The Effects of Doubling Limestone Sand Applications in Two Acidic Southwestern Pennsylvania Streams

Keener, A.L.; Sharpe, William E.

doi:10.1111/j.1526-100x.2005.00013.x

Cited by 8 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Specifically, we found that benthic-macroinvertebrate density, and the percentage of acid-sensitive taxa biomass were strongly dependent on spatial proximity to limestone treatment. Our findings are consistent with those of several studies that have observed incomplete recovery of benthic-macroinvertebrate communities in limestone-treated streams , Bradley and Ormerod 2002, Keener and Sharpe 2005.…”

Section: Mixing-zone Complicationssupporting

confidence: 93%

“…In our study, aluminum concentrations in treated steams were either intermediate to circumneutral and acidic-stream concentrations or more similar to acidic conditions. These findings are very similar to those of Keener and Sharpe (2005). In contrast, most historical limestone-remediation studies have shown that limestone treatment significantly reduces aluminum concentrations compared to acidic control reaches (Downey et al 1994, Simmons and Doyle 1996, Hudy et al 2000, LeFevre and Sharpe 2002 and even to concentrations similar to those found in circumneutral streams (Rundle et al 1995).…”

Section: Acidic Watershedsupporting

confidence: 73%

“…Increased sedimentation has been shown to lead to reductions in macroinvertebrate abundances and altered communities (Keener and Sharpe 2005). Several limestone-remediation studies have noted a negative impact of limestone addition on macroinvertebrate communities sampled ,500 m downstream of treatment location (Menendez et al 1996, Keener andSharpe 2005). However, all of the treated streams in our study were sampled .1 km from treatment location in an effort to avoid potential negative impacts from sedimentation.…”

Section: Mixing-zone Complicationsmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…Increased sediments may also have impacted macroinvertebrate communities in treated streams sampled ,2 km from treatment. Increased sedimentation has been shown to lead to reductions in macroinvertebrate abundances and altered communities (Keener and Sharpe 2005). Several limestone-remediation studies have noted a negative impact of limestone addition on macroinvertebrate communities sampled ,500 m downstream of treatment location (Menendez et al 1996, Keener andSharpe 2005).…”

Section: Mixing-zone Complicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Numerous techniques have been developed to combat these impacts. Remediation techniques include the application of limestone sand directly into acid-impacted stream channels (i.e., Clayton et al 1998, Keener andSharpe 2005), whole-catchment liming using powdered CaCO 3 (i.e., Bradley and Ormerod 2002), and automated limestone dosers (i.e., Sandoy and Romundstad 1995, Appelberg and Svenson 2001. State agencies in the central Appalachians typically use annual in-stream applications of limestone sand along with hydropowered limestone dosers (Downey et al 1994, Hudy et al 2000.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stream Ecosystem Response to Limestone Treatment in Acid Impacted Watersheds of the Allegheny Plateau

McClurg

Petty

Mazik

et al. 2007

Ecological Applications

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Restoration programs are expanding worldwide, but assessments of restoration effectiveness are rare. The objectives of our study were to assess current acid-precipitation remediation programs in streams of the Allegheny Plateau ecoregion of West Virginia (USA), identify specific attributes that could and could not be fully restored, and quantify temporal trends in ecosystem recovery. We sampled water chemistry, physical habitat, periphyton biomass, and benthic macroinvertebrate and fish community structure in three stream types: acidic (four streams), naturally circumneutral (eight streams), and acidic streams treated with limestone sand (eight streams). We observed no temporal trends in ecosystem recovery in treated streams despite sampling streams that ranged from 2 to 20 years since initial treatment. Our results indicated that the application of limestone sand to acidic streams was effective in fully recovering some characteristics, such as pH, alkalinity, Ca2+, Ca:H ratios, trout biomass and density, and trout reproductive success. However, recovery of many other characteristics was strongly dependent upon spatial proximity to treatment, and still others were never fully recovered. For example, limestone treatment did not restore dissolved aluminum concentrations, macroinvertebrate taxon richness, and total fish biomass to circumneutral reference conditions. Full recovery may not be occurring because treated streams continue to drain acidic watersheds and remain isolated in a network of acidic streams. We propose a revised stream restoration plan for the Allegheny Plateau that includes restoring stream ecosystems as connected networks rather than isolated reaches and recognizes that full recovery of acidified watersheds may not be possible.

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Section: Mixing-zone Complicationssupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Acidic Watershedsupporting

confidence: 73%

Section: Mixing-zone Complicationsmentioning

confidence: 87%

Section: Mixing-zone Complicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stream Ecosystem Response to Limestone Treatment in Acid Impacted Watersheds of the Allegheny Plateau

McClurg

Petty

Mazik

et al. 2007

Ecological Applications

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Liming and spring salamander abundance

et al. 2023

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Environmental acidification is affecting ecosystems around the globe, and as a result, managers are using limestone applications to mitigate the effects of acid rain and acid mine drainage. Limestone applications attempt to reverse acidification by increasing stream pH; however, liming can have variable effects on stream biota. We examined the effects of liming on spring salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus) abundance in West Virginia, USA, from 10 June to 1 September 2013. We used multiple methods (i.e., leaf litterbags, visual encounter surveys, area constrained flip and search) to sample spring salamanders within 11 different streams in the Monongahela National Forest. Using N‐mixture models, which allow for estimation of abundance from count data and account for imperfect detection probabilities, we examined the effects of direct application liming (DAL) on spring salamander abundance. Direct application liming at a higher lime frequency did not have a significant effect on salamander abundance; however, we observed differences in spring salamander size in areas near the DAL site. These results have influenced management of limed streams and will enlighten managers to the effects of high frequency liming on salamander communities and other stream organisms, and will provide insights on how to mitigate potential impacts as a result of liming practices.

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Use of leaf litter breakdown and macroinvertebrates to evaluate gradient of recovery in an acid mine impacted stream remediated with an active alkaline doser

Johnson

Thompson

Gromen

et al. 2014

Environ Monit Assess

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The spatial congruence of chemical and biological recovery along an 18-km acid mine impaired stream was examined to evaluate the efficacy of treatment with an alkaline doser. Two methods were used to evaluate biological recovery: the biological structure of the benthic macroinvertebrate community and several ecosystem processing measures (leaf litter breakdown, microbial respiration rates) along the gradient of improved water chemistry. We found that the doser successfully reduced the acidity and lowered dissolved metals (Al, Fe, and Mn), but downstream improvements were not linear. Water chemistry was more variable, and precipitated metals were elevated in a 3-5-km "mixing zone" immediately downstream of the doser, then stabilized into a "recovery zone" 10-18 km below the doser. Macroinvertebrate communities exhibited a longitudinal pattern of recovery, but it did not exactly match the water chemistry gradient Taxonomic richness (number of families) recovered about 6.5 km downstream of the doser, while total abundance and % EPT taxa recovery were incomplete except at the most downstream site, 18 km away. The functional measures of ecosystem processes (leaf litter breakdown, microbial respiration of conditioned leaves, and shredder biomass) closely matched the measures of community structure and also showed a more modest longitudinal trend of biological recovery than expected based on pH and alkalinity. The measures of microbial respiration had added diagnostic value and indicated that biological recovery downstream of the doser is limited by factors other than habitat and acidity/alkalinity, perhaps episodes of AMD and/or impaired energy/nutrient inputs. A better understanding of the factors that govern spatial and temporal variations in acid mine contaminants, especially episodic events, will improve our ability to predict biological recovery after remediation.

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The Effects of Doubling Limestone Sand Applications in Two Acidic Southwestern Pennsylvania Streams

Cited by 8 publications

References 16 publications

Stream Ecosystem Response to Limestone Treatment in Acid Impacted Watersheds of the Allegheny Plateau

Stream Ecosystem Response to Limestone Treatment in Acid Impacted Watersheds of the Allegheny Plateau

Liming and spring salamander abundance

Use of leaf litter breakdown and macroinvertebrates to evaluate gradient of recovery in an acid mine impacted stream remediated with an active alkaline doser

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