Effects of coal pile runoff on stream quality and macro-invertebrate communities. Technical report

Technical Report · Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:5878374

Swift, M C

Samples of coal pile runoff and Georges Creek water and macrobenthos above and below two coal storage areas along Georges Creek, Allegany County, Maryland, were collected during summer, fall and winter, 1982-1983. Coal pile runoff was collected under high and low flow conditions. Water samples were analyzed. Leachate from coal piles along Georges Creek contains high concentrations of heavy metals, particularly manganese, aluminum and zinc. Iron and sulfate are very high and the pH ranges from 1.4 to 3.1. Because of dilution, Georges Creek water has much lower concentrations of metals, iron and sulfate and a pH of about 7.0. The distribution of macrobenthos in Georges Creek shows the effects of both runoff from coal storage piles and periodic drought. Where coal pile runoff enters Georges Creek, it compounds the effects of periodic drought and further stresses the aquatic community.

• Research Organization: Maryland Univ., College Park (USA). Water Resources Research Center
• OSTI ID: 5878374
• Report Number(s): PB-83-220541
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
COAL
STOCKPILES
LEACHATES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
LEACHING
RUNOFF
BENTHOS
DRAINAGE
INVERTEBRATES
IRON
MANGANESE
MARYLAND
METALS
WATER POLLUTION
ZINC
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
DISPERSIONS
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION III
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
MIXTURES
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLUTIONS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
010900* - Coal
Lignite
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