Water quality of the Swatara Creek Basin, PA

McCarren, Edward F.; Wark, J. W.; George, Joseph

doi:10.3133/70189329

Cited by 3 publications

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“…McCarren, Wark, and George (1964) presented evidence of the effects of coal mining and processing on sediment yields from a small area in the upper Swatara Creek basin. That report describes the long-term changes in stream-sediment concentration that took place as coal mining and processing decreased in the early 1950's.…”

Section: Previous Sediment Investigationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Analyses of reservoir-survey data (Schuleen and Higgins, 1953) for Lake Clarke, the lake formed by Safe Harbor Dam on the main stem of the Susquehanna south of Harrisburg, indicate that the amount of sediment discharged annually in the middle and late 1930's was at least three to four times its present level. Several investigators (McCarren, Wark, and George, 1964;Biesecker, Lescinsky, and Wood, 1968) have noted that, as a result of decreased mining activity and stricter waste-disposal laws, sediment discharges in tributaries of the Susquehanna River from areas producing anthracite coal have decreased. Other investigators (Wolman and Schick, 1967;Vice, Guy, and Ferguson, 1969) have shown that highway and urban construction increases the sediment discharge of F22 HYDROLOGIC EFFECTS OF LAND USE streams.…”

Section: Trends In Sediment Dischargementioning

confidence: 99%

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Appraisal of stream sedimentation in the Susquehanna River basin

Williams¹,

Reed²

1972

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The Susquehanna River presently transports about 3.0 million tons of sediment annually (110 tons per square mile). Only about 1.8 million tons of sediment enters the head of Chesapeake Bay annually because some sediment is trapped behind the power dams on the lower Susquehanna. Measured annual sediment yields from subbasins in the Susquehanna range from 40 to 440 tons per square mile. The highest yields are from parts of the glaciated section of the basin, in the anthracite coal region, and the Piedmont province. The lowest yields are from parts of the glaciated section of the basin and the Appalachian high plateau. Available data indicate that there has been a downward trend of sediment discharge in recent years. In the future, the high sediment yields associated with urbanization may offset this present downward trend.

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Section: Previous Sediment Investigationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Trends In Sediment Dischargementioning

confidence: 99%

Appraisal of stream sedimentation in the Susquehanna River basin

Williams¹,

Reed²

1972

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“…1b). These sites had been monitored previously by USGS and others (Fishel 1988;Growitz et al 1985;McCarren et al 1964;Stuart et al 1967). Additionally, continuous-record stream flow and water-quality gaging stations were established on Swatara Creek at Newtown (C1, #0157155010;1996-2007, upstream of limestone diversion wells, and on Lorberry Creek at Mollystown (#01571778;-2007 (Fig.…”

Section: Methods Of Data Collection and Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Abandoned Mine Drainage in the Swatara Creek Basin, Southern Anthracite Coalfield, Pennsylvania, USA: 1. Stream Water Quality Trends Coinciding with the Return of Fish

Cravotta¹,

Brightbill²,

Langland³

2010

Mine Water Environ

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Water-quality trends for a stream draining the Southern Anthracite Field, Pennsylvania

Cravotta

Bilger

2001

GEEA

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Stream flow, chemical and biological data for the northern part of Swatara Creek, which drains a 112 km 2 area in the Southern Anthracite Field of eastern Pennsylvania, indicate progressive improvement in water quality since 1959, after which most mines in the watershed had been flooded. Drainage from the flooded mines contributes substantially to base flow in Swatara Creek. Beginning in 1995, a variety of treatment systems and surface reclamation were implemented at some of the abandoned mines. At Ravine, Pa., immediately downstream of the mined area, median SO 4 concentration declined from about 150 mg l −1 in 1959 to 75 mg l −1 in 1999 while pH increased from acidic to near-neutral values (medians: c. pH 4 before 1975; c. pH 6 after 1975). Fish populations rebounded from non-existent during 1959–1990 to 21 species identified in 1999. Nevertheless, recent monitoring indicates (1) episodic acidification and elevated concentrations and transport of Fe, Al, Mn, and trace metals during storm flow; (2) elevated concentrations of Fe, Mn, Co, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Zn in streambed sediments relative to unmined areas and to toxicity guidelines for aquatic invertebrates and fish; and (3) elevated concentrations of metals in fish tissue, notably Zn. The metals are ubiquitous in the fine fraction (<0.063 mm) of bed sediment in mining-affected tributaries and the main stem of Swatara Creek. As a result of scour and transport of streambed deposits, concentrations of suspended solids and total metals in the water column are correlated, and those for storm flow typically exceed base flow. Nevertheless, the metals concentrations are poorly correlated with stream flow because concentrations of suspended solids and total metals typically peak prior to peak stream stage. In contrast, SO 4 , specific conductance and pH are inversely correlated with stream flow as a result of dilution of poorly buffered stream water with weakly acidic storm runoff derived mainly from low-pH rainfall. Declines in pH to values approaching 5.0 during storm flow events or declines in redox potential during burial of sediment could result in the remobilization of metals associated with suspended solids and streambed deposits.

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Water quality of the Swatara Creek Basin, PA

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Appraisal of stream sedimentation in the Susquehanna River basin

Appraisal of stream sedimentation in the Susquehanna River basin

Abandoned Mine Drainage in the Swatara Creek Basin, Southern Anthracite Coalfield, Pennsylvania, USA: 1. Stream Water Quality Trends Coinciding with the Return of Fish

Water-quality trends for a stream draining the Southern Anthracite Field, Pennsylvania

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