2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
5/26/2021 | 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM | BEAVER PONDS AS TREATMENT WETLANDS FOR A STREAM IMPACTED BY ACID MINE DRAINAGE | Virtual Platform
BEAVER PONDS AS TREATMENT WETLANDS FOR A STREAM IMPACTED BY ACID MINE DRAINAGE
Acid mine drainage (AMD) occurs when sulfur-rich minerals unearthed during surface mining are exposed to water and oxygen, producing sulfuric acid. It results in low pH water with high concentrations of mobilized metals. Current treatment methods for restoration of AMD streams are costly and vary in effectiveness. Natural and artificial wetlands have been used to restore aquatic ecosystems impacted by AMD. We investigated whether beaver ponds, a type of wetland, could improve water quality in a stream impacted by AMD from abandoned coal mines in Southeastern Ohio. Sensors were placed upstream and downstream of the ponds to measure indicators of stream metabolism. Upstream of the ponds, the pH ranged from 3-4 and the iron concentration was around 54mg/L with visible precipitates. Downstream, the pH reached 7.5 and iron levels decreased to 0.3mg/L with no signs of precipitates. Preliminary sensor data shows that during storms, the upstream pH increases rapidly, while downstream appears unaffected. This suggests the acidic input upstream may be from groundwater. Our results indicate that beaver ponds have the potential to improve water quality in streams impacted by AMD, but more streams need to be studied.
- Land use
- Anthropogenic
- Stream restoration
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Presenters/Authors
Holly Stanley
(), Ohio State University, stanley.406@buckeyemail.osu.edu;
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Haley McLean
(), Ohio State University, mclean.154@osu.edu;
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Rachel Gabor
(), The Ohio State University, gabor.40@osu.edu;
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