Mining Projects
Cobre Panama S.A. Baseline Hydrology Monitoring
WET assisted the Cobre Panama mine with installing a monitoring network to sample for baseline hydrology and water quality data. The network included 3 weather stations, 7 stream gage sites, and numerous groundwater monitoring wells, rain gages, and sediment ponds. The steep terrain and dense vegetation prevented radio path communication, and therefore WET installed dataloggers with satellite telemetry.
Most of the mine infrastructure was not yet in place, complicating logistics to install the large network. Many of the site installations were accessed by helicopter and by long treks through the jungle because most of the mine roads didn’t exist at that time. We were responsible for procurement, bench-testing, and international shipping. WET has retained some staff with basic Spanish-speaking skills to communicate with clients such as Cobre Panama.
WET developed a web-based database for monitoring data and provided database management. The water quality sites include water quality sondes, and automated ISCO pump samplers that were programmed to collect water samples during a storm event. The stream gage sites were measured using radar, and stage-discharge ratings were developed for the sites. We calibrated the stage-discharge ratings with discharge measurements using a hand-held velocity meter, and by using an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP).
Geomorphic Reclamation of Quarry 1 at GCC Tijeras Mine
Quarry 1 was mined from the late 1950’s through the 1970’s until unstable ground conditions halted mining operations. The result was a very steep and long hillslope that was highly visible to the public. WET designed and permitted a geomorphic landform at Quarry 1 and provided construction oversight and field modifications during construction.
Quarry 1 reclamation featured a dendritic drainage pattern with high drainage density. WET pioneered an experimental riprap channel design and construction technique, termed the Rocky Bottom Channel (RBC), to reduce riprap volume and increase construction efficiency.
WET provided construction oversight to optimize backfilling and grading operations and made several design modifications to accommodate hidden and unanticipated ground conditions. WET regularly compared drone surveys during construction and updated cut/fill mapping throughout the project.
Quarry 1 reclamation incorporated several bluff features and constructed rocky wildlife habitat features. These features will attract and provide suitable habitat for a variety of wildlife species which in turn will serve to promote vegetation community development and diversity. The reclamation seed mixture includes native plant species site specific to the region which serves to promote viewshed aesthetics.
Oracle Ridge Tailings Storage Facility Diversion Design & Construction Oversight
WET designed a ½-mile long clean-water diversion to route stormwater around a tailings storage facility in Arizona. The project was permitted through the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality during winter of 2022 and constructed later that spring. This structure is designed to withstand the 100-year storm.
We were able to complete this project under budget and on-time despite losing several weeks of construction due to wet and muddy conditions. Furthermore, the Contractor noticed a large elevation discrepancy between the theoretical existing ground and elevations that were measured with his machine control equipment. WET worked together with the Contractor and made some minor field design changes to accommodate the elevation bust.
Troublesome Creek Flume
WET was hired to install a 12-inch Parshall flume on a perennial mountain stream in Colorado. Design drawings and construction specifications were prepared and submitted to obtain county-level permits including a Floodplain permit and a No-Adverse Impact certification. WET personnel conducted a reach and cross-section survey and subsequent hydraulic analysis to support design and permitting efforts.
WET personnel installed the flume during the fall of 2024 after obtaining all necessary permits and easements. The Parshall flume has a stilling well instrumented with a shaft encoder that measures stage. The station has a hard-wired internet connection and pushes hourly data to the Colorado Division of Water Resources database.
