ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF A PASSIVE-TREATMENT FACILITY TO THE RECOVERY OF AN AMD-IMPAIRED TRIBUTARY WITHIN THE BEACH CREEK WATERSHED, CLINTON COUNTY, PA

Acid mine drainage (AMD) plagues most tributaries throughout the heavily forested plateau of the Beech Creek watershed, a northcentral PA basin contributing net acidity to the West Branch Susquehanna River. As part of a multi-year, community-based research project, water samples have been collected from PA DEP BAMR’s Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Project (BF 438-102.1), an AMD passive treatment facility, since it went online in the spring, 2006. The 2006-09 field seasons yielded geochemical data from this site, including pH, conductance, net acidity, alkalinity, DO, ORP, major anions, cations, and several trace metals, from collection and treatment ponds, artificial wetlands, and its natural, down-gradient drainage system.

Data analyses and field observations demonstrate that the effectiveness of this passive treatment system has declined progressively throughout the sampling period. This facility does not appear to be achieving its original design goal, specifically--to provide significant water-quality improvement to its surface discharge watercourse, the Middle Branch of Big Run.

Currently, this facility requires major maintenance in order to return it to original-design functionality. As a direct result of this ongoing monitoring program, several recommendations have been provided to the local watershed association and to the DEP relative to modifications and retrofits to this treatment system. The findings of this study also have implications applicable to the standard design used for other passive AMD-treatment facilities in Pennsylvania and elsewhere.