Detailed Research Information

Detailed project information for
Study Plan Number 08037

Branch : Northern Appalachian Research Laboratory

Study Plan Number : 08037

Study Title : Benthic community response to limestone tributary drainage in a mine-acid impaired river system: implications for restoration of fishes

Starting Date : 01/01/2003

Completion Date : 09/30/2006

Principal Investigator(s) : Ross, Robert M.

Primary PI : Ross, Robert M.

Telephone Number : (570) 724-3322 x239

Email Address : rossr@usgs.gov

SIS Number :

Primary Program Element : Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

Second Program Element :

Status : Completed

Abstract : BACKGROUND
Acid-mine drainage (AMD) contributes significantly to poor water quality in surface waters within the coal deposit regions of Appalachia. The CEQ (1981) estimated that 16,900 km of streams have been negatively affected, primarily in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. In Pennsylvania alone over 5,000 km of stream miles (5% of total) are degraded by mine drainage (CPF 2001), with effects on both aquatic biota and human health from toxic or harmful levels of iron, aluminum, and manganese. Economic benefits from water-based recreation in the Commonwealth exceed $1.3 billion annually, and loss of revenue from sport fishing is estimated at $67 million annually due to mine-impacted streams (Anonymous 2001). Perhaps $5-15 billion (estimates based on currently available technology) will be required to correct AMD-related problems in Pennsylvania (DEP 2001, POWR 2001).

Chemically AMD results from the dissolution of pyrite (associated with coal-bearing strata) and its subsequent oxidation to sulfuric acid. Acid mine drainage (AMD) is generally characterized by (1) low pH (high acidity), (2) high metals concentrations, (3) elevated sulfate levels, and (4) excessive suspended solids and siltation (EPA 1997). Low pH occurs when surface or ground water contacts pyrite, an iron-sulfate compound. When exposed to oxygen and water, these constituents react to create sulfuric acid and iron hydroxide (yellow boy). Resulting acidities as much as four orders of magnitude above normal mobilize iron, manganese, aluminum, and other heavy metals. Sulfates from pyrite bond with other calcium compounds to form a gypsum sludge. Silt and suspended solids from eroding soils devoid of vegetation kill insects and fish by smothering or clogging fish gills (EPA 1997).

Mitigation of AMD has been achieved through the direct addition of alkaline materials such as limestone (calcium carbonate), sometimes accelerated by dissolving the limestone with carbon dioxide under pressure in fluidized-bed reactors (Watten and Schwartz 1996). Increasingly watershed associations in Pennsylvania have undertaken AMD abatement projects and reclaimed large segments of streams with passive artificial lime-treatment systems. However, naturally occurring limestone and dolomite rock also generate acid-neutralizing capacity (ANC) in streams and rivers. Some of Pennsylvania’s streams course through limestone/dolomite strata near coal-mining regions of the Northcentral Appalachian province (DCNR 2001, Omernik 1995), where the West Branch Susquehanna River receives much of the region’s AMD.

Numerous studies have contributed to our understanding of the effects of AMD on the physiology, health, and survival of stream biota, such as aquatic macroinvertebrates (Chmielewski and Hall 1992, Cole et al. 2001a) and fishes (Gunn 1986, Carline et al. 1994, Cole et al. 2001b). Dissolved limestone (CaCO3) not only buffers water from pH change, but also protects aquatic organisms from osmoregulatory loss of important blood ions and from gill damage by dissolved aluminum through competitive transport of Ca++ (displacing Al+++ ions) at the gill (Palawski et al. 1989, Ingersoll et al. 1990, Mount et al. 1990, Cleveland et al. 1991). Effects of AMD on aquatic benthic communities have been studied as well, particularly in the case of aquatic insects (Rosemond et al. 1992, Griffith et al. 1995). However community-level effects on man non-insect components of streams are less well documented. Further, AMD effects on ecosystem function, trophic relations, and productivity in streams and rivers remain poorly understood (e.g., Kirby 1992, Griffith et al. 1994).

Thousands of dams have been constructed on U. S. rivers for important human benefits including flood control, electric power, and recreation (American Rivers 1997). In doing so we have lost many anadromous fishes and adversely affected local fisheries. Restoration of migratory and native fishes as well as endangered biota such as freshwater mussels on streams with the additional stresses associated with AMD will require renewed, multidisciplinary efforts. Ecological studies of habitat diversity and energy flow through food webs are needed (Johnson et al. 1995). We propose to examine the structure of benthic and planktonic/drift communities, the energy basis for diadromous fishes and endangered freshwater mussels, and to determine ecosystem function in streams and rivers impaired by AMD. We then will compare them to the biota and functional attributes found in habitats of buffered systems such as natural limestone streams and trailing plumes in larger receiving streams. These comparisons will allow us to understand what functions can be regained from appropriate habitat, in support of diadromous fish populations under restoration, through artificial treatment of degraded tributaries with passive limestone or other buffering technologies.
INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED
Research needs for the restoration of anadromous fishes to Susquehanna River habitats are summarized by PFC (1997) and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998 BIN list. Proposed work is consistent with all five goals of the Biological Resources Division of USGS and is related directly to resource-management problems 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 10 of the Leetown Science Center (LSC 1997). Additionally, the following elements of FY2001 final program guidance for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Fenn 2001) are supported by this work:

● Maintain fisheries program emphasizing...fish passage research

● Continue work on reestablishing anadromous fish runs on impounded rivers

● Improve the scientific and technical knowledge for restoration of fish passage for native fishes

● Quantify the biodiversity of freshwater species and characterize habitat attributes critical to their conservation.
OBJECTIVES
1. Determine differences in biodiversity and community structure between AMD-impaired and limestone-buffered lotic habitats (benthic and planktonic/drift) using species richness, diversity indices, community metrics, and indicator species abundance estimates.

2. Determine differences in ecosystem function, trophic relations, and productivity between the two habitat categories.

3. Develop models to predict recovery of ecosystem functions in relation to water quality changes mediated by natural or artificial buffering capacity.
HYPOTHESES TO BE TESTED
1. Limestone buffering increases species richness and diversity while reducing dominance by AMD-indicator species in both benthic and planktonic/drift stream habitats.

2. Limestone buffering increases trophic complexity and productivity while shifting ecosystem function away from primary production in AMD receiving streams.

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Branch :	Northern Appalachian Research Laboratory
Study Plan Number :	08037
Study Title :	Benthic community response to limestone tributary drainage in a mine-acid impaired river system: implications for restoration of fishes
Starting Date :	01/01/2003
Completion Date :	09/30/2006
Principal Investigator(s) :	Ross, Robert M.
Primary PI :	Ross, Robert M.
Telephone Number :	(570) 724-3322 x239
Email Address :	rossr@usgs.gov
SIS Number :
Primary Program Element :	Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Second Program Element :
Status :	Completed
Abstract :	BACKGROUND Acid-mine drainage (AMD) contributes significantly to poor water quality in surface waters within the coal deposit regions of Appalachia. The CEQ (1981) estimated that 16,900 km of streams have been negatively affected, primarily in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. In Pennsylvania alone over 5,000 km of stream miles (5% of total) are degraded by mine drainage (CPF 2001), with effects on both aquatic biota and human health from toxic or harmful levels of iron, aluminum, and manganese. Economic benefits from water-based recreation in the Commonwealth exceed $1.3 billion annually, and loss of revenue from sport fishing is estimated at $67 million annually due to mine-impacted streams (Anonymous 2001). Perhaps $5-15 billion (estimates based on currently available technology) will be required to correct AMD-related problems in Pennsylvania (DEP 2001, POWR 2001). Chemically AMD results from the dissolution of pyrite (associated with coal-bearing strata) and its subsequent oxidation to sulfuric acid. Acid mine drainage (AMD) is generally characterized by (1) low pH (high acidity), (2) high metals concentrations, (3) elevated sulfate levels, and (4) excessive suspended solids and siltation (EPA 1997). Low pH occurs when surface or ground water contacts pyrite, an iron-sulfate compound. When exposed to oxygen and water, these constituents react to create sulfuric acid and iron hydroxide (yellow boy). Resulting acidities as much as four orders of magnitude above normal mobilize iron, manganese, aluminum, and other heavy metals. Sulfates from pyrite bond with other calcium compounds to form a gypsum sludge. Silt and suspended solids from eroding soils devoid of vegetation kill insects and fish by smothering or clogging fish gills (EPA 1997). Mitigation of AMD has been achieved through the direct addition of alkaline materials such as limestone (calcium carbonate), sometimes accelerated by dissolving the limestone with carbon dioxide under pressure in fluidized-bed reactors (Watten and Schwartz 1996). Increasingly watershed associations in Pennsylvania have undertaken AMD abatement projects and reclaimed large segments of streams with passive artificial lime-treatment systems. However, naturally occurring limestone and dolomite rock also generate acid-neutralizing capacity (ANC) in streams and rivers. Some of Pennsylvania’s streams course through limestone/dolomite strata near coal-mining regions of the Northcentral Appalachian province (DCNR 2001, Omernik 1995), where the West Branch Susquehanna River receives much of the region’s AMD. Numerous studies have contributed to our understanding of the effects of AMD on the physiology, health, and survival of stream biota, such as aquatic macroinvertebrates (Chmielewski and Hall 1992, Cole et al. 2001a) and fishes (Gunn 1986, Carline et al. 1994, Cole et al. 2001b). Dissolved limestone (CaCO3) not only buffers water from pH change, but also protects aquatic organisms from osmoregulatory loss of important blood ions and from gill damage by dissolved aluminum through competitive transport of Ca++ (displacing Al+++ ions) at the gill (Palawski et al. 1989, Ingersoll et al. 1990, Mount et al. 1990, Cleveland et al. 1991). Effects of AMD on aquatic benthic communities have been studied as well, particularly in the case of aquatic insects (Rosemond et al. 1992, Griffith et al. 1995). However community-level effects on man non-insect components of streams are less well documented. Further, AMD effects on ecosystem function, trophic relations, and productivity in streams and rivers remain poorly understood (e.g., Kirby 1992, Griffith et al. 1994). Thousands of dams have been constructed on U. S. rivers for important human benefits including flood control, electric power, and recreation (American Rivers 1997). In doing so we have lost many anadromous fishes and adversely affected local fisheries. Restoration of migratory and native fishes as well as endangered biota such as freshwater mussels on streams with the additional stresses associated with AMD will require renewed, multidisciplinary efforts. Ecological studies of habitat diversity and energy flow through food webs are needed (Johnson et al. 1995). We propose to examine the structure of benthic and planktonic/drift communities, the energy basis for diadromous fishes and endangered freshwater mussels, and to determine ecosystem function in streams and rivers impaired by AMD. We then will compare them to the biota and functional attributes found in habitats of buffered systems such as natural limestone streams and trailing plumes in larger receiving streams. These comparisons will allow us to understand what functions can be regained from appropriate habitat, in support of diadromous fish populations under restoration, through artificial treatment of degraded tributaries with passive limestone or other buffering technologies. INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED Research needs for the restoration of anadromous fishes to Susquehanna River habitats are summarized by PFC (1997) and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998 BIN list. Proposed work is consistent with all five goals of the Biological Resources Division of USGS and is related directly to resource-management problems 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 10 of the Leetown Science Center (LSC 1997). Additionally, the following elements of FY2001 final program guidance for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Fenn 2001) are supported by this work: ● Maintain fisheries program emphasizing...fish passage research ● Continue work on reestablishing anadromous fish runs on impounded rivers ● Improve the scientific and technical knowledge for restoration of fish passage for native fishes ● Quantify the biodiversity of freshwater species and characterize habitat attributes critical to their conservation. OBJECTIVES 1. Determine differences in biodiversity and community structure between AMD-impaired and limestone-buffered lotic habitats (benthic and planktonic/drift) using species richness, diversity indices, community metrics, and indicator species abundance estimates. 2. Determine differences in ecosystem function, trophic relations, and productivity between the two habitat categories. 3. Develop models to predict recovery of ecosystem functions in relation to water quality changes mediated by natural or artificial buffering capacity. HYPOTHESES TO BE TESTED 1. Limestone buffering increases species richness and diversity while reducing dominance by AMD-indicator species in both benthic and planktonic/drift stream habitats. 2. Limestone buffering increases trophic complexity and productivity while shifting ecosystem function away from primary production in AMD receiving streams.
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U.S. Department of the Interior \|\| U.S. Geological Survey 11700 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA URL: http://www.lsc.usgs.gov Maintainer: lsc_webmaster@usgs.gov Last Modified: October 21, 2002 dwn Privacy Policy and Disclaimers \|\| FOIA \|\| Accessibility