ACIDIC-MINE-DRAINAGE PROJECTS IN PENNSYLVANIA
Submitted by Chuck Cravotta

PA215: The Stonycreek River and Little Conemaugh River Acid Mine Drainage Study

Problem: The quality of water in the Stonycreek and Little Conemaugh Rivers (Ohio River Basin), which drain parts of Somerset and Cambria Counties, Pa., has been severely degraded by AMD from abandoned bituminous coal mines. A watershedwide inventory and evaluation of the locations, quality, and flow rates of discharges are needed to determine appropriate remedial actions and priorities.

Collaborators: USGS-WRD is working with the Somerset Conservation District, with matching funds from the USGS Federal-State Cooperative Program.

Activities: During April 1992-November 1994, a synoptic survey was conducted; 270 coal-mine discharges were located, sampled, and ranked (prioritized) with respect to their loading capacity on the receiving stream. A prioritization index also was established for all mine discharges in six subbasins of the Stonycreek River Basin that were moderately to severely affected by AMD. In addition to the synoptic survey of mine discharges in the watershed, 37 stream-water sites were sampled during base-flow conditions. The following data were entered into a GIS data base for the Stonycreek River watershed: topography, geology, hydrography, drainage basin boundaries, land use, special protection waters, wetlands, State game lands, municipal boundaries, roads, and water quality for streams and discharges. A USGS Water-Resources Investigations Report was written and is in review. The report presents the data that were collected during the study and describes the effects of acidic mine drainage on the quality of water in the Stonycreek River and its tributaries.

Project Chief: Don Williams (tel.: 412-644-2775).