Special Studies on Water Quality

Overview

​​​Below is a list of Special Studies that have occurred within the Watershed Assessment Branch and often in conjuction with other groups including other DEP personnel, Federal personnel, and often locals.


Stream Habitat Restoration

 

Documents


Muddy Creek Watershed Restoration

Overview

In September of 2015, the Watershed Assessment Branch (WAB) of the West Virginia Dept. of Environmental protection (WVDEP) began biological and water quality monitoring in the Muddy Creek watershed. For decades, acid mine drainage (AMD) from pre-law and post-law mining practices has negatively affected water quality in Muddy Creek. This study is part of a collaborative effort between the Office of Special Reclamation (OSR) and WAB to monitor and improve water quality within the Muddy Creek drainage. The primary objective of this project is to improve water quality on several miles of Muddy Creek. Expected benefits of improving the water quality in Muddy Creek include restoration of the benthic macroinvertebrate community and establishment of a diverse fishery within the lower reaches of Muddy Creek.

To improve water quality, a sophisticated AMD treatment facility was built along Muddy Creek to treat multiple sources of AMD. The treatment facility began operating in March of 2018. This report focuses on pre- and post-treatment data collected on Muddy Creek.

Documents

Photos

Looking upstream from Station 0.0 in 2015
Looking upstream from Station 0.0 in 2015
Looking upstream from Station 0.0 in 2019
Looking upstream from Station 0.0 in 2019

Three Fork Creek Watershed Restoration

Overview

In August of 2009, the Watershed Assessment Branch (WAB) of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WV DEP) initiated a study to assess and monitor the biological health of Three Fork Creek. For many decades, acid mine drainage (AMD) from pre-law mining activities has negatively impacted the water quality of this watershed. This study is part of a collaborative effort with the Office of Abandoned Mine Lands and Reclamation (AML) of WVDEP and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR). The primary objective of this collaboration is to improve water quality on several miles of Three Fork Creek. Expected benefits of improving water quality in Three Fork Creek include restoration of the benthic macroinvertebrate community and the establishment of a diverse fishery.

To improve water quality on the mainstem of Three Fork Creek, the AML program has successfully installed four treatment stations that release alkaline material into streams that neutralize the effects of AMD. These treatment stations have been in place and operating since the Spring of 2011. Personnel from both AML and WAB have been monitoring the watershed at several locations in an effort to determine how successful the current levels of treatment are at improving water quality in Three Fork Creek. This status report focuses primarily on Three Fork Creek mainstem and presents results of biological surveys conducted by WAB over the past 10 years involving the collection of fish and benthic macroinvertebrates, with an emphasis on comparing pre- and post-treatment data. Habitat and water quality information is also discussed.

Documents

See Also

Photos

Example of iron staining at mile 9.62
Example of iron staining at mile 9.62
Looking upstream from Station 0.0 in 2019
Looking upstream from Station 0.0 in 2019

Dunkard Creek Fish Kill Information

Overview

​The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is working with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Protection Agency in the investigation of the Dunkard Creek fish kill.

The West Virginia DEP and other investigators have been assembling available scientific information on golden algae and the toxins it produces. Scientific literature states both the golden algae and the toxins it produces are influenced by environmental factors including the water’s pH, temperature, salinity and nutrients.


Greenbrier Algae

Overview

During the summer of 2007, WVDEP received numerous complaints regarding the amount of algae in the Greenbrier River. Most of the complaints centered on the Caldwell to Alderson section of the river; and at least one complaint was received about the level of algae further upstream in the Denmar area. Several employees of WVDEP were familiar with the problem and indicated that the algae bloom had been occurring at various intensities for decades; some asserted that the algae had been getting worse, and perhaps starting earlier, than it had historically.

In September 2007, a meeting within the WVDEP Division of Water and Waste Management was held to discuss the problem. Results of water quality samples from the Watershed Assessment Branch sample database (WAB‐Base) were summarized at the meeting.

The final Greenbrier River Restoration Plan is an adaptive management strategy for eliminating algae related impairment in the Greenbrier River. The restoration plan contains information on the implementation and progress achieved so far, as well as adaptive management updates which set new milestones for making further progress toward full elimination of algae related impairment of the Greenbrier River. In this updated restoration plan, activities associated with the original 2013 plan are referred to as Phase 1. Future activities and milestones make up Phase 2.

Documents and Resources

Photos

Greenbrier River at Hillsboro STP discharge where algae begins (9‐12‐08).
Greenbrier River at Hillsboro STP discharge where algae begins (9‐12‐08).
Greenbrier River at above Fort Spring ‐between Ronceverte and Alderson (8‐29‐08).
Greenbrier River at above Fort Spring ‐between Ronceverte and Alderson (8‐29‐08).

Selenium Study

Overview

In recent years many more facilities with NPDES permits have received effluent limits and monitoring requirements for Selenium. Members of the regulated community have since voiced their concerns about the ability of the environmental laboratory community to produce accurate data at the levels required. Currently, the WQS for Se is 5 µg/L (47CSR2, Table 1). 5µg/L is very near the Method Detection Limit (MDL) for most analytical methods approved at 40CFR136. In an effort to determine whether laboratories reporting Se data to WV DEP could accurately detect Se concentrations in the range of 5 µg/L, this study was initiated.

The Quality Assurance Program (QAP) staff was approached by Ken Politan of WV DEP Division of Mining and Reclamation with the situation in January 2008. A review of Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMR) produced a population of laboratories routinely submitting Se data to WVDEP. A consensus was formed that this population should be assessed to determine whether a bias was present. The initial population of laboratories does not include all laboratories reporting data to WVDEP, only those routinely reporting Se on DMRs. Laboratories on the state contract were included in later phases of the study in order to assess their performance.

Documents


Potomac/Shenandoah Fish Kill and Intersex Study

Overview

State and federal environmental, natural resources, agriculture and health officials are analyzing smallmouth bass in the South Branch of the Potomac and Lost rivers in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle, trying to understand the cause of intersex conditions and fish kills. Over the past three years, DEP and all other agencies have undertaken an extensive effort to assess the extent and cause, whether natural or anthropogenic, of intersex occurrence in South Branch smallmouth bass.

Intersex is a condition in which a fish may exhibit characteristics of both sexes. The condition is believed to be caused by a fish's exposure to manmade sources of hormones or synthetic compounds that mimic hormones. Histopathologic examinations of smallmouth bass testes collected from the South Branch Potomac, Potomac and Cacapon Rivers in 2004 found intersex condition in up to 80% of the male fish sampled.

Resources

Documents


C-8 Investigation

C-8 has been used by DuPont since the early 1950's in its fluoropolymer related manufacturing processes. Residues containing C-8 from the fluoropolymer manufacturing processes at the Washington Works Facility are or have been released to the air, discharged to the Ohio River, disposed of at the facility, and otherwise shipped off-site for destruction and/or disposal. DuPont also captures for recycling a portion of used C-8.

No permits issued to Dupont authorizing release of pollutants to the environment contain specific limitations on the amount of C-8 that may be released. Since as early as 1990, DuPont has performed regular, voluntary water sampling to detect the presence and level of C-8 in and around its facilities in West Virginia, and has reported the results of these samplings to WVDEP.


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