Abandoned Mine Drainage in the Swatara Creek Basin, Southern Anthracite Coalfield, Pennsylvania, USA: 1. Stream Water Quality Trends Coinciding with the Return of Fish

Acidic mine drainage (AMD) from legacy anthracite mines has contaminated Swatara Creek in eastern Pennsylvania. Intermittently collected base-flow data for 1959–1986 indicate that fish were absent immediately downstream from the mined area where pH ranged from 3.5 to 7.2 and concentrations of sulfate, dissolved iron, and dissolved aluminum were as high as 250, 2.0, and 4.7 mg/L, respectively. However, in the 1990s, fish returned to upper Swatara Creek, coinciding with the implementation of AMD treatment (limestone drains, limestone diversion wells, limestone sand, constructed wetlands) in the watershed. During 1996–2006, as many as 25 species of fish were identified in the reach downstream from the mined area, with base-flow pH from 5.8 to 7.6 and concentrations of sulfate, dissolved iron, and dissolved aluminum as high as 120, 1.2, and 0.43 mg/L, respectively. Several of the fish taxa are intolerant of pollution and low pH, such as river chub (Nocomis micropogon) and longnose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae). Cold-water species such as brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and warm-water species such as rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris) varied in predominance depending on stream flow and stream temperature. Storm flow data for 1996–2007 indicated pH, alkalinity, and sulfate concentrations decreased as the stream flow and associated storm-runoff component increased, whereas iron and other metal concentrations were poorly correlated with stream flow because of hysteresis effects (greater metal concentrations during rising stage than falling stage). Prior to 1999, pH \u3c 5.0 was recorded during several storm events; however, since the implementation of AMD treatments, pH has been maintained near neutral. Flow-adjusted trends for 1997–2006 indicated significant increases in calcium; decreases in hydrogen ion, dissolved aluminum, dissolved and total manganese, and total iron; and no change in sulfate or dissolved iron in Swatara Creek immediately downstream from the mined area. The increased pH and calcium from limestone in treatment systems can be important for mitigating toxic effects of dissolved metals. Thus, treatment of AMD during the 1990s improved pH buffering, reduced metals transport, and helped to decrease metals toxicity to fish

Relation of algal biomass to characteristics of selected streams in the lower Susquehanna River Basin /

Includes bibliographical references (p. 17-18).Mode of access: Internet

Fish communities and their relation to physical and chemical characteristics of streams from selected environmental settings in the Lower Susquehanna River Basin, 1993-95 /

Shipping list no.: 98-0330-P."Lower Susquehanna River study unit"--Cover."National Water-Quality Assessment Program."Includes bibliographical references (p. 30-33).Mode of access: Internet

Appendix A. List of variables and their definitions for natural environmental setting, soils, topography, and ecoregions.

List of variables and their definitions for natural environmental setting, soils, topography, and ecoregions

Appendix C. List of variables and their definitions for hydrology, water temperature, water chemistry and pesticide indices, SPMD chemistry, and habitat.

List of variables and their definitions for hydrology, water temperature, water chemistry and pesticide indices, SPMD chemistry, and habitat

Appendix D. List of variables and their definitions for invertebrate metrics.

List of variables and their definitions for invertebrate metrics

Appendix B. List of variables and their definitions for landcover, infrastructure, and census.

List of variables and their definitions for landcover, infrastructure, and census

Relations of biological indicators to nutrient data for lakes and streams in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, 1990-98 /

Shipping list no.: 2003-0218-P.Includes bibliographical references (p. 42-44).Mode of access: Internet

Occurrence of organochlorine compounds in whole fish tissue from streams of the lower Susquehanna River Basin, Pennsylvania and Maryland, 1992 /

"National Water-Quality Assessment Program"--Cover.Includes bibliographical references (p. 16-17).Mode of access: Internet