomas A. Wesche 1994. Methodology for the Geomorphic Classification and Design of Drainage Basins and Stream Channels in the Eastern Powder River Basin coal field of Wyoming. Final technical report to the Abandoned Coal Mine Land Research Program. University of Wyoming Office of Research. Laramie, Wyoming.
Current and potential coal mining operations in the Powder River Basin have increased the need for knowledge regarding drainage basin form and function in that region. The current life-of-mine estimates indicate that each mine in the region will disturb and then reclaim between 959 to 13,217 acres before completion of mining activities. Quantitative analysis of erosional landforms has derived and defined variables that can distinguish drainage basins. Three hundred eighty-four low order drainage basins were selected from USGS, 1:24000, 7.5 minute, topographic quadrangles. Fifteen quantitative and six categorical variables were used to characterize and describe each basin. Additionally, field investigations were conducted to quantify cross-sectional and longitudinal profile characteristics of 58 drainage networks.
Multivariate statistics including, principal components analysis, cluster analysis, and discriminant function analysis were used to categorize the drainage basins in each order. The resulting categories were altered as necessary after correlations of key parameters were analyzed.
The resulting classification has three strata defined by geology, basin area, and gross basin slope of the third order drainage basin. Second and first order basins were classified by the third order stream to which they are tributary.
The geomorphic characteristics of the basins in each strata were then used to develop design equations for the reconstruction of drainage basins and networks within each strata by order. Approximately 200 significant design equations were developed for reclamation in the Eastern Powder River Basin.
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