HR: 1340h
AN: H53A-1207    [Abstracts]
TI: Natural Versus Anthropogenic Remediation of Streams Impacted by Acid Mine Drainage in Southeast Ohio
AU: * Clinton, T
EM: tc279803@ohio.edu
AF: Ohio University, 316 Clippinger Laboratories Deparment of Geological Sciences, Athens, OH 45701 United States
AU: Lopez, D L
EM: lopezd@ohio.edu
AF: Ohio University, 316 Clippinger Laboratories Deparment of Geological Sciences, Athens, OH 45701 United States
AB: Three streams that have been affected by acid mine drainage in southeast Ohio have been investigated (Sulphur Run in the Federal Creek watershed, Rock Run in the Monday Creek watershed, and Buffer Run in the Raccoon Creek watershed). Sulphur Run neutralizes acidic inputs naturally due to its strong buffering capacity acquired from water-rock interactions with the abundant carbonate lithology surrounding the stream. Rock Run and Buffer Run have been anthropogenically remediated using successive alkalinity producing wetlands, open limestone channels, and alkaline capping of adjacent coal refuse piles. The objective of this study is to compare the water quality evolution of the three streams. For this purpose, water and sediment samples were collected for chemical analysis and in-situ flow rate, alkalinity, acidity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity were measured. Preliminary results reveal that the pH of Sulphur Run, which never drops below 6.7, increases steadily along the flow path. Downstream of the remediation sites, the pH of Rock Run and Buffer Run is always below 4 and declines along the flow path, possibly due to a combination of additional acidic inputs downstream from the main source and the oxidation of metals, leading to hydrolysis reactions that produce additional hydrogen protons. The net alkalinity of Sulphur Run increases steadily downstream, reflecting the effectiveness of a continuous supply of alkaline material at neutralizing acidic inputs. Both Buffer Run and Rock Run are net acidic, suggesting that armoring of the open limestone channels by metal precipitates is impeding the recovery of water quality. The early results indicate that remediation schemes that do not mimic nature by providing a long term, steady supply of alkaline material appear to be ineffective.
DE: 1806 Chemistry of fresh water
DE: 1871 Surface water quality
DE: 1045 Low-temperature geochemistry
DE: 0345 Pollution--urban and regional (0305)
DE: 1010 Chemical evolution
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting