Study of Tailings Ponds Environmental Impact Region in Chengui Town, Daye Based on Watershed Analysis

Abstract

Tailings pond is an important part of mine security operation, meanwhile its also a potential and serious hazard source. Determining the environmental impact region of tailings pond scientifically and veritably is of great significance to improve tailings ponds environmental monitoring and emergency management capability Using Chengui Town in Daye, Hubei as study area and WorldView-2 RS image as source data, the paper built the tailings ponds interpretation marks and extracted 76 tailings ponds information. With the watershed analysis method, the paper further used Daye DEM data to simulate water contour information, extract hierarchical river network and catchment watershed, then marked off the tailings ponds environmental impact area, which covered acreage was 59.96 square kilometers and accounted for about 37 percent of Chengui Towns land area. The paper concluded that the tailings ponds brought immense threat to the watersheds eco-environment and the residents safety. The study will provide a reference for relevant departments to strengthen environmental regulation and risk assessment of tailings ponds.