Healthy Streams at Risk of Detrimental Pollutants from Abandoned Mine Drainage

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Increased Acidity in Riparian Zones

When understanding how an entire riparian zone is affected by a change in environmental factors, indicator species help quantify the health of the area. Often the most biologically important organisms in any given riparian zone are the fish and the macroinvertebrates, such as trout and aquatic insects, respectively8. Members of the Perlidae family, common stoneflies, are located primarily in the eastern United States, they are very common in Pennsylvania. Stoneflies are also sensitive to many distinct factors that contribute to the health of streams9. Some of which include: pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature. Large amounts of acidic mine drainage may lead to a decrease in pH. Even a slight change in the average stream pH of 5.4 would decrease the dissolved oxygen content in the water, since pH and dissolved oxygen are directly related in stream biology1,10. In summary, a decrease in pH equals a decrease in dissolved oxygen, resulting in a lack of stoneflies. Stoneflies are representative of a healthy stream because they are partially predatory, but also feed on algal species that could block sunlight from aquatic vegetation.

Trout can also be a key species in determining a streams health. Trout are extremely sensitive to pH and dissolved oxygen changes as well. A normal pH range for trout native to Little Sewickley Creek is from 5.0 to 6.53. Fish of any kind are important to a riparian ecosystem because they are top order predators and in some cases filter feeders. There is a certain balance to a stream’s functional integrity that would collapse to a degree if fish were completely eliminated from the area11. In regards to dissolved oxygen, fish clearly need a well maintained supply in order for aquatic respiration. Without fish, there would be an essential piece missing in the food web and a stream may prove to not support ample life.

With the eradication of any species from a certain area, the ecological landscape deteriorates and is altered for decades to come4. Acid mine drainage may lower Little Sewickley Creek’s pH by too much for the aquatic species to adapt to. This would leave the stream baron of aquatic life. This lack of stream diversity would also have an effect on the flora of the area as well. Often times, plants have a range of pH in which they can survive, too. If the water becomes too polluted with acidic particles and ions such as aluminum and iron, then plant growth can be inhibited by the hostile environment5.

Conclusion

Pollutants produced by abandoned mines and their drainage could present a serious problem. The body of water at Wingfield Pines is a testament to that. Iron and sulfur contaminants have proven detrimental to not only the intricate systems found in riparian zones, but also to the social-geographic implications. Biologically baron streams are not desirable for a healthy riparian zone. Unnatural pollutants not only affect the wildlife, but human life as well.

Much can be done to prevent eminent pollution of these streams. Preservations and maintenance of the baseline chemical and biological factors of local streams is crucial in order to be ready for an accident in the future. In reducing the likelihood of an accident occurring, analysis of local abandoned mines is the first step. Action needs to be taken towards these strip mines that are accumulating toxic chemicals. An uninvestigated mine has high hazard potential for these healthy streams. Biological and chemical integrity must be kept and monitored.

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Figure 1: Fish streams affected by abandoned mine drainage (Pennsylvania)

This figure represents the collective coverage of streams affected by abandoned mine drainage. The dashed red area is indicative of the streams located around Beaver County. Two streams located in this county are Chartiers Creek and Little Sewickley Creek. The vast area of affected water located to the east poses a threat to the functional and biological integrity of Little Sewickley Creek.12

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References

1.) Kuchapaski, K.A.; Rasumussen, J.B.. Surface coal mining influences on macroinvertebrate assemblage in streams of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Environemental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2015, 34: 9, 2138-2148.

2.) "CHAPTER 93. WATER QUALITY STANDARDS." Pennsylvania Code. 2015. 21 Sept. 2015.

3.) Carline, R. F.; Sharpe, W.E.; Gagen, C.J.. Changes in Fish Communities and Trout Management in Response to Acidification of Streams in Pennnsylvania. Fisheries 1992, 1: 25, 33-38.

4.) David, A.J.. Landscapes and Riverscapes: The Influence of Land Use on Stream Ecosystems. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics 2004 35.1 257-84. *

5.) Zedler, J.B. and S. Kercher. “Wetland Resources: Status, Trends, Ecosystem Services, and Restorability.” Annu. Rev. Environ. Resour. 2005 30:39-74.*

6.) Ormerod, S. J.; Boole, P.; McCahon, C. P.; Weatherley, N. S.; Pascoe, D.; Edwards, R. W. Short-Term experimental acidification of a Welsh stream: Comparing the biological effects of hydrogen ions and aluminum. Freshwater Biology. 1987, volume 17, 2, 341-56.

7.) Environmental Protection Agency: Washington, DC. Acid Mine Drainage Prediction. 1994. EPA530-R-94-036 *

8.) Ward J. V.; Stanford J. A.. Thermal Responses in the Evolutionary Ecology of Aquatic Insects. Annual Review of Entomology. 1982. 27: 97-117 *

9.) Nebeker, A. V. Effect of Low Oxygen Concentration on Survival and Emergence of Aquatic Insects. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 1972. Vol. 4. 101: 675-79.

10.) Environmental Protection Agency: Ohio. Biological Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Life: The Role of Biological Data in Water Quality Assessment. 1987. Doc. 0055e/0015e

11.) Vannote, R. L.; Minshall G. W.; Cummins K. W.; Sedell J. R.; Cushing C. E.. The River Continuum Concept. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 1980. 37.1: 130-37

12.) Becknell University. How Acid Mine Drainage has affected the Greater Sasquehanna Valley Region. Community Projects Group. 2012.

13.) Wedge M., Anderson C. J., and Devries D. Evaluating the Effects of Urban Land Use