\
Section 319
NDNPDINT SOURCE PROGRAM SOCGESS STORY
Success Countering Acid Mine Drainage in Cheat River Watershed
Waterbody Improved
In the lower 20 miles of the Cheat River watershed near the
Pennsylvania border, many of the streams have been so
severely degraded by acid mine drainage that they are effectively dead. Restoration projects
using limestone to help neutralize acidity before the water enters the river have helped to
restore waters, allowing for a resurgence of the bass population.
Problem
The lower 20 miles of the Cheat River have
been impaired by acid mine drainage (AMD),
making it one of the most severely degraded
rivers in the state. Most of the damage is
caused by underground and surface mines that
were abandoned decades ago. As a result, the
Cheat River was placed on the state's 303(d)
list of impaired waters for metals.
Project Highlights
In response to the AMD problems in the Cheat
River, more than 20 representatives of state
and federal agencies, academia, industry, citi-
zen and conservation groups joined together to
form the River of Promise (ROP) task force in
May 1995. Chaired by Friends of the Cheat, the
task force holds quarterly meetings to initiate
and coordinate AMD remediation projects
throughout the watershed. The National Mine
Land Reclamation Center is an integral ROP
partner, gathering water quality data, devel-
oping conceptual designs for projects, and
conducting post-construction monitoring and
evaluation.
As a result of ROP coordination efforts, various
state, federal, and academic agencies have
worked together to develop and implement
projects in the Lower Cheat watershed to neu-
tralize acid and reduce metals from abandoned
mines. Together these programs are focusing
on Greens Run (with a measured pH of 2.8 and
an average acidity of 855 mg/L) and Pringles
Run, both primary contributors of acid to the
Trap design using stone in wire mesh baskets to
help aerate the water. It then flows through the short
open limestone channel into the settling basin.
View of outlet from anoxic
limestone drain through
the short open limestone
channel and into the
settling basin.
Cheat River. Open limestone channels, lime-
stone/steel stag check dams, and vertical flow
ponds were installed to neutralize acidity and
allow metals to settle out of the water before
entering the creeks.
-------
Results
Limestone leach bed and outflow soon after
completion in fall 2003.
Open limestone channel running through the woods
with coloration starting to show iron precipitate.
Although it is still too early to know the full
extent of the environmental results of these
projects, recent data collected where the
Cheat River enters Cheat Lake show that this
once-acidic lake has a pH that ranges from
around 6.5 to 7.5. Cheat Lake is now home to
bass tournaments, a testament to improved
water quality.
Partners and Funding
Partners include the West Virginia Department
of Interior's Office of Surface Mining Clean
Stream Initiative, West Virginia Rivers Coalition,
West Virginia Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) Nonpoint Source Program
and Abandoned Mines Program, West
Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Anker
Energy, National Mine Lands Reclamation
Center, Friends of the Cheat, and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 3.
More than $1.1 million in section 319 grants
funded seven projects in the Cheat watershed
with the National Mine Lands Reclamation
Center and two projects in the watershed with
the Abandoned Mines Lands Program in DEP.
Section 319 funding also leveraged more than
$300,000 in matching Clean Stream Initiative
funding. Some of these projects have been
completed, while others are still under con-
struction. Results show that the completed
projects are reducing acid loads.
'. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
\ Office of Water
a Washington, DC
EPA841-F-05-004K
August 2005
For additional information contact:
Alvan Gale
WV Department of Environmental Protection
304-926-0495 • agale@wvdep.org
Keith Pitzer
Friends of the Cheat
304-329-3621 • kpitzer@cheat.org
Fred Suffian
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 3
215-814-5753 • suffian.fred@epa.gov
------- |