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Updated: Mar 13, 2026

Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework
Published on: July 24, 2016
Prediction of the flooding of a mining reservoir in NW Spain
R Álvarez1, A Ordóñez1, E De Miguel2
1Dep. Explotación y Prospección de Minas, University of Oviedo, Independencia, 13, 33004 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
Abstract:
Abandoned and flooded mines constitute underground reservoirs which must be managed. When pumping is stopped in a closed mine, the process of flooding should be anticipated in order to avoid environmentally undesirable or unexpected mine water discharges at the surface, particularly in populated areas. The Candín-Fondón mining reservoir in Asturias (NW Spain) has an estimated void volume of 8 million m3 and some urban areas are susceptible to be flooded if the water is freely released from the lowest mine adit/pithead. A conceptual model of this reservoir was undertaken and the flooding process was numerically modelled in order to estimate the time that the flooding would take. Additionally, the maximum safe height for the filling of the reservoir is discussed.
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