The author would like to thank all of the people who committed their time and effort to the success of this research and her success in return. The people that provided particular support and guidance include Dr. Christopher Bise and Dr. John Quaranta for serving as my advisors, Dr. Leslie Hopkinson for serving as a committee member and her continued help and guidance, Dr. Brijes Mishra for serving as a committee member, and Dan Hause for his continued expertise and assistance with Carlson ® Natural Regrade ®. Without the knowledge and supervision of these individuals, this research would not have been successful. In addition to her colleagues, the author would like to extend her gratitude to the Department of Mining Engineering for their support and the Coal and Energy Research Bureau for the funding of the research discussed throughout this dissertation. The author would also like to thank her family, fiancé, and friends for their continued support and confidence in my education endeavors. Above all, she would like to my parents who instilled in her an importance of higher education since an early age. This thesis is dedicated to her late Daddy-o, Casey Allen Sears, who will forever be her encouragement and strength throughout her life.

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Surface mining and valley-fill practices often lead to environmental impacts including headwater stream loss, increased flooding risk, and degraded downstream water quality. Geomorphic landform design (GLD) is an innovative reclamation technique proposed to lessen the impacts associated with surface mining and valley-fill activities. GLD incorporates mature landform shapes and created stream channels on site, imitating the function of the undisturbed landscape. The purpose of this research was to model GLDs in mountainous terrain and evaluate the hydrologic response and erosion potential of GLD in surface mining application. Computer modeling of valley-fill designs using geomorphic landform principles of a study site in southern West Virginia was performed. Four enhanced GLDs were created for application on new and previously constructed valley fills: 1) regional data GLD for new valley fill, 2) retrofit GLD for existing conventional valley fill, 3) regional data GLD enhanced with bench pond retention structures, and 4) regional data GLD enhanced with valley pond retention structures. Soil erosion was evaluated using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) for the regional data GLD, conventional valley fill, and the undisturbed site during different stages of the reclamation process. Soil loss rates were highest (conventional: 123.2 t ha-1 yr-1 ; GLD: 204.3 t ha-1 yr-1) during the post-mining, pre-vegetation condition along the stream channels and steep slopes (slope >50%). Erosion rates were lowest for the post-reclamation, long term condition (conventional: 35.6 t ha-1 yr-1 ; GLD: 41.8 t ha-1 yr-1) along the ridges. Model predictions of soil erosion rates and spatial distributions illustrated areas of increased erosion potential for future minimization and reclamation method/management practices improvement. Hydrologic response modeling was performed for a watershed in southern West Virginia disturbed by surface mining and valley-fill activities to predict impacts on stream flows at the landscape scale. Incorporation of GLD reclamation methods did not result in substantial changes in current (2011-2020) or future (2041-2050) stream flowrates (<3.3% difference) or stormflow volumes (<2.1% difference). The differences in flows and volumes could be used for mitigation plans in watersheds disturbed by surface mining and valley-fill activities. iii Dedication To Cooper Allen Sears, our lil' man You are kind. You are smart. You are important. Your family loves you more than everything. The author would like to thank all of the people who committed their time and effort to the success of this research and her success in return. Special thanks go to the people that provided particular support and guidance including Dr. Leslie Hopkinson and Dr. John Quaranta for serving as my co-advisors, Dr. Vladislav Kecojevic, Dr. Hema Siriwardane, and Dr. Brijes Mishra for serving as a committee member. Without the knowledge and supervision of these individuals, this research would not have been successful. In addition to h...

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