Sedimentation in Mountain Streams: A Review of Methods of Measurement

The goal of this review paper is to provide a list of methods and devices used to measure sediment accumulation in wadeable streams dominated by cobble and gravel substrate. Quantitative measures of stream sedimentation are useful to monitor and study anthropogenic impacts on stream biota, and stream sedimentation is measurable with multiple sampling methods. Evaluation of sedimentation can be made by measuring the concentration of suspended sediment, or turbidity, and by determining the amount of deposited sediment, or sedimentation on the streambed. Measurements of deposited sediments are more time consuming and labor intensive than measurements of suspended sediments. Traditional techniques for characterizing sediment composition in streams include core sampling, the shovel method, visual estimation along transects, and sediment traps. This paper provides a comprehensive review of methodology, devices that can be used, and techniques for processing and analyzing samples collected to aid researchers in choosing study design and equipment.

Stream Monitoring and Preliminary Co-Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage and Municipal Wastewater along Dunkard Creek Area

This study investigated coal-mine drainage(AMD)and municipal wastewater(MWW)contaminant concentrations and conducted the combined treatment in phases I and II:phase I,evaluating the effects of mixing the two based on the extent of acid neutralization and metals removal;phase II:conducting anaerobic batch reactor treatment of AMD and MWW under varying COD/sulfate ratios(0.04-5.0).In phase I,acid mine drainage water quality conditions are as follows:pH 4.5,acidity 467.5 mg/L as CaCO3,alkalinity 96.0 mg/L as CaCO3,Cl-11.8 mg/L,SO42-1722 mg/L,TDS 2757.5 mg/L,TSS 9.8 mg/L,BOD 14.7 mg/L,Fe 138.1 mg/L,Mg 110.8 mg/L.Mn 7.5 mg/L,Al 8.1 mg/L,Na 114.2 mg/L,and Ca 233.5 mg/L.Results of the mixing experiments indicated significant removal of selected metals(Fe 85~98%,Mg 0~65%,Mn 63~89%,Al 98~99%,Na 0~30%),acidity(77~95%)from the mine water and pH was raised to above 6.3.The Phase II results suggested under the wide range of COD/sulfate ratios,COD and sulfate removal varied from 37.4%-100%and 0%-93.5%respectively.During biological treatment,alkalinity was generated which leads to pH increase to around 7.6-8.5.The results suggested feasibility of the proposed technology for co-treatment of AMD and MWW.A conceptual design of co-treatment system which is expected to remove a matrix of pollutants has been provided to utilize all the locally available water resources to achieve the optimum treatment efficiency.The technology also offers an opportunity to significantly reduce capital and operating costs compared to the existing treatment methodologies used.Featured Application:In this study,we have measured the concentrations of contaminants in acid mine drainage(AMD)and municipal wastewater(MWW)and conducted the combined treatment in phases I and II.This is significant because in previous years there was a massive fish kill that is linked to the high total dissolved solids(TDS)and salinity content in the water.With the current proposed combined treatment technology,it shows high potential in reducing TDS and salinity content in the combined wastewater which will prevent similar accident(Dunkard creek fish kill in 2019)happening again.