The Gosline H2Ohio AMD Project
Located in Perry County, Ohio, the Gosline H2Ohio AMD project, is an active reclamation site. This project is part of the state’s H2Ohio initiative, focused on enhancing water quality in headwater streams impacted by historic surface mining.
S&ME prepared the design for the 36-acre abandoned mine land site for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and Division of Mineral Resources Management (DMRM).
The primary objective of the project is to improve the water quality of downstream waterways like Rush Creek by reducing metals loading from acid mine drainage (AMD), impacting both surface water and groundwater systems.
Project Challenge
Historic mining activities left the site with significant environmental degradation, including:
- Spoil banks
- Exposed highwalls
- Uncontrolled AMD seeps
- Metals infiltrating surface and groundwater, then discharging from site
Limited suitable on-site material for remediation, paired with ongoing site drainage issues, required an innovative design approach to control infiltration and manage flow paths.
The project is located on private property and required close coordination with the landowner throughout design. As the project evolved, the team shifted from a passive AMD treatment approach to alternative strategies, prompting a comprehensive evaluation of site grading, materials management, and long-term drainage solutions.
S&ME’s Technical Approach
S&ME developed a remediation plan focused on source reduction. Key design elements include:
- Regrading and resoiling spoil banks to improve stability
- Collection and diversion of AMD seeps to intercept contaminated flows
- Installation of limestone-lined channels and underdrains to promote passive treatment
- Diversion of through existing wetland to increase retention time
- Reducing surface water infiltration to minimize contact with contaminated materials
- Backfilling of the highwall and filling the associated mine pit to create positive drainage
- Establishment of a vegetative cover to stabilize soils and support long-term reclamation
Due to the lack of suitable on-site resoil material, S&ME completed a detailed off-site borrow study, including agronomic analysis, to identify potential sources. Lake dredge material from Buckeye Lake was selected, providing a sustainable and solution for site grading.
Design Services Provided by S&ME
- Site review
- Utility research and coordination
- Geotechnical investigation
- Borrow study
- Hydraulic and hydrologic analysis of existing culverts as well as proposed culverts, channel sizing/armoring, and flow diversion structures
- Alternatives development and evaluation
- Coordination with Pike Township for work within the public right of way
- Final design construction documents for remediation including plans, specifications, quantity estimates, and cost estimates
Impact and Results
The Gosline H2Ohio AMD project design provides a comprehensive solution to improve the overall water quality of Rush Creek. By integrating source reduction strategies with engineered grading and drainage improvements, the project supports long-term environmental reclamation.
The project was completed under budget, and the winning construction bid came in below both the Engineer’s Opinion of Probable Construction Cost and the ODNR project budget.
Construction is expected to reduce AMD impacts while advancing the reclamation of surface mined lands and enhancing water resources.
