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6/07/2017 | 9:45 AM - 10:00 AM | BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE COMMUNITY RECOVERY IN STREAMS RESTORED FOLLOWING LONGWALL MINING SUBSIDENCE | 302A

BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE COMMUNITY RECOVERY IN STREAMS RESTORED FOLLOWING LONGWALL MINING SUBSIDENCE

Stream restoration has been increasingly criticized because of a lack of clear performance objectives and a perceived failure to show measurable improvements in ecological function. Here, we present data from a large replicated study of stream restorations following longwall coal mining that included specific biological performance standards and demonstrated significant improvements in these and additional biological parameters. Longwall coal mining is a full-extraction method that can cause subsidence pooling in streams, decreasing habitat diversity and potentially impacting water quality from sedimentation. Channel restoration was used to return the natural grade to the stream, improve in-stream habitat, and ultimately restore aquatic life uses. Biological monitoring was performed at 18 stream reaches in southwestern Pennsylvania where subsidence pooling and subsequent restoration had occurred. The benthic macroinvertebrate community was monitored using a standard multi-habitat IBI protocol before and after pooling and following restoration to determine compliance with state-specified biological performance standards. Benthic macroinvertebrate IBI scores and taxa richness declined following subsidence, but improved following restoration at a rate of 6.9 + 1.9 IBI points per year and 2.3 + 0.7 taxa per year.

C11 Community Ecology
C03 Invertebrates
C08 Urban Ecology & C16 Restoration Ecology

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Presenters/Authors

Marisa Logan (), Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc., mlogan@cecinc.com;