Characterization of wetland soils in the Beaver Creek watershed
A proposed section of Appalachian Corridor H will pass through an area of the Beaver Creek watershed in Tucker County, West Virginia previously mined for the acid-producing Upper Freeport coal. Presently, partially-reclaimed spoils from past mining activities are generating acid mine drainage and re...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | unknown |
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The Research Repository @ WVU
2003
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| Online Access: | https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/1728 https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2731&context=etd |
| Summary: | A proposed section of Appalachian Corridor H will pass through an area of the Beaver Creek watershed in Tucker County, West Virginia previously mined for the acid-producing Upper Freeport coal. Presently, partially-reclaimed spoils from past mining activities are generating acid mine drainage and releasing sediments into streams and other water bodies. Soils of acid mine drainage impacted wetlands and non-impacted wetlands were characterized to establish baseline soil status and to gain a better understanding of the chemical and physical processes occurring in these wetlands. The results of this study will be used to assist the West Virginia Division of Highways in constructing mitigation wetlands. Soils were described and sampled in the summer of 2001 in four wetlands. Soil samples were analyzed for particle size, pH, exchangeable bases, extractable acidity, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, sulfate, acid volatile sulfides, chromium reducible sulfides, total sulfur, total carbon, total nitrogen, and total iron. Platinum redox electrodes were placed in some wetlands to assess the near surface redox chemistry at 10 and 20 cm. (Abstract shortened by UMI.). |
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