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Effects of acid coal mine drainage on benthic macroinvertebrates in Cedar Creek, Boone - Caliaway counties

Journal Article · · Trans. Mo. Acad. Sci.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5806179
Effects of acid coal mine drainage on benthos populations in Cedar Creek were studied in conjunction with abatement work in the mined area. Sixty-nine bimonthly riffle benthos samples yielded organisms representing 109 taxa. Benthos and pH data support the need for additional abatement work to correct the acid pollution problem. Station 1, upstream of most mining yielded 51 taxa occurrences; in the polluted zone stations 3, 5, and 7 yielded 25, 17, and 17 taxa occurrences. The benthos population diversity improved as acid waters were diluted by inflows from good quality tributaries. Stations 8 and 9, the zone affected periodically by acid water yielded more benthic taxa, with 85 and 137 taxa, respectively. The zone of infrequent pollution harbored the most diverse benthic population with 169 and 164 taxa occurrences recorded at stations 10 and 11. The study was discounted following a large acid flow that disrupted the benthic community and killed an estimated 61,000 fish.
OSTI ID:
5806179
Journal Information:
Trans. Mo. Acad. Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Trans. Mo. Acad. Sci.; (United States) Vol. 7-8; ISSN MISTB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English