Biomonitoring study of a constructed wetland site treating acid mine drainage. Research report, July 1990-June 1992

Technical Report · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:6170520

Ramey, B A; Halverson, H G; Taylor, L A

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) from an underground coal mine in the Jones Branch watershed in McCreary County, KY, substantially reduced water quality in Jones Branch. Downstream from the mine seeps, the pH was routinely below 4.5 and concentrations of most heavy metals, especially iron, were elevated. A cattail wetland (1,022 m2) was constructed on Jones Branch in 1989 to obviate the effects of the AMD. Monthly chemical monitoring was performed on the water from above, from below, and from the 26 cells within the wetland. Based on chemical monitoring, the wetland initially improved water quality, increasing the pH and removing substantial amounts of heavy metals. Beginning in the spring of 1991, water quality at the wetland outfall began to decline, and has not improved to date. To augment the chemical monitoring, a biomonitoring study was initiated in the spring of 1990. Acute 48-hr. static tests were conducted with newly hatched fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Median lethal concentration (LC50) values determined monthly reflects the decline in water quality at the outfall over time.

• Research Organization: Kentucky Water Resources Research Inst., Lexington, KY (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6170520
• Report Number(s): PB-93-190734/XAB; RR--185; CNN: DI-14-08-0001-G-2021
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900* -- Coal
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
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560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
ALUMINIUM
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOASSAY
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
CHEMISTRY
COAL MINES
COAL MINING
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FATHEAD MINNOW
FISHES
IRON
KENTUCKY
LEVELS
MANAGEMENT
METALS
MINES
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
PH VALUE
POLLUTION
PROCESSING
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SAMPLING
SEWAGE
TOXICITY
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
UNDERGROUND
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
USA
VERTEBRATES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
WATER POLLUTION
WATER QUALITY
WATER TREATMENT
WATERSHEDS
WETLANDS