Habitat loss has been identified as a principle reason for decline of many water snakes, and surface mining for coal could potentially put Copperbelly Water Snakes (Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta) at risk due to the severity of land cover change that takes place once mining and reclamation are complete. We studied Copperbelly Water Snakes in riparian habitat impacted by adjacent surface mining in southern Indiana. Snakes were surveyed pre-mining (1992 and 1993), during mining (1994 to 1996) and post-mining (1997 to 2000). Abundance of Copperbelly Water Snakes (cws/km ± se) was higher after mining (5.43 ± 0.37) compared to abundance levels before (2.04 ± 0.74) or during mining (3.32 ± 0.76). No Copperbelly Water Snake was observed in reclaimed habitat immediately following reclamation, but use of reclaimed habitat by these snakes was evident in subsequent years (n = 89). Size class distribution of Copperbelly Water Snakes observed in reclaimed habitat largely paralleled that of the entire population of these snakes in the flood plain. Evidence of reproduction by Copperbelly Water Snakes, in the form of juveniles (<76 cm in length) and young-of-year (<30 cm in length), was observed throughout the study. These data indicate that the population of Copperbelly Water Snakes was reproductively active, sustained higher levels of abundance following completion of mining and reclamation and made frequent use of reclaimed habitat. The extensive use of constructed ponds and drainage ditches by these snakes suggests that reclamation following mining can be done in a manner that facilitates recovery of habitat for this species.