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Operated by Consolidation Coal Company, the Burning Star No. 4 Coal
Mine is located near Cutler, Illinois. The north field was mined from 1982 through 1997,
with an average production of 2,500,000 tons per year. Final stages of reclamation are
currently being completed using a combination of haulage equipment, scrapers, end dump and
bottom dump trucks. All grading was completed with dozers. The Burning Star Mine was
nominated for the 2001 Illinois Department of Natural Resources reclamation award.
The Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation & Enforcement
presented the 25th Anniversary National Excellence in Surface Coal Mine
Reclamation Award to the Burning Star Mine for the significant engineering and
reclamation accomplishments at this former mine site. This outstanding
reclamation and the added diversity it created have resulted in rapid
re-establishment of wildlife populations that will provide a stable long-term
land use for years to come.
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| Two major stream restoration projects were successfully completed. The
Galum and Bonnie creeks were temporarily diverted and finally restored within the mined
area in their approximate original locations. In addition, the company took measures to
assure the quality of the stream restoration. These conditions included a restored channel
length equivalent to the original channel length, the restoration of riparian vegetation,
replacement of all stream meanders, and the construction of in-stream pools, riffles and
habitat structures. |
Wood duck boxes and successful vegetation |
| A primary highlight of the Galum and Bonnie creek reclamation projects
is the high quality of wildlife habitat that has been restored within these permit areas.
In the years since the first stage of construction, the final vegetation has been
established and each successive year has seen an increase in wildlife usage. Waterfowl
utilize these areas in great numbers. Deer, turkey and small upland game are also well
established in the stream corridors. Most of these wetlands include numerous islands for
additional habitat and safe nesting sites for waterfowl. There are 24 islands within the
59 acres of established wetlands. |
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Mature tree growth |
Approximately 350,000 trees have been planted in association with the
stream restorations. Riparian tree plantings include pin oak, cherrybark oak, swamp white
oak, cypress, sycamore, green ash and river birch. Cottonwood and willow have freely grown
in these areas also. Many structures have been added to improve the restored streams and
wetlands in terms of their habitat quality. Rock riffle areas and log deflectors, low
spots and rock dams for pool establishment, large cap rocks placed in formation to create
dens, brush piles, and wood duck boxes have been utilized. |
| Consolidation Coal also maintains a program of stream study sampling
points along the restored channels in addition to above and below stream locations. Data
from these studies indicate normal populations of vertebrates and invertebrates have been
re-established in the stream restorations. The studies have also shown comparable water
quality in the stream. |
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