Effects of Highway Construction on Stream Water Quality and Macroinvertebrate Condition in a Mid‐Atlantic Highlands Watershed, USA

Chen, Yushun; Viadero, Roger C.; Wei, Xinchao; Fortney, Ronald H.; Hedrick, Lara B.; Welsh, Stuart A.; Anderson, James T.; Lin, Lian-Shin

doi:10.2134/jeq2008.0423

Cited by 32 publications

(28 citation statements)

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“…2), corresponding to our benthic macroinvertebrate sampling seasons. However, plots across all seasons indicate two additional spikes in (Chen et al, 2009). An increase in turbidity, TSS, and stream sedimentation was expected given similar findings from previous studies (Burton et al, 1976;Barton, 1977;Cline et al, 1982;Embler & Fletcher, 1983;Downs & Appel, 1986).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of benthic macroinvertebrate communities to highway construction in an Appalachian watershed

et al. 2010

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Highway construction in mountainous areas can result in sedimentation of streams, negatively impacting stream habitat, water quality, and biotic communities. We assessed the impacts of construction of a segment of Corridor H, a four-lane highway, in the Lost River watershed, West Virginia, by monitoring benthic macroinvertebrate communities and water quality, before, during, and after highway construction and prior to highway use at upstream and downstream sites from 1997 through 2007. Data analysis of temporal impacts of highway construction followed a BeforeAfter-Control-Impact (BACI) study design. Highway construction impacts included an increase in stream sedimentation during the construction phase. This was indicated by an increase in turbidity and total suspended solids. Benthic macroinvertebrate metrics indicated a community more tolerant during and after construction than in the period before construction. The percent of Chironomidae and the Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI) increased, while percent of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) decreased. Our 10-year study addressed short-term impacts of highway construction and found that impacts were relatively minimal. A recovery of the number of EPT taxa collected after construction indicated that the benthic macroinvertebrate community may be recovering from impacts of highway construction. However, this study only addressed a period of 3 years before, 3 years during, and 4 years post construction. Inferences cannot be made concerning the long-term impacts of the highway, highway traffic, runoff, and other factors associated with highway use. Continual monitoring of the watershed is necessary to determine if the highway has a continual impact on stream habitat, water quality, and biotic integrity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of benthic macroinvertebrate communities to highway construction in an Appalachian watershed

et al. 2010

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“…Most case studies report the impact of increased sediment loading from episodic events, usually construction or mining works (Nuttall and Bielby, ; Extence, ; Cline et al , ; Stout and Coburn, ; Ehrhart et al , ; Lane and Sheridan, ; Milner and Piorkowski, ; Blettler and Marchese, ; Kreutzweiser et al , ; Hedrick et al , ; Levesque and Dube, ; Chen et al , ), or continuous activities, such as the impact of livestock (Fritz et al , ; Braccia and Voshell, ; Braccia and Voshell, ), military practices (Quist et al , ; Maloney et al , ; Williams et al , ; Bhat et al , ; Maloney and Feminella, ) and the confluence of rivers (Svendsen et al , ). Because of the often diffuse nature of sediment pollution events, there are relatively few case studies reporting their impact (for summary, see Table ).…”

Section: Scales Of Detection Of Effects Of Increased Fine Sediment Lomentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Fine Sediment on Macro‐invertebrates

Jones

Murphy

Collins

et al. 2011

River Research & Apps

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The sustainable use of water resources requires clear guidelines for the management of diffuse pollution inputs to rivers. Without informed guidelines, management decisions are unlikely to deliver cost-effective improvements in the quality of rivers as required by current water policy. Here, we review the evidence available for deriving improved guidelines on the loading of fine sediment to rivers based on the impact on macro-invertebrates. The relationship between macro-invertebrates and fine sediments is poorly defined. Studies of the impacts of fine sediment on macro-invertebrates have been undertaken at various scales, which has an influence on the range of responses displayed and the reliability of the results obtained; results obtained from investigations at smaller scales may not manifest at the scale required to manage rivers and vice versa. Many of the identified effects of increased loading of fine sediment on macro-invertebrates occur as a consequence of deposition on the river bed, yet many current management guidelines are based on suspended sediment targets. On this basis, existing water quality guidelines for sediment management are unlikely to be appropriate.

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“…Construction activities and hydromodification are recognized as major sources of water quality impairment in urban streams, because they increase sediment input into waterways and downstream aquatic ecosystems (Brabec et al 2002;Meyer et al 2005;Chen et al 2009;Houser and Pruess 2009;Hassan et al 2015). Highway construction can lead to a rapid decline in stream water quality (e.g., suspended solids, iron, chloride, sulfate, nitrogen, and pH), not only during construction but also in the period that follows (Chen et al 2009;Purcell et al 2012). The pollution from this type of large construction projects degrades aquatic ecosystems and has severe impacts on food webs (Bennett et al 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Benthic macroinvertebrates have specific requirements for DO, nutrients, and light penetration (Covich et al 1999;Mundahl and Hunt 2011). This explains why they are an important proxy for water quality and ecosystem health (e.g., Quinn et al 1997;Weigel et al 2002;Chen et al 2009;Mundahl and Hunt 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water quality impacts of small-scale hydromodification in an urban stream in Connecticut, USA

et al. 2018

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Introduction: Construction activities in and along urban streams increase the sediment input into surface waters, causing an overall decline in water quality and aquatic ecosystems. In this case study, we investigate the water quality impacts of local hydromodification in an urban stream (discharge 0.4 m 3 /s). At the site of interest, workers removed a stream crossing consisting of an embankment with culverts and replaced it with a small bridge (single span of 25 m) in an effort to improve flow capacity. Methods: Water samples were taken at four sites along the North Branch Park River in Connecticut, Northeastern United States. Turbidity and dissolved oxygen (DO) were measured in situ, and nitrate and total phosphorus (TP) were measured in the laboratory. Benthic macroinvertebrate samples were also collected and analyzed for taxon richness and Shannon-Weaver species diversity. Data were compared between upstream and downstream sites and before, during, and after hydromodification. We used one-way ANOVA combined with the post hoc Turkey test to derive statistical significance. Results: During construction, turbidity increased temporarily by 60.9% [from 2.48 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) over ambient to 4.00 NTU]. Once construction was completed, DO increased locally from 11.0 to 13.0 mg/L. Benthic macroinvertebrate taxon richness and species diversity declined by 61.6 and 32.6% respectively, with no recovery observed in the year following construction. Water quality was only affected within 50 m downstream. Nitrate and TP concentrations were unaffected. Conclusions: Small-scale hydromodification temporarily increased the turbidity as a result of increased sediment input, approaching the maximum level for clean water (5 NTU). Benthic macroinvertebrate communities declined in the immediate downstream vicinity of construction but are expected to recover soon given that turbidity recovered to pre-construction levels, and DO increased. These outcomes emphasize that environmental assessment is important not only for large-scale hydromodification but also for smaller scale stream modifications.

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Effects of Highway Construction on Stream Water Quality and Macroinvertebrate Condition in a Mid‐Atlantic Highlands Watershed, USA

Cited by 32 publications

References 50 publications

Response of benthic macroinvertebrate communities to highway construction in an Appalachian watershed

Response of benthic macroinvertebrate communities to highway construction in an Appalachian watershed

The Impact of Fine Sediment on Macro‐invertebrates

Water quality impacts of small-scale hydromodification in an urban stream in Connecticut, USA

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