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Section 319
NDNPDINT SOURCE PROGRAM SUCCESS STURY
Stream Restoration Efforts on Upper Cedar Creek Reduce Impacts
of Acid Mine Drainage
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m'ne drainage (AMD) from historical mining sites has
degraded water quality in Cedar Creek in central Missouri for
years. Even though the mines were closed and reclamation projects were completed on
704 acres of watershed land, approximately 4 miles of Upper Cedar Creek continued to suf-
fer from AMD and remained on the state's 303(d) list of impaired waters due to high sulfates
and low pH. After streambank restoration projects and the construction of passive treatment
wetlands, the creek was removed from the state's 303(d) list and now meets water quality
standards for both pH and sulfates.
Problem
Prior to 1977 and the passage of the Surface
Mining Control and Reclamation Act, coal strip
mining operations disturbed nearly 2,000 acres
of the Cedar Creek watershed. AMD, gener-
ated as runoff drained over pyrite-rich soil
exposed during the mining process, severely
degraded water quality in the creek. Between
1948 and 1980 periodic discharges of AMD
and acidic sediments into the creek resulted in
numerous fish kills.
By 1990 the Missouri Land Reclamation
Program (LRP) had completed reclamation
projects on 704 acres of land in the Cedar
Creek watershed. The reclamation projects
revegetated and stabilized large areas of the
Upper Cedar Creek watershed. However, a
few remaining areas of barren acidic spoil and
eroding streambanks continued to contribute
acidic sediments and AMD to the Upper Cedar
Creek watershed. Flooding in the 1990s further
contributed to AMD problems by damaging
significant portions of streambanks, caus-
ing additional acid-forming materials to be
exposed and more sediment to enter the creek.
Although water quality greatly improved in
the 1990s, approximately 4 miles of the creek
remained on the state's 303(d) list of impaired
waters due to high sulfates and low pH.
Acidity, sulfates, and metals are removed from AMD as it
flows through layers of limestone rock and compost in the
passive treatment wetland cells.
Project Highlights
The Missouri LRP used section 319 funding in
coordination with funding from the U.S. Office
of Surface Mining (OSM) Abandoned Mine
Land Clean Streams Initiative to complete the
cooperative reclamation project to address
the remaining water quality problems at Cedar
Creek. In 2001 to 2002, six passive treatment
wetlands and alkaline-producing cells were
constructed to treat AMD by adding alkalinity
and removing dissolved metals and sulfates,
and four acid ponds were amended and
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Native trees and grasses are thriving along sections of
restored streambank.
neutralized. Streambank restoration projects
further added to the health and renewal of the
creek. Project partners planted approximately
200,000 native trees and shrubs and helped
repair 2,700 linear feet of eroding streambank
at 16 restoration sites. Sixty-six acres were
amended and seeded with native grasses for
erosion control and wildlife habitat enhance-
ment. Additional native grass plantings are
planned for the coming years.
Results
Data collected over the course of the 4-year
restoration project indicate Cedar Creek is now
meeting water quality standards for both pH
and sulfates. Dissolved oxygen concentrations
have also improved over time, and fewer occur-
rences of dissolved oxygen below 5 mg/L
occurred in 2001 and 2002. Alkalinity showed
the greatest increase at sites downstream
of the restoration site, suggesting that the
constructed wetlands are neutralizing the acid
seeps. Native trees and grasses are thriving,
and wildlife are returning to the restoration
site and downstream areas. As a result of the
successful cooperative reclamation project,
the creek has been removed from the state's
303(d) list of impaired waters.
Partners and Funding
Project partners included Missouri Department
of Natural Resources Water Protection
Program (WPP), Boone County Soil and Water
Conservation District, OSM, U.S. Department
of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation
Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Missouri
Department of Conservation, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, the Columbia Audubon
Society, and private landowners. Construction
costs of the restoration project totaled
$354,094. The LRP received $150,000 in
section 319 grant funds from the WPP and
$204,094 from the OSM Abandoned Mine
Land Clean Streams Initiative to fund the con-
struction of six wetland cells and restoration of
streambank areas.
Maupin Road Bridge Sample Site
Before Project
After Project
PH(s.u.)
5.7
6.8
Alkalinity
(meqCaCO/L)
24.3
75.8
Acidity
(meqCaCO/L)
17.8
-57.4
'. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
\ Off ice of Water
a Washington, DC
EPA841-F-05-004T
September 2005
For additional information contact:
Gregory Anderson
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
573-751-7144 • greg.anderson@dnr.mo.gov
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