2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference

March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

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5/27/2021 | 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM | LONG-TERM MONITORING REVEALS CONVERGENT PATTERNS OF RECOVERY FROM MINING CONTAMINATION ACROSS FOUR WESTERN WATERSHEDS | Virtual Platform

LONG-TERM MONITORING REVEALS CONVERGENT PATTERNS OF RECOVERY FROM MINING CONTAMINATION ACROSS FOUR WESTERN WATERSHEDS

Long-term studies of stream ecosystems are essential for assessing restoration success because they allow researchers to quantify recovery trajectories, gauge the relative influence of episodic events and determine the time required to achieve clean-up objectives. To quantify responses of benthic communities to stream remediation, we integrated results of 4 long-term (20-29 years) assessments of mining-impacted watersheds that were broadly distributed across the western U.S. (California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana). Using a before-after control-impact (BACI) study design we observed significant reductions in metal concentrations and improvements of benthic communities following remediation. Although episodic events changed trajectories, recovery rates were relatively consistent, and streams typically recovered within 10-15 years after remediation was initiated. Differences in recovery among watersheds were likely determined by a number of factors, including the severity of contamination, type of remediation, proximity to upstream sources of colonization and hydrologic variation. Our study illustrates the usefulness of BACI designs for demonstrating cause-and effect relationships between restoration treatments and community recovery. Because these 4 watersheds were among the most severely polluted sites in the western U.S., our study demonstrates the potential for remediation success under the most extreme conditions.

Monitoring
Pollution
Stream

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Presenters/Authors

William Clements (), Colorado State University, william.clements@colostate.edu;