Sedimentation and water quality in the West Branch Shade River basin, Ohio, 1983-85

Book · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5858697

Childress, C J.O.; Jones, R L

Loss of channel conveyance from deposition of sediment form abandoned surface mines in the West Branch Shade River basin has resulted in frequent flooding. In addition, water quality in the West Branch Shade River and some of its tributaries is typical of streams affected by acid mine drainage. The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of abandoned surface mines and their reclamation on suspended-sediment load, channel cross-section profile, and water quality of West Branch Shade River. The quality of West Branch Shade River was characteristic of streams draining abandoned at improperly reclaimed surface mines in southeastern Ohio. Median alkalinity was less than 25 mg/L as CaCO3 at the three mined sites. Median sulfate concentration was 44 mg/L at the unmined sites compared to 128 mg/L at the mined sites. Both sulfate and manganese are indicators of the presence of acid mine drainage. The greatest change in water quality during the study period was observed in West Branch Shade River near Harrisonville, above which all abandoned mine lands were reclaimed. The pH at that site increased to neutral by the end of the study. In addition, alkalinity concentration increased, and acidity concentration decreased. 21 refs., 8 figs., 7 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 5858697
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ACID MINE DRAINAGE
COAL MINING
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
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FEDERAL REGION V
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TRANSITION ELEMENTS
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WATER POLLUTION