The recovery of an AMD- impacted stream treated by steel slag leach - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The recovery of an AMD- impacted stream treated by steel slag leach beds: a case study in the East Branch of Raccoon Creek

NAAMLP Conference, Columbus, OH September 21-24, 2014 Caleb Hawkins Master of Science in Environmental Studies Candidate The Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, Ohio University Athens, OH

• Dr. Natalie Kruse, The Voinovich School, Environmental Studies; Dr. Kelly Johnson, College of Arts

and Sciences, Biological Sciences; Dr. Dina Lopez, College of Arts and Sciences, Geological Sciences

East Branch, Raccoon Creek Watershed

• Drainage Area 19.95 mi2 (12768 acres)
• Approximately 8 miles long, average fall per

mile =19.5ft

• 5% of land affected by underground mines

(approx. 576 acres)

• 15% land affected by surface mines (approx.

1983 acres)

• Pre-reclamation: largest contributor of acidity

to Raccoon Creek

Reclamation and Restoration

• Over $2,000,000 in reclamation projects
• Reclaimed gob piles
• Three Phases of Steel Slag Bed Construction (11 SSLBs)
• Limestone channels
• Phase I completed December 2007 (Sanner Road)
• Reduced acid load from 1175 lbs/day to 1 lb/day
• Reduced metal load 186 lbs/day to 46 lbs/day
• Phase II and III (completed in Dec 2010 and Spring 2011)
• Reduced acid load from 251 lbs/day to 36 lbs/day
• Laurel Run
• Reclamation goal: reduce acid loads at the mouth of East

Branch, restore pH to circumneutral

2 4 6 8 10 12

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 1/14/04 5/28/05 10/10/06 2/22/08 7/6/09 11/18/10 4/1/12 8/14/13 12/27/14 pH Concentration mg/L Date

Mouth of Laurel Run pH, Acidity, and Alkalinity

acidity_lab_mgl alkalinity_lab_mgl PH_lab

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

1/14/04 5/28/05 10/10/06 2/22/08 7/6/09 11/18/10 4/1/12 8/14/13 12/27/14 pH Concentration mg/l Date

Sanner Run pH, Alkalinity, and Acidity

acidity_lab_mgl alkalinity_lab_mgl PH_lab

Primary Research Questions

• Relationship between MAIS values (rapid bioassesments), sediment

chemistry, and aqueous chemistry?

• Are there definable zones of recovery below steel slag leach beds?
• Does gradient influence the deposition of metals in pools ?
• How does the stream alkalinity change from the treatments in the

headwaters to the mouth of East Branch?

Methods

• Rapidbioassesments (MAIS)
• WQ samples
• Measure stream slope (areas of deposition)
• Discharge
• Sediment samples (ICP-OES analysis)

Past Research

• MAIS at 5 sites in July 2013 and 2014
• Low flow WQ samples and alkalinity budget in August 2013
• High flow WQ samples and acidity/alkalinity budgets in June 2014
• QHEI at MAIS sites in October 2013
• Gradient measured at 14 sites in January and February 2014 (3 more

sites to be measured)

MAIS values in East Branch and at confluence

Year Confluence (MSBC010.

(approx. 0.5 mi downstream of mouth)

Mouth (EB010) RM0.1 Tick Ridge (EB047) RM 2.2 2001 * * 5 2002 * * 3 2003 * * 2005 8 * * 2006 9 8 * 2007 12 12 * 2008 9 6 * 2009 10 12 11 2010 12 11 13 2011 13 9 8 2012 12 13 12 2013 13 10 15 Confluence has improved status. R2 =0.66 P=0.007 (9 years

• f data) *= no data available Mouth does not have improved
• status. R2 = 0.11 P = 0.41

Results

Site River Mile

Drainage Area mi2

MAIS Score QHEI Mouth 0.1 19.9 10 Poor

63 Good

Tick Ridge 2.2 15.4 15 Good

73 Excellent

Dexter 3.2 13.9 13 Good

76.5 Excellent

South Bridge 4.9 8.43 5 Very Poor

67 Good

North Bridge 5.5 6.49 8 Poor

70 Excellent

2013 scores = no correlation between habitat and macroinvertebrate scores

• Tick Ridge R2 = 0.18 and is not

significant P=0.47 (5 years of data)

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 MAIS Score Year

MAIS score by year at three sites

Confluence Mouth Tick Ridge Linear (Tick Ridge)

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 0.1 2.2 3.2 4.8 5.7

• No. of Individuals

River Mile

Taxa richness (2013)

50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 0.1 2.2 3.2 4.8 5.7

• No. of Individuals

River Mile

Number of Individuals (2013)

Aqueous Chemistry Sampling Dates

• Aug 4-5, 2013
• Aug 15-16, 2013
• May 22-23, 2014 (alkalinity Budgets)
• June 4-5, 2014
• Aug 4-5, 2014
• Sep 2014 (alkalinity budgets)
• Mar 2015 (chemical and alkalinity budgets)

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Discharge CFS Acid Load kg/day River Mile Acid Load Sanner Road - May and June 2014 Discharge May CFS Discharge June CFS June Acid Load May Acid Load

Starr Stallion Poling Cabin

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 100 200 300 400 500 600

• 1

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

CFS

Acid load kg/day

River Mile

Laurel Run Acid Loads - May, June, and August 2014

Aug Acid Load kg/day June Acid Load May Acid Loag kg/day Aug Discharge June Discharge CFS May Discharge CFS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Concentration mg/l River Mile

Mouth to Sanner Run

Al Fe Mn Starr Stallion Poling Yost Cabin

0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Concentration (mg/L) River Mile

Mouth to Laurel Run

Fe Al Mn

Starr SSLB Northwoods SSLB Forest SSLB Winnifred SSLB

• 2

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Loading (kg/day) River Mile

Al loadings Laurel Run

Al loading kg/day Δ Al loadings kg/day

Starr SSLB Northwoods SSLB Forest SSLB Winnifred SSLB

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 pH_Lab Conductivity (µS/cm2) Sulfate (mg/L) River Mile

Mouth to Laurel Run Tributary – June 2014

conductivity_lab_uScm sulfate_mgl PH_lab

Starr SSLB Northwoods SSLB Forest SSLB Winnifred SSLB

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

pH

Conductivity (µs/cm3) sulfate (mg/l) River Mile

conductivity_lab_uScm sulfate_mgl PH_lab

Starr Stallion Poling Yost Cabin

Preliminary conclusions

• Gradient does not affect the concentration of suspended metals (Fe, Al)
• Need more data points
• Treatment systems buffer the acid effectively near headwaters sites
• Dilution buffers later downstream
• Sediment samples may tell different story
• Water quality improvements are not immediate
• Varying zones of chemical recovery exist in East Branch

Future Research

• Sediment sampling July 2014
• Sediment analysis fall 2014
• WQ Sampling/ Alk Budget fall 2014
• Finish gradient sampling fall 2014
• QHEI October 2014
• Continued lit review, data analysis,

and writing in the fall 2014 and spring 2015

• Historical data in context and

weather influences

Qu Ques estion

• ns?

Contact: Caleb Hawkins Grad Assistant AEP Watershed Restoration Program ch029413@ohio.edu (937) 404-1016

References Cited

• MacCausland, A. and McTammany, M.E., 2006. The impact of episodic coal mine

drainage pollution on benthic macroinvertebrates in streams in the Anthracite region of Pennsylvania. Environmental Poluution 149, 216-226.

• Jennings, S.R., Neuman, D.R. and Blicker, P.S., 2008. Acid Mine Drainage and

Effects on Fish Health and Ecology: A Review. Reclamation Research Group Publication, Bozeman, MT.

• Yoder, C.O. and Rankin, E.T., 1996. Assessing the condition and status of aquatic

life designated uses in urban and suburban watersheds, pp. 201-227. in Roesner, L.A. (ed.). Effects of Watershed Development and Management on Aquatic Ecosystems, American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, NY.

• Cravotta III, C.A., Bilger M.D., 2001. Water – quality trends for a stream draining

the Southern Anthracite Field, Pennsylvania. Geochem. Explor. Environ. Anal. 1, 33-50.

• Hogsden, K.L., Harding, J.S., 2012. Consequences of acid mine drainage

for the structure and function of benthic stream communities: a review. Freshwater Science, 31(1), 108-120.

• McClurg, S., Petty, J.T., Mazik, P., and Clayton, J., 2007. Stream ecosystem

response to limestone treatment in acid impacted watersheds of the Allegheny plateau. Ecological Applications, 17, 4, 1087-1104.

• 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. The Journal of Environmental Management, 128, 1000-1011. Doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.06.040

Smith, E. P. and Voshell, J.R., 1997. Studies of benthic macroinvertebrates and fish in streams within EPA Region 3 for development of Biological Indicators of Ecological Condition. Part 1, Benthic

• Macroinvertebrates. Report to U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. Cooperative Agreement
• CF821462010. EPA, Washington, D.C.

Johnson, K., 2007. Field and Laboratory Methods for using the MAIS (Macroinvertebrate Aggregated Index for Streams) in Rapid Bioassessment of Ohio Streams. MAIS Field Sampling Methods- June 2007. Assessed at: http://www.epa.ohio.gov/portals/35/credibledata/references/MAIS_training_manual_2007.pdf 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. The Journal of Environmental Management, 128, 1000-1011. Doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.06.040 Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. (2006). Methods for Assessing Habitat in Flowing Waters: Using the Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI). Ohio EPA Division of Surface Water, Columbus, Ohio. 26 pp.http://www.epa.ohio.gov/portals/35/documents/QHEIManualJune2006.pdf

• 80
• 60
• 40
• 20

20 40 60 80

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Concentration (mg/L)

River Mile

Mouth to Sanner Run (Net Alk)

Net Alkalnity Total Mg Total Na

Starr Stallion Poling Yost Cabin

EB010 EB047 EB080 EB130 EB150 EB170 EB190 EB210 EB010 EB047 EB080 EB130 EB150 EB170 EB190 EB210 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 River Mile

High-flow and Low-flow acidity concentrations

High Flow Low Flow

Acidity (mg/L CaCO3)

100 200 300 400 500 600 700 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Concentration mg/l River Mile

Mouth to Sanner Trib

Sulfate Ca Total Starr Stallion Poling Yost Cabin

5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Alkalinity/Acidity mg/L CaCO3

Date

Acidity and Alkalinity at EB010 Acidity Alkalinity

SSLB construction and reclamation

• 20

20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Mg/L as carbonate River Mile

Laurel Run Alkalinity Loadings – June 2014

Alkalinity Loading kg/day Δ Alk loadings kg/day

Starr SSLB Northwoods SSLB Forest SSLB Winnifred SSLB

• 20

20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 mg/l River Mile

Sanner Road Alk loadings - June 2014

alk loading kg/day Δ Alk loadings

Starr Stallion Poling Cabin Yost

• 100
• 80
• 60
• 40
• 20

20 40 60 80

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Net Acid Concentrations mg/L River Mile High Flow Acidity Concentrations (mg/L) by River Mile Mainstem Laurel Trib Sanner Trib

20 40 60 80 100 120 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Concentration (mg/L) River Mile

Mg, Na, and Alk Laurel Run

Mg Na Alkalinity

Starr SSLB Northwoods SSLB Forest SSLB Winnifred SSLB

100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Concentration mg/L River Mile

Mouth to Laurel Run Treatments

Starr SSLB Northwoods SSLB Forest SSLB Winnifred SSLB

Net Acidity by RM (mg/L CaCO3) Low-flow August 2013

site MAIS mile_mar kers RKM temp_c measured_dis charge_cfs Q L/s PH_field conductivi ty_lab_uS cm acidity_la b_mgl alkalinity_ lab_mgl TDS_mgl TSS_mgl sulfate_m gl Ca_total_ mgl Mg_total_ mgl Na_total_ mgl K_total_m gl Fe_total_ mgl Mn_total _mgl Al_total_ mgl MSBC010 13 111.39 179.2644 19.1 1.4064 39.82481306 6.82 805 6.08 28.9 602 3 347 87.7 37 15.5 3.43 0.45 1.62 0.06 EB010 10 0.1 0.160934 19.5 0.43 12.17624404 6.75 1000 4.6 21.1 752 2 483 119 48.7 16 3.19 0.27 1.22 0.05 EB047 15 2.25 3.621015 20.2 0.29 8.211885514 6.91 1070 3.88 19.6 863 4 867 127 51.4 19.1 3.32 0.22 0.5 0.08 EB080 13 3.2 5.149888 20.1 0.31 8.778222446 6.81 1170 3.4 13.8 962 3 627 139 60.7 18.8 3.31 0.1 1.01 0.08 EB150 5 5.5 8.85137 23.4 0.15 4.24752699 5.46 1230 18 2 1040 11 695 162 64.4 13.9 3.35 0.43 2.32 2.77 EB170 8 5.6 9.012304 21.9 0.14 3.964358524 6 981 11.3 3.58 783 3 505 127 42.4 11.7 2.94 0.33 1.28 0.33 EB190 6.3 10.13884 21.6 0.05 1.41584233 6.43 1080 3.56 11.2 898 2 581 142 49.6 12.7 3.12 0.06 0.31 0.1 EB196 6.8 10.94351 21.8 0.05 1.41584233 6.18 1150 4.16 10.5 976 5 633 159 56 12 3.18 0.05 0.43 0.12 EB199.1 7.5 12.07005 19.4 0.04 1.132673864 7.22 1220 6.76 19.9 1000 7 660 165 57.8 10.7 3.41 0.15 2.69 0.4 EB194 7.6 12.23098 19.4 0.02 0.566336932 6.18 1570 10.3 68.2 1400 14 900 232 82 12.1 4.19 3.57 3.8 0.23 EB197 8.37 13.47018 20.3 0.02 0.566336932 6.85 1480 4.18 77.4 1310 10 834 214 82.8 10.6 3.37 0.12 0.13 0.16 EB199 8.4 13.51846 19.1 0.01 0.283168466 6.67 1280 7.64 22.4 1150 5 748 189 67.5 10.4 3.54 0.24 0.92 0.35 EB210 6.3 10.13884 22.7 0.04 1.132673864 5.85 1040 12 4.16 834 4 521 142 42.8 12.3 3.13 0.2 2.57 0.42 EB211 7.2 11.58725 18.9 0.07 1.982179262 4.62 945 29.1 1.3 710 4 467 124 33.8 12.7 2.71 0.21 4.65 2.76 EB212 7.5 12.07005 19 0.06 1.699010796 5.71 808 7.86 3.9 566 12 364 106 27.3 13.4 2.49 0.13 2.96 0.36 EB250 7.92 12.74597 0.06 1.699010796 8.85 700 49.1 481 31 274 98 19.4 14.1 2.46 1.26 2.68 2.39 EB270 8.24 13.26096 21.7 0.04 1.132673864 5.03 685 31.5 1.12 426 7 291 76.2 23.1 14.2 2.42 1.71 3.35 3.1 P-value regressions 0.006086 0.485726 0.013855 0.076585 0.464127 0.161293 0.81453 0.242705 0.554765 0.057962 0.482892 0.299921 0.057869 0.062978

Aug 2014 Water Chemistry and July 2013 MAIS Score

50 100 150 200 250 300 350 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Alkalinity mg/l Year

Steel Slag Treatment Average Daily Alkalinity Load

Laurel Sanner

10 20 30 40 50 60

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Concentration mg/l

River Mile

Mouth to Sanner Run Mg Na Alk

Starr Stallion Poling Yost Cabin

Methods

Discharge

• Baski Cutthroat flume
• Pygmy meter

Sediment chemistry

• Sediment samples taken at 17 (5 sites where bioassays take place)
• Taken from top 3 cm of material on stream bottom using trowel
• USEPA SOP #2016
• 5 locations within stream profile
• Samples digested using EPA method 3050B
• Will be analyzed by ICP-OES
• Analyzed for grain distribution, VOC, Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Pb and

As

Methods

• Measure stream slope using

surveyor equipment

• Determine thalwegs in riffles at

each site where MAIS is conducted

• Longitudinal distance exceeds

a minimum of 6 times the channel width (Per. Comm. Dr. Springer)

• GPS points taken in thalwegs

East Branch Characteristics

• Unglaciated region of Allegheny

plateau

• Mississippian and Pennsylvanian

sedimentary rocks

• Sandstone, shale, conglomerate, with

bituminous coal (high in S)

• Mined since the 1800’s