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Destruction of a wetland ecosystem by inputs of circumneutral, treated coal mine drainage

Conference · · Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)
OSTI ID:5473723
Wymer Run Bog is a representative example of the naturally acidic Sphagnum-dominated wetlands that are scattered throughout the Appalachian coal mining region of West Virginia. This bog is situated downslope from a sediment pond associated with a coal surface mine. Sodium carbonate briquettes are used in the pond to raise the pH of the mine drainage water to between 6 and 9. For the past 3 years, a leak in the bank of the pond has served as a source of circumneutral, treated mine drainage water flowing into Wymer Run Bog. Initial observations showed that the area of the wetland receiving the treated mine drainage water was characterized by widespread death of the wetland vegetation, especially the Sphagnum and Polytrichum mosses, and that the peat had been eroded down to mineral soil. Laboratory studies indicated that Sphagnum recurvum grew well at pH 4, but at pH 8 the plants died in about 20 days. Observations from other wetlands indicated that S. recurvum can survive where untreated acid mine drainage enters a wetland, as long as the volume of the inputs is sufficiently low.
Research Organization:
West Virginia Univ., Morgantown
OSTI ID:
5473723
Report Number(s):
CONF-841204-
Conference Information:
Journal Name: Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English