Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Long-term chemical and biological improvement in an acid mine drainage-impacted watershed

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a common result of coal and metal mining worldwide caused by weathering of metal sulfides exposed during mining. AMD typically results in low-pH, high-metal, high-conductivity water that does not support aquatic life. Chemical water quality improvement does not necessarily lead to rapid biological recovery. Little Raccoon Creek, a major tributary to Raccoon Creek in the Western Allegheny Plateau of Ohio, drains 401 km2, has a legacy of AMD that stems from mining activities over more than a century. Since 1999, seven major passive treatments systems have been installed in the watershed to a total of over $6.5 million. This study analyzes the hourly water quality data collected at a United States Geological Survey gage station alongside trends in fish and macroinvertebrate communities. Both fish and macroinvertebrate communities have shown a statistically significant improvement in the lower reaches of Little Raccoon Creek since treatment began. Long-term chemical monitoring shows a significant increase in pH, but no significant change in conductivity. The conductivity data is well correlated with sulfate concentrations and discharge, while the pH is well correlated with net  alkalinity data, but not with discharge. Significant investment in passive treatment systems and land reclamation has decreased the percent occurrence of pH measurements below the target of 6.5 and has led to recovery of both fish and macroinvertebrate communities in the downstream reaches of Little Raccoon Creek. Long-term monitoring has proven to be a valuable tool to assess success of a high-cost remediation program.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allard, M., & Moreau, G. (1987). Effects of experimental acidification on a lotic macroinvertebrate community. Hydrobiologia, 144, 37–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernard, D. P., Neill, W. E., & Rowe, L. (1990). Impact of mild experimental acidification on short term invertebrate drift in a sensitive British Columbia stream. Hydrobiologia, 203, 63–72.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bowman, J. (2011). Nonpoint Source (NPS) Monitoring Project for Acid Mine Drainage, www.watersheddata.com Accessed July 2013

  • Cormier, S. M., Suter, G. W., II, Zhang, L., & Pond, G. J. (2013a). Derivation of a benchmark for freshwater ionic strength. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 32(2), 263–271.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cormier, S. M., Suter, G. W., II, & Zhang, L. (2013b). Assessing causation of the extirpation of stream macroinvertebrates by a mixture of ion. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 32(2), 277–287.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Courtney, L. A., & Clements, W. H. (1998). Effects of acidic pH on benthic macroinvertebrate communities in stream microcosms. Hydrobiologia, 379, 135–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cravotta, C. A., III, & Bilger, M. D. (2001). Water-quality trends for a stream draining the Southern Anthracite Field, Pennsylvania. Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis, 1, 33–50.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DeNicola, D. M., & Stapleton, M. G. (2002). Impact of acid mine drainage on benthic communities in streams: the relative roles of substratum vs aqueous effects. Environmental Pollution, 119, 303–315.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Driscoll, C. T., & Schecher, W. D. (1990). The chemistry of aluminium in the environment. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 12(1), 28–49.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Earle, J., & Callahan, T. (1998). Effects of mine drainage on aquatic life, water uses, and man-made structures. In K. B. Brady (Ed.), Coal mine drainage prediction and pollution prevention in Pennsylvania (pp. 4.1–4.10). Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. 5600-BK-DEP2256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geologic Survey of Ohio. (1913). Geological survey of Ohio volume XI, comprising Bulletins 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the fourth series. Springfield: The Springfield Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gostomski, F. (1990). The toxicity of aluminium to aquatic species in the US. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 12(1), 51–54.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, R. J., Likens, G. E., Fiance, S. B., & Hendry, G. R. (1980). Experimental acidification of a stream in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire. Ecology, 61, 976–989.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Helsel, D. R. (1983). Mine drainage and rock type influences on eastern Ohio stream water quality. Water Resources Bulletin, 19(6), 881–887.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hirsch, R. M., Slack, J. R., & Smith, R. A. (1982). Techniques for trend assessment for monthly water quality data. Water Resources Research, 18, 107–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hogsden, K. L., & Harding, J. S. (2012a). Anthropogenic and natural sources of acidity and metals and their influence on the structure of stream food webs. Environmental Pollution, 162, 466–474.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hogsden, K. L., & Harding, J. S. (2012b). Consequences of acid mine drainage for the structure and function of benthic stream communities: A review. Freshwater Science, 31(1), 108–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, K. S. (2007). Field and laboratory methods for using the MAIS (Macroinvertebrate Aggregated Index for Streams) in rapid bioassessment of Ohio streams. Athens: Ohio University Department of Biological Sciences.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karr, J. R. (1981). Assessment of biotic integrity using fish communities. Fisheries, 6(6), 21–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keener, A. L., & Sharpe, W. E. (2005). The effects of doubling limestone sand applications in two acidic southwestern Pennsylvania streams. Restoration Ecology, 13, 108–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, A. J., Cherry, D. S., & Currie, R. J. (2003). Field and laboratory assessment of a coal processing effluent in the Leading Creek Watershed, Meigs County, Ohio. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 44, 324–331.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kimmel, W. G., & Argent, D. G. (2010). Stream fish community responses to a gradient of specific conductance. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 206(1), 49–56.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kinney, C., McCament, B. (2010). Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) screening guidelines for the identification of acid mine drainage (AMD) impaired watersheds and for Acid Mine Drainage Abatement and Treatment (AMDAT) plan selection and prioritization. http://ohiodnr.com/portals/11/aml/pdf/screening_guidelines_for_AMDATs.pdf. Accessed 20 June 2013

  • Kowalik, R. A., Cooper, D. M., Evans, C. D., & Ormerod, S. J. (2007). Acidic episodes retard the biological recovery of upland British streams from chronic acidification. Global Change Biology, 13(11), 1365–2486.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kratz, K. W., Cooper, S. D., & Melack, J. M. (1994). Effects of single and repeated experimental acid pulses on invertebrates in a high altitude Sierra Nevada stream. Freshwater Biology, 32, 161–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kruse, N., Bowman, J., Mackey, A., McCament, B., & Johnson, K. (2012a). The lasting impacts of offline periods in lime dosed streams: a case study in Raccoon Creek, Ohio. Mine Water and the Environment., 31(4), 266–272.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kruse, N. A., Mackey, A. L., Bowman, J. R., Brewster, K., & Riefler, R. G. (2012b). Alkalinity production as an indicator of failure in steel slag leach beds treating acid mine drainage. Environmental Earth Sciences, 67(5), 1389–1395.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kruse, N. A., DeRose, L., Korenowsky, R., Bowman, J. R., Lopez, D., Johnson, K., & Rankin, E. (2013). The role of remediation, natural alkalinity sources and physical stream parameters in stream recovery. Journal of Environmental Management, 128, 1000–1011.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lacroix, G. L. (1987). Fish community structure in relation to acidity in three Nova Scotia Rivers. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 65(12), 2908.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laverty, B., Painter, M., Stoertz, M., Hoy, J.B., Hoy, R., Last, J., Rice, C., Farley, M. (2000). Acid Mine Drainage Abatement and Treatment (AMDAT) plan for the Little Raccoon Creek Watershed, Jackson County, Ohio. Technical report for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. http://www.raccooncreek.org/editor/AMDAT%20Plan%20Little%20Racoon%20Creek%20Watershed.pdf. Accessed June 2013

  • McClurg, S. E., Petty, J. T., Mazik, P. M., & Clayton, J. L. (2007). Stream ecosystem response to limestone treatment in acid impacted watersheds of the Allegheny Plateau. Ecological Applications, 17, 1087–1104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) (2013). Abandoned mine land, acid mine drainage abatement program. http://ohiodnr.com mineral/acid/tabid/10421/Default.aspx. Accessed 20 June 2013

  • Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) (1988a). Biological criteria for the protection of aquatic life: volume 1: the role of biological data in water quality assessment. Technical report. http://www.epa.state.oh.us/Portals/35/documents/Vol1.pdf. Accessed 15 Nov 2013

  • Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) (1988b). Biological criteria for the protection of aquatic life: volume 2: user’s manual for biological field assessment of Ohio surface waters. Technical report. http://www.epa.state.oh.us/Portals/35/documents/Vol2.pdf. Accessed 15 Nov 2013

  • Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) (1997). Technical report number MAS/996-12-7. Biological and water quality study of the Raccoon Creek Basin (1995). http://www.epa.state.oh.us/portals/35/documents/racoon95.pdf. Accessed 20 June 2013

  • Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) (2013). Biological criteria for the protection of aquatic life: volume 1: 2013 updates to biological criteria for the protection of aquatic life: volume II and volume II Addendum. Users manual for biological field assessment of Ohio surface waters. Technical report. http://www.epa.state.oh.us/portals/35/documents/BioCrit88_Vol2Updates2013.pdf. Accessed 15 Nov 2013

  • Ormerod, S. J., & Durance, I. (2009). Restoration and recovery from acidification in upland Welsh streams over 25 years. Journal of Applied Ecology, 46, 164–174.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raccoon Creek Partnership (RCP) (2013). Little Raccoon Creek projects. http://www.raccooncreek.org/RESTPROJlrc.aspx. Accessed 19 June 2013

  • Rosemond, A. D., Reice, S. R., Elwood, J. W., & Mulholland, P. J. (1992). The effects of stream acidity on benthic invertebrate communities in the south-eastern United States. Freshwater Biology, 27, 193–209.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singer, P. C., & Stumm, W. (1970). Acidic mine drainage: the rate-determining step. Science, New Series, 167(3921), 1121–1123.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Skousen, J. G., & Ziemkiewicz, P. F. (1996). Acid mine drainage control and treatment. 2nd Edition. National Research Center for Coal and Energy (pp. 356). West Virginia University: Morgantown.

  • Smith, E.P., Voshell, J.R. (1997). Studies of benthic macroinvertebrates and fish in streams within EPA region 3 for development of biological indicators of ecological condition. http://www.epa.state.oh.us/portals/35/credibledata/references/SmithandVoshell1997.pdf. Accessed 20 June 2013

  • Stoertz, M. W., Bourne, H., Knotts, C., & White, M. M. (2002). The effects of isolation and acid mine drainage on fish and macroinvertebrate communities of Monday Creek, Ohio, USA. Mine Water and the Environment, 21, 60–72.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), (1988). Dissolved oxygen water quality standards criteria summaries: a compilation of state/federal criteria. http://nepis.epa.gov. Accessed 19 June 2013

  • Vuori, K. M. (1995). Species- and population-specific responses of translocated hydropsychid larvae (Trichoptera, Hydropsychidae) to runoff from acid sulphate soils in the river Kyronjoki, Western Finland. Freshwater Biology, 33, 305–318.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weatherly, N. S., & Ormerod, S. J. (1991). The importance of acid episodes in determining faunal distributions in Welsh streams. Freshwater Biology, 25, 71–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yoder, C. O., & Rankin, E. T. (1996). Assessing the condition and status of aquatic life designated uses in urban and suburban watersheds. In L. A. Roesner (Ed.), Effects of watershed development and management on aquatic ecosystems. New York: American Society of Civil Engineers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoder, C. O., & Rankin, E. T. (1998). The role of biological indicators in a state water quality management process. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 51, 61–88.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Younger, P. L., Banwart, S., & Hedin, R. S. (2002). Mine water: hydrology, pollution, remediation. London: Kluwer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Zwick, P. (1992). Stream habitat fragmentation-a threat to biodiversity. Biodiversity and Conservation, 1, 80–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, Ohio University, Athens, OH, 45701, USA

    Bruce E. Underwood, Natalie A. Kruse & Jennifer R. Bowman

Authors
  1. Bruce E. Underwood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Natalie A. Kruse
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jennifer R. Bowman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Natalie A. Kruse.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Underwood, B.E., Kruse, N.A. & Bowman, J.R. Long-term chemical and biological improvement in an acid mine drainage-impacted watershed. Environ Monit Assess 186, 7539–7553 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-3946-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-3946-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation