Recent studies have documented adverse effects to biological communities downstream of mountaintop coal mining and valley fills (VF), but few data exist on the longevity of these impacts. We sampled 15 headwater streams with VFs reclaimed 11-33 years prior to 2011 and sampled seven local reference sites that had no VFs. We collected chemical, habitat, and benthic macroinvertebrate data in April 2011; additional chemical samples were collected in September 2011. To assess ecological condition, we compared VF and reference abiotic and biotic data using: (1) ordination to detect multivariate differences, (2) benthic indices (a multimetric index and an observed/expected predictive model) calibrated to state reference conditions to detect impairment, and (3) correlation and regression analysis to detect relationships between biotic and abiotic data. Although VF sites had good instream habitat, nearly 90 % of these streams exhibited biological impairment. VF sites with higher index scores were co-located near unaffected tributaries; we suggest that these tributaries were sources of sensitive taxa as drifting colonists. There were clear losses of expected taxa across most VF sites and two functional feeding groups (% scrapers and %shredders) were significantly altered. Percent VF and forested area were related to biological quality but varied more than individual ions and specific conductance. Within the subset of VF sites, other descriptors (e.g., VF age, site distance from VF, the presence of impoundments, % forest) had no detectable relationships with biological condition. Although these VFs were constructed pursuant to permits and regulatory programs that have as their stated goals that (1) mined land be reclaimed and restored to its original use or a use of higher value, and (2) mining does not cause or contribute to violations of water quality standards, we found sustained ecological damage in headwaters streams draining VFs long after reclamation was completed.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThis report was prepared under 3 work assignments of EPA contract #68-C7-0014 to Tetra Tech, Inc. Authors of this report are Jeroen Gerritsen, June Burton, and Michael T. Barbour. We thank Maggie Passmore and Jim Green of EPA Region 3 for helpful guidance, discussions and review. The biological index was made possible by the intensive data collection efforts and discussion of West Virginia DEP; in particular, Janice Smithson, Jeffrey Bailey, Pat Campbell, and John Wirts. This report was prepared with the assistance of Jeffrey White, Erik Leppo, and Brenda Fowler. A Stream Condition Index for West Virginia Wadeable StreamsTetra Tech, Inc. iv March 28, 2000 (Revised July 21, 2000 THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK A Stream Condition Index for West Virginia Wadeable StreamsTetra Tech, Inc. v March 28, 2000 (Revised July 21, 2000 Tetra Tech, Inc. vi March 28, 2000 (Revised July 21, 2000 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK A Stream Condition Index for West Virginia Wadeable StreamsTetra Tech, Inc. vii March 28, 2000 (Revised July 21, 2000 LIST OF FIGURES Tech, Inc. viii March 28, 2000 (Revised July 21, 2000 LIST OF TABLES EXECUTIVE SUMMARYOver the past century, land use activities such as mining, agriculture, urbanization, and industrialization have seriously threatened the quality of surface waters by contributing to nonpoint-source pollution. In West Virginia, the investigation of these nonpoint sources of water pollution has become a priority. indicator of ecosystem health and can identify impairment with respect to the reference (or natural) condition. The index includes six biological attributes, called metrics, that represent elements of the structure and function of the bottom-dwelling macroinvertebrate assemblage. Metrics are specific measures of diversity, composition, and tolerance to pollution, that include ecological information.The SCI is to be used as the basis for bioassessment in West Virginia and has been calibrated for a long-term biological index period extending from April through October. A data analysis application has been developed to ensure consistency in data management and analysis throughout the state as DEP biologists conduct biological monitoring.Benefits expected from the implementation of the WV SCI will apply to a broad spectrum of management programs, including:characterizing the existence and severity of point and nonpoint source impairment;targeting and prioritizing watersheds and ecosystem management areas for remedial or preventive programs; evaluating the effectiveness of nonpoint source best management programs; screening ecosystems for use attainability; and developing a basis for establishing biocriteria that relate to regional water quality goals, an EPA priority.The West Virginia SCI was tested with independent data collected in 1998 and was able to correctly identify the majority of the stream sites stressed in some way by human disturbance or pollution. Index scores were divided into 5 proposed rating categories for reporting on the condition...

ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThis report was prepared under 3 work assignments of EPA contract #68-C7-0014 to Tetra Tech, Inc. Authors of this report are Jeroen Gerritsen, June Burton, and Michael T. Barbour. We thank Maggie Passmore and Jim Green of EPA Region 3 for helpful guidance, discussions and review. The biological index was made possible by the intensive data collection efforts and discussion of West Virginia DEP; in particular, Janice Smithson, Jeffrey Bailey, Pat Campbell, and John Wirts. This report was prepared with the assistance of Jeffrey White, Erik Leppo, and Brenda Fowler. A Stream Condition Index for West Virginia Wadeable StreamsTetra Tech, Inc. iv March 28, 2000 (Revised July 21, 2000 THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK A Stream Condition Index for West Virginia Wadeable StreamsTetra Tech, Inc. v March 28, 2000 (Revised July 21, 2000 Tetra Tech, Inc. vi March 28, 2000 (Revised July 21, 2000 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK A Stream Condition Index for West Virginia Wadeable StreamsTetra Tech, Inc. vii March 28, 2000 (Revised July 21, 2000 LIST OF FIGURES Tech, Inc. viii March 28, 2000 (Revised July 21, 2000 LIST OF TABLES EXECUTIVE SUMMARYOver the past century, land use activities such as mining, agriculture, urbanization, and industrialization have seriously threatened the quality of surface waters by contributing to nonpoint-source pollution. In West Virginia, the investigation of these nonpoint sources of water pollution has become a priority. indicator of ecosystem health and can identify impairment with respect to the reference (or natural) condition. The index includes six biological attributes, called metrics, that represent elements of the structure and function of the bottom-dwelling macroinvertebrate assemblage. Metrics are specific measures of diversity, composition, and tolerance to pollution, that include ecological information.The SCI is to be used as the basis for bioassessment in West Virginia and has been calibrated for a long-term biological index period extending from April through October. A data analysis application has been developed to ensure consistency in data management and analysis throughout the state as DEP biologists conduct biological monitoring.Benefits expected from the implementation of the WV SCI will apply to a broad spectrum of management programs, including:characterizing the existence and severity of point and nonpoint source impairment;targeting and prioritizing watersheds and ecosystem management areas for remedial or preventive programs; evaluating the effectiveness of nonpoint source best management programs; screening ecosystems for use attainability; and developing a basis for establishing biocriteria that relate to regional water quality goals, an EPA priority.The West Virginia SCI was tested with independent data collected in 1998 and was able to correctly identify the majority of the stream sites stressed in some way by human disturbance or pollution. Index scores were divided into 5 proposed rating categories for reporting on the condition...

We analyzed seasonal water samples from the Cheat and Tygart Valley river basins, West Virginia, USA, in an attempt to classify streams based on water chemistry in this coal-mining region. We also examined temporal variability among water samples. Principal component analysis identified two important dimensions of variation in water chemistry. This variation was determined largely by mining-related factors (elevated metals, sulfates, and conductivity) and an alkalinity-hardness gradient. Cluster analysis grouped water samples into six types that we described as reference, soft, hard, transitional, moderate acid mine drainage, and severe acid mine drainage. These types were statistically distinguishable in multidimensional space. Classification tree analysis confirmed that chemical constituents related to acid mine drainage and acid rain distinguished these six groups. Hard, soft, and severe acid mine drainage type streams were temporally constant compared to streams identified as reference, transitional, and moderate acid mine drainage type, which had a greater tendency to shift to a different water type between seasons. Our research is the first to establish a statistically supported stream classification system in mined watersheds. The results suggest that human-related stressors superimposed on geology are responsible for producing distinct water quality types in this region as opposed to more continuous variation in chemistry that would be expected in an unimpacted setting. These findings provide a basis for simplifying stream monitoring efforts, developing generalized remediation strategies, and identifying specific remediation priorities in mined Appalachian watersheds.