Acid Mine Drainage
Catherine Gaudlip tests dissolved oxygen in acid mine drainage
In November of 2023, Upper Potomac Riverkeeper Brent Walls and Catherine Gaudlip, an intern from Hood College (now employed by Hood College as the Academic Coordinator for the Center of Coastal & Watershed Studies), completed their 2nd year of acid mine drainage monitoring along three different stream reaches that feed into the Upper North Branch of the Potomac River. Metals, including aluminum, manganese, and iron, were analyzed semimonthly throughout the year.
Stream volume was calculated from field measurements to develop loading estimates of the metals tested. The locations were identified by MDE as needing data to assess the impact of the lime dosers treating AMD locations. Acid mine drainage pollution is particularly prevalent in Brent’s watershed as a result of generations of coal mining in the region. The toxins flow from both shuttered mines and mines still in operation, and those toxins are harmful to us humans as well as to aquatic life. Some of the region’s premier trout fishing habitats are in the Upper Potomac, and trout can be especially susceptible to the impact of acid mine drainage.
The results of the project were shared with the Mining Program within MDE. The results identified that the lime dosers may not be using the right amount of lime to change the pH. The continuous monitoring of pH showed wide swings in pH during and after rain events. This leads to pulses of metal pollution flowing downstream.
MDE has decided to invest in continuous pH monitoring at some lime dosers to conduct more long-term analysis that will lead to adjustments in the lime doser program.
Thank you to all of our Acid Mine Drainage Partners who help support our program!
• Frostburg State University
• The Sludge Hub
