I've always wondered this, but was too embarrassed to ask.

Near our house is a quarry. One of the abandoned pits is full of deep clear water.

Groundwater...right?

So anyway, how does the project continue over time, if you're mining limestone, if the dang thing keeps filling up with water?

Very large pumps is what I have seen... My dad used to work at a limestone quarry and many of my family still does. They use very large pumps to keep the water levels down. I suspect it is no different than in NE.

If they are miningsand or aggregate they sometimes use a dredge and just let the water level stay right where it is.

When I was working for the state one summer as a biologist aid, we were electroshocking on day. We were electroshocking a reservoir right next to gravel pit that was being pumped into the reservoir. It was amazing when we hit the section where the cool ground water was being pumped in. Fish of all species and sizes were popping up everywhere!

I bet that would be cool... There is something similar to that on a river I fish where they pump water from a quarry into a local river that's right next to it. Cold ground water that has been aerated sure attracts a lot of cold water loving fish!

It was but these were warm water fish. I think the temp was neutralized a little bit.

The aggregate companies rent camel herds to come in and take a great big gang drink before the start of each shift.

The camels then have to go walk it off so they will be thirsty the next time, which is why you hardly ever see them hanging around gravel pits.

It depends on the geology. Ask George or DIED. Some locations don't have ground water problems some do.

Did JHAP write that post for you Theo?

I have been asked to do some pond management work at a small pond. It was a quarry that filled with water and was then abandoned.

The theory on that one is that the rock was holding back the ground water and when they cut through it the quarry filled up over night.

The rock is known as pipestone because it was used by the Indians to make peace pipes. The pond is near the Pipestone National Monument

I did not know that.

Camel hair stinks when the peace pipe gets hot so they quit using it and made camel jerky instead.

So true. I've seen one quarry pit off the side of Interstate 80 in Illinois that looked to be at least 200 feet deep and was bone dry.

Cecil I'm going to guess that your talking about Thornton quarry off of 80/294.
I've never seen water in it, but here is something I've found online, so it does leak and use big pumps.

It is 1.5 miles (2.5 km) long, 0.5 miles (1 km) wide, and 400 feet (125 m) deep

'The quarry has to be pumped dry because groundwater runs into the quarry through cracks in the perimeter walls. The northern pit is being deepened the fastest. When finished, it will be sealed off from the southern quarry. Then it will be used as a retention basin for the Metropolitan Sanitary District's Tunnel and Reservoir System, more popularly known as "Deep Tunnel." '


Matt

Walt,you'll be really amazed at what you can learn on PondBoss.I didnt believe Sunil exsisted.He even called and fired me one day and I still didnt believe.Then I went to the conferance last year and actually met the guy.you've never seen so much brownnosing going on trying to get my job back.

thanks ewest, but you guys dont need me anymore....you have cj

A resident geologist is always needed. Especially if he is brave enough to live on the left coast with all those faults and quakes.

Sounds like the water was under pressure below a confined layer. In Ohio I know a trout farmer that gets 3000 gallons per minute from a confined layer below limestone.

Eric, I believe they preferred to be called Angelenos and San Franciscans.

When I lived there I just called them insane.

Could be the same one. Interesting. Thanks for the info.