The Watershed Model is The Watershed Model is Working for AMRWorking for AMR

2008 PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation 2008 PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation & &

Coal Mining Heritage ConferenceCoal Mining Heritage Conference August 13, 2008August 13, 2008

Presented by:Presented by:Margaret H. Dunn, Timothy P. Danehy, Shaun L. Busler, Clifford F. Denholm, Tom GroteMargaret H. Dunn, Timothy P. Danehy, Shaun L. Busler, Clifford F. Denholm, Tom Grote

SRWC Watershed ModelSRWC Watershed ModelDEFINITIONDEFINITION

Partnering withPartnering with Individuals Individuals Businesses Businesses Governments Governments Schools Schools Service Groups Service Groups Non-profits Non-profits

to improve the local watershed.to improve the local watershed.

SRWC Watershed ModelSRWC Watershed ModelHISTORYHISTORY

Restoration by govt. agencies & active mining operationsRestoration by govt. agencies & active mining operationsSince 1960s, BAMR & predecessors (Operation Scarlift)Since 1960s, BAMR & predecessors (Operation Scarlift)Until mid-1980s, AMR areas avoided by active mining; “you touch it, you buy it”Until mid-1980s, AMR areas avoided by active mining; “you touch it, you buy it”Since 1986, responsible remining supported; “you can’t make it worse”Since 1986, responsible remining supported; “you can’t make it worse”

““Pooling” of more resources neededPooling” of more resources needed 5/2/1992, passive treatment workshop at JEEC sponsored by Knox DMO 5/2/1992, passive treatment workshop at JEEC sponsored by Knox DMO 1994, ALD installed at JEEC with successful partnership effort “without funding”1994, ALD installed at JEEC with successful partnership effort “without funding”1995 to date, 15 passive systems; >750,000,000 gal./yr. AMD treated1995 to date, 15 passive systems; >750,000,000 gal./yr. AMD treated

““In my own words”In my own words”

Why “pool” our resources?Why “pool” our resources?How many miles of impacted streams??How many miles of impacted streams??

4600 miles of AMD-impacted streams in PA 4600 miles of AMD-impacted streams in PA More than the distance from Washington DC to Juneau AKMore than the distance from Washington DC to Juneau AK

SRWC Watershed ModelSRWC Watershed ModelGOALSGOALS

1. Restore the headwaters to a viable fishery1. Restore the headwaters to a viable fishery

2. Develop public-private partnership efforts2. Develop public-private partnership efforts -to reclaim abandoned mines-to reclaim abandoned mines-to include additional benefits -to include additional benefits

3. Develop and improve water treatment & land3. Develop and improve water treatment & land reclamation techniquesreclamation techniques

-environmentally-friendly -environmentally-friendly -low cost -low cost -low maintenance -low maintenance -long lived or sustainable-long lived or sustainable

4. Provide educational opportunities4. Provide educational opportunities -at all levels -at all levels -to all age groups -to all age groups

SRWC Watershed ModelSRWC Watershed ModelIMPLEMENTATIONIMPLEMENTATION

Assess the issueAssess the issue landownerlandownermonitor discharge & streammonitor discharge & streamconstruction areaconstruction area

Team of Willing ContributorsTeam of Willing Contributors

strip miners pottersstrip miners pottersinvolved “before-during-after” involved “before-during-after” win-win-win solution win-win-win solution

An approachAn approach

SRWC Watershed ModelSRWC Watershed Model14-YR. CASE STUDY14-YR. CASE STUDY

Slippery Rock Creek Watershed (410 sq. mi.)

SRWC Watershed ModelSRWC Watershed ModelHEADWATERS TARGET AREAHEADWATERS TARGET AREA

27 square miles27 square miles 4000 acres with 4000 acres with

underground mine underground mine workingsworkings

8000 acres 8000 acres permitted for permitted for surface miningsurface mining

Color Code:Color Code: Blue - GoodBlue - Good Green - Acid SensitiveGreen - Acid Sensitive Yellow - AMD impactedYellow - AMD impacted Red - PollutedRed - Polluted

SSRRWWCC

TTAARRGGEETT

AARREEAA

AMD TreatedAMD Treated

750750 million million gallons per year AMD treated by passive gallons per year AMD treated by passive systems --- enough to fill over systems --- enough to fill over 99 millionmillion bath tubs bath tubs

Iron RemovedIron Removed

>200 tons/year of iron removed --- same amount as in ~200 pick-ups

>8 tons/year of aluminum removed --- same amount as in ~273,000 pop cans

Aluminum RemovedAluminum Removed

Jennings Environmental Education Center Jennings Environmental Education Center Vertical Flow SystemVertical Flow System

(Brady Twp., Butler Co.; DEP 319; Dave Johnson, Center Manager; PA DCNR Bureau of State (Brady Twp., Butler Co.; DEP 319; Dave Johnson, Center Manager; PA DCNR Bureau of State Parks)Parks)

Components:Components: collection pipes collection pipes VFP VFP (mixture: 300T SMC & 380T >90% CaCO3 LS)(mixture: 300T SMC & 380T >90% CaCO3 LS) Bioswale Bioswale Wetland/SP(WL/SP) Wetland/SP(WL/SP) existing const. wetlands (ca. 1989) existing const. wetlands (ca. 1989)Design Life:Design Life: 1997 predicted optimum media life 7-10 yrs. with complete exhaustion ~14 yrs. 1997 predicted optimum media life 7-10 yrs. with complete exhaustion ~14 yrs. Design Flow:Design Flow: ~20 gpm ~20 gpm Operation Period:Operation Period: ~11 years (9/1997 to date) ~11 years (9/1997 to date) O&M:O&M: media “stirring” 7/2004 & 7/2007 w/o addition of media; minor maintenance media “stirring” 7/2004 & 7/2007 w/o addition of media; minor maintenance

PointPoint FlowFlow(gpm)(gpm)

Lab pHLab pH Field AlkField Alk(mg/L)(mg/L)

AcidityAcidity(mg/L)(mg/L)

T. FeT. Fe(mg/L)(mg/L)

T. MnT. Mn(mg/L)(mg/L)

T. AlT. Al(mg/L)(mg/L)

RawRawn=122-136n=122-136

3.23.22.2/3.2/4.8 2.2/3.2/4.8

26826840/273/459 40/273/459

37371/31/86 1/31/86

14141/14/21 1/14/21

14141/14/29 1/14/29

VFP eff.VFP eff. n=105-185 n=105-185

23237/22/497/22/49

6.66.65.4/6.6/8.05.4/6.6/8.0

18218288/184/25688/184/256

-53-53-250/-41/12-250/-41/12

12121/9/521/9/52

13131/14/221/14/22

<1<10/<1/50/<1/5

WL/SP eff.WL/SP eff.n=27-70 n=27-70

6.86.85.3/7.0/7.75.3/7.0/7.7

888828/89/12428/89/124

<1<1<1/<1/9<1/<1/9

12123/12/163/12/16

<1<1<1/<1/2<1/<1/2

Values: Values: AverageAverage min/median/maxmin/median/max

JEEC Vertical Flow System JEEC Vertical Flow System Volunteers Aid in ConstructionVolunteers Aid in Construction

De Sale Phase 3 Restoration AreaDe Sale Phase 3 Restoration Area(Venango Twp., Butler Co.; bond forfeiture; Meyer property; Terry Elicker, MCI, PA DEP Knox DMO)(Venango Twp., Butler Co.; bond forfeiture; Meyer property; Terry Elicker, MCI, PA DEP Knox DMO)

Components:Components: collection ditch; 2 VFP(LS overlain by ~1’ SMC); 2 SP; HFLB collection ditch; 2 VFP(LS overlain by ~1’ SMC); 2 SP; HFLB

Design Life:Design Life: projected 25 years projected 25 years

Design Flow:Design Flow: 12 gpm (avg); 60 gpm (max) 12 gpm (avg); 60 gpm (max)

Operation Period:Operation Period: ~6 years (9/11/02 to date) ~6 years (9/11/02 to date)

O&M:O&M: flushing and other minor maintenance flushing and other minor maintenance

PointPoint FlowFlow(gpm)(gpm)

Lab pHLab pH Lab AlkLab Alk(mg/L)(mg/L)

AcidityAcidity(mg/L)(mg/L)

T. FeT. Fe(mg/L)(mg/L)

T. MnT. Mn(mg/L)(mg/L)

T. AlT. Al(mg/L)(mg/L)

RawRawn = 17n = 17

3.23.22.9/3.42.9/3.4

00 546546355/842355/842

10310370/13070/130

999963/14363/143

19196/296/29

HFLB eff.HFLB eff.n = 28n = 28

18180-640-64

6.86.86.2/7.46.2/7.4

646428/9728/97

5252-18/151-18/151

<1<10/30/3

57572/922/92

<1<1<1/2<1/2

Values: average min/max; post-construction monitoring 10/2002 thru 5/2007

De Sale 3 De Sale 3 O&MO&M

Pre-Restoration

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

De Sale 2 HFLB“CLOGGED”

YEAR 7

Cleaned Stone

Clogged Stone

De Sale 2 HFLB

Opportunity!

Post-Rehabilitation Influent and Effluent Water Post-Rehabilitation Influent and Effluent Water

Quality of De Sale 2 HFLBQuality of De Sale 2 HFLB 3 days3 days 24 days24 days 64 days64 days 118 days118 days

ParameterParameter InIn OutOut InIn OutOut InIn OutOut InIn OutOut

Flow (gpm)Flow (gpm) 1010 1010 4040 4040 8383 8383 250250 250250

pH (field)pH (field) 5.085.08 6.496.49 6.426.42 6.936.93 6.866.86 6.766.76 5.585.58 6.536.53

ORP (mV)ORP (mV) 316316 279279 169169 158158 153153 141141 245245 176176

DO (mg/L)DO (mg/L) 7.277.27 5.085.08 7.577.57 1.331.33 9.359.35 2.282.28 10.6310.63 8.438.43

Temp.Temp. 22.522.5 18.718.7 20.020.0 18.118.1 10.810.8 8.88.8 3.93.9 2.92.9

Alkalinity (field) (mg/L)Alkalinity (field) (mg/L) 1616 5858 1818 8787 3636 7171 77 2525

Alkalinity (lab) (mg/L)Alkalinity (lab) (mg/L) 2.472.47 42.2542.25 12.9012.90 82.7482.74 30.7830.78 66.5766.57 3.243.24 26.4526.45

Hot Acidity (mg/L)Hot Acidity (mg/L) 117.11117.11 4.664.66 81.5981.59 -73.04-73.04 54.9054.90 -52.15-52.15 39.2039.20 -12.81-12.81

T. Fe (mg/L)T. Fe (mg/L) 0.250.25 0.190.19 0.160.16 0.050.05 0.560.56 0.070.07 0.440.44 0.100.10

D. Fe (mg/L)D. Fe (mg/L) 0.230.23 0.130.13 0.100.10 0.020.02 0.480.48 0.060.06 0.340.34 0.020.02

T. Mn (mg/L)T. Mn (mg/L) 64.8364.83 30.7830.78 55.1255.12 9.849.84 47.4447.44 8.778.77 20.4120.41 8.598.59

D. Mn (mg/L)D. Mn (mg/L) 63.8363.83 30.1430.14 54.8954.89 9.789.78 46.3846.38 8.678.67 19.8219.82 7.777.77

T. Al (mg/L)T. Al (mg/L) 3.433.43 0.240.24 0.480.48 0.260.26 0.380.38 0.230.23 2.192.19 0.250.25

D. Al (mg/L)D. Al (mg/L) 3.253.25 0.090.09 0.130.13 0.080.08 0.300.30 0.150.15 0.930.93 0.180.18

SO4 (mg/L)SO4 (mg/L) 1279.81279.8 1297.11297.1 1308.31308.3 1322.01322.0 1131.71131.7 1123.91123.9 538.6538.6 519.5519.5

De Sale 2 Recovered Mn MaterialDe Sale 2 Recovered Mn MaterialBulk Chemical AnalysisBulk Chemical Analysis

25% MnO25% MnO

25% SiO25% SiO22

10% CaO10% CaO

10% Al10% Al22OO33

5% Fe5% Fe22OO33

20% LOI20% LOI

5% Other5% Other

Kid-Approved Concrete ColorantKid-Approved Concrete Colorant

……With With a littlea little helphelp fromfrom ourour friendsfriends

The Pottery Dome

Seaton Creek Below De Sale 1, 2, 3Seaton Creek Below De Sale 1, 2, 3Sampling Point 48Sampling Point 48

pHpH(s.u.)(s.u.)

AlkAlk(mg/l)(mg/l)

AcidAcid(mg/l)(mg/l)

FeFe(mg/l)(mg/l)

MnMn(mg/l)(mg/l)

AlAl(mg/l)(mg/l)

BeforeBefore 4.84.8 1010 6262 11 1616 55

AfterAfter 6.66.6 2222 -6-6 <1<1 33 <1<1

Changes in pH at Sampling Point 48 Over Time

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

5.5

6

6.5

7

7.5

9/8

/94

3/8

/95

9/8

/95

3/8

/96

9/8

/96

3/8

/97

9/8

/97

3/8

/98

9/8

/98

3/8

/99

9/8

/99

3/8

/00

9/8

/00

3/8

/01

9/8

/01

3/8

/02

9/8

/02

3/8

/03

9/8

/03

3/8

/04

9/8

/04

3/8

/05

9/8

/05

3/8

/06

9/8

/06

Time

pH pH

Linear (pH)

DS1 & DS2 Completed

Chernicky Completed

DS3 Completed

De Sale North Completed

Changes in Total Iron Concentrations at Sampling Point 48 Over Time

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

9/8/

94

3/8/

95

9/8/

95

3/8/

96

9/8/

96

3/8/

97

9/8/

97

3/8/

98

9/8/

98

3/8/

99

9/8/

99

3/8/

00

9/8/

00

3/8/

01

9/8/

01

3/8/

02

9/8/

02

3/8/

03

9/8/

03

3/8/

04

9/8/

04

3/8/

05

9/8/

05

3/8/

06

9/8/

06

Time

Iro

n (

mg

/L)

Iron

Linear (Iron)

Chernicky Completed

DS1 & DS2 Completed

DS3 Completed

De Sale North Completed

Changes in Total Manganese Concentrations at Sampling Point 48 Over Time

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

9/8

/1994

3/8

/1995

9/8

/1995

3/8

/1996

9/8

/1996

3/8

/1997

9/8

/1997

3/8

/1998

9/8

/1998

3/8

/1999

9/8

/1999

3/8

/2000

9/8

/2000

3/8

/2001

9/8

/2001

3/8

/2002

9/8

/2002

3/8

/2003

9/8

/2003

3/8

/2004

9/8

/2004

3/8

/2005

9/8

/2005

3/8

/2006

9/8

/2006

Time

Man

gan

ese (

mg

/L)

Manganese

Linear (Manganese)

Chernicky Completed

DS1 & DS2 Completed

DS3 Completed

De Sale North Completed

Changes in Total Aluminum Concentrations at Sampling Point 48 Over Time

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

9/8

/94

3/8

/95

9/8

/95

3/8

/96

9/8

/96

3/8

/97

9/8

/97

3/8

/98

9/8

/98

3/8

/99

9/8

/99

3/8

/00

9/8

/00

3/8

/01

9/8

/01

3/8

/02

9/8

/02

3/8

/03

9/8

/03

3/8

/04

9/8

/04

3/8

/05

9/8

/05

3/8

/06

9/8

/06

Time

Alu

min

um

(m

g/L

)

Aluminum

Linear (Aluminum)

Chernicky Completed

DS1 & DS2 Completed DS3

CompletedDe Sale North Completed

SRWC GoalsSRWC Goals1. Restore the headwaters to a viable fishery1. Restore the headwaters to a viable fishery

SRWC GoalsSRWC Goals 2. Develop public-private partnership efforts not only 2. Develop public-private partnership efforts not only

to reclaim abandoned mine sites but also to to reclaim abandoned mine sites but also to demonstrate the multiple benefits associated with demonstrate the multiple benefits associated with watershed restorationwatershed restoration

SRWC GoalsSRWC Goals3. Develop and improve treatment systems and land 3. Develop and improve treatment systems and land

reclamation techniques that are environmentally-reclamation techniques that are environmentally-friendly, low cost, low maintenance, and long term or friendly, low cost, low maintenance, and long term or sustainablesustainable

SRWC GoalsSRWC Goals4. Provide educational opportunities at all levels to all age 4. Provide educational opportunities at all levels to all age

groups interested in abandoned mine restorationgroups interested in abandoned mine restoration

2001 Stream Recovery 2001 Stream Recovery AssessmentAssessment