Stream Gaging Network - Background Water Flow DataProject Overview
Coal mining can have a number of impacts on the surrounding environment, and it is therefore one of the most extensively regulated industries in the United States. In 1977, the federal government enacted the Surface Mining Control Reclamation Act (SMCRA) to respond to the negative land effects of coal mining.
Coal producers are required to go through a complicated process for obtaining local, state, and federal permits to mine. SMCRA requires reclamation plans for future coal mining sites. Reclamation plans must be approved and permitted by federal or state authorities before mining begins. As of 2003, over 2 million acres of previously mined lands have been reclaimed in the United States.
Permit applications must describe what the premining environmental conditions and land use are, what the proposed mining and reclamation will be, how the mine will meet the SMCRA performance standards, and how the land will be used after reclamation is complete.
A Pennsylvania engineering and environmental consulting firm contacted NexSens Technology for assistance in designing and implementing a real-time stream gauging network at six stream site locations in western Pennsylvania. The systems will be used to describe the premining conditions at nearby streams flowing through the proposed mining site(s).
System Description
Due to the nature and extended time frame of this monitoring project, both high accuracy and long-term sensor stability were two key factors in selecting a system. Engineers at the consulting firm evaluated comparable instruments and systems, ultimately deciding on NexSens 3100-iSIC cellular data logging systems with OTT Compact Bubbler Sensors (CBS).
The NexSens 3100-iSIC Cellular Data Logger is designed for configuration with all major account providers. By activating and configuring the cellular accounts prior to the installation, each stream gaging system was completely installed and setup for transmitting real-time water flow data in approximately 1-2 hours.
Project members wanted a rugged, all-in-one weatherproof enclosure to house the expensive electrical components at the remote sites. In addition, vandalism was a potential issue at select sites due to their remote locations. To address these concerns, both the 3100-iSIC Cellular Data Logger and the CBS Bubbler were installed within a locking 24" x 16" x 8" Stainless Steel enclosure.
As an alternative to mounting expensive sensing electronics in the stream, the OTT CBS bubbler system uses inexpensive bubble tubing and a bubble pot chamber for measuring changes in water level.
At user-defined intervals throughout the day, each of the six cellular data loggers collect water level data from the CBS bubbler, sending it to the project manager | NexSens 1001 | iChart software | NexSens WQData-6 | Annual data hosting package for up to 6 field sites, additional site expansion available | NexSens 3100-iSIC | iSIC data logger with cellular modem telemetry | NexSens AVSS241608 | Stainless steel enclosure, 24" x 16" x 8" | NexSens A56 | Unistrut mounting kit | NexSens A38 | Ground kit | NexSens A22 | Solar power kit, 20-watt | NexSens A49 | High gain antenna, cellular frequency, tri-mode, 2 dBd | NexSens A36 | RF cable, micro-loss, 6' | OTT 63.200.001.9.22 | Compact bubbler sensor, high accuracy | OTT 55.510.048.3.2 | EPS 50 bubble chamber, 2mm inside, 4mm outside | OTT 99.420.050.9.5 | Measuring tube, 50m |
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