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Recovery of the Benthic Macroinvertebrate Community in a Small Stream After Long-Term Discharges of Fly Ash

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Abstract

Recovery of the benthic macroinvertebrate community in a small east Tennessee stream impacted by fly ash discharges from a power plant was investigated over a period of 6.5 years. The rate of recovery was greatest in the first 2 years after an initial 75% reduction in coal use led to a similar reduction in ash discharges and associated contaminants; further recovery followed after all fly ash discharges ceased. Recovery of the stream progressed through two phases. In the first phase, which lasted for approximately the first 2 years, most density and richness metrics increased considerably. In the second phase of recovery, the increases in metric values were followed by declines before fluctuating in and out of the lower reference ranges for the metrics. Detrended correspondence analyses and indicator species analyses showed that changes in species composition and community structure were ongoing throughout the second phase. Thus, the first phase was characterized by species additions, while the second phase involved species replacements and shifts in community dominants. Further recovery of the macroinvertebrate community will probably depend on additional flushing of fly ash deposits from the streambed and flood plain, because their continued presence reduces habitat quality in the stream and serves as a potential source of contaminants. Further recovery also may be limited by the availability of vagile species in nearby watersheds.

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Acknowledgements

The field assistance of L. M. Stubbs and W. C. Kyker (deceased) of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Environmental Sciences Division (ESD), and M. R. Smith of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis, Tennessee (formerly of JAYCOR, Oak Ridge, Tennessee) is greatly appreciated. Samples were processed by the staff of JAYCOR and American Aquatics at their Oak Ridge, Tennessee, laboratories. Craig Brandt, ORNL, ESD, provided guidance with data analyses. This paper benefited from reviews by and discussions with G. F. Cada, A. J. Stewart, G. R. Southworth, and J. M. Loar, all from ORNL, ESD, and the reviews of D. Courtemanch and four anonymous reviewers. This work was funded by the Oak Ridge Y-12 National Security Complex’s Environmental Restoration Program. The Y-12 National Security Complex is managed by BWX Technologies under contract DE-AC05-00OR22800 with the US Department of Energy. Oak Ridge National Laboratory is managed by UT-Battelle for the US Department of Energy under contract number DE-AC05-00OR22725.

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  1. Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Building 1505, MS-6038, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 37831, USA

    John G. Smith

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Smith, J. Recovery of the Benthic Macroinvertebrate Community in a Small Stream After Long-Term Discharges of Fly Ash . Environmental Management 32, 77–92 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-003-2962-1

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