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An Application of a Hydrologically
Networked Watershed Model for
Evaluating AMD Treatment Scenarios
Mike Strager, Todd Petty, Brady Gutta,
Jennifer Fulton, Rick Herd, Vishesh Maskey,
Jim Stiles, Julie Svetlik, and Paul Ziemkiewicz
Presentation for the 2008 PA AMR and Coal Mining Heritage Conference, State
College, PA
Project Goal
• Restore sustainable
fisheries in the
majority of WV
stream miles lost to
historic, pre-law coal
mining.
• 2,775 AMD impaired
stream miles
• 114 10 digit HUCs
Objectives
1. Assist the WVDEP in developing a
strategic, watershed-based approach to
efficiently determine acid mine drainage
(AMD) restoration needs
2. Develop restoration plans that maximize
statewide recovery of cold- and warmwater fisheries
3. Assess the outcome (ecological and
economic) of this effort
Stream Data
•Water Chemistry
•Temperature
•Instream Habitat
•Biological communities
•Ecosystem processes
Landscape Data
Fishery / Ecological Priorities
• Priorities to maximize recovery of coldwater and
warmwater fisheries (EcoUnits).
• Reach scale and subwatershed (10-12 digit HUC)
scale priorities.
• Points to stream segments where recovered
fisheries are possible, and if recovered, would be
highly valuable.
GIS-based
Watershed Model
•Land Cover
•Geology
•Drainage Networks
•Mine Data
•Expected Development
•Mine pool elevations
Reclamation Priorities
• Action-by-action priorities needed to
recover fisheries priorities.
• Implementation of at-source, in situ, and
instream reclamation actions.
• Maximize cost:benefit efficiency.
Monitoring & Assessment
• Assess progress towards implementing
the master plan
Project Implementation
Watershed Restoration
Master Plan
•
•
•
•
5 year plan
Priority implementation sequence
Expected costs and fisheries benefits
General guidance regarding reclamation
project designs
• Construction of priority reclamation
projects
Stakeholder Input
Reclamation Design
• Detailed engineering design of priority
reclamation projects
Need
• Integrate various chemical and ecological
modeling components
• Spatial data
• Reproducible
• Standardize
• Visually illustrate remediation alternative
outcomes
Chemical costs for AMD treatment
Ecological Condition Models (bugs)
100
Reference
Moderate Mining
Intensive Mining
WV Stream Condition Index
90
80
70
WVSCI = 52.3 * exp (-0.504 x PC1)
R2 = 0.804
d.f. = 33
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
-1.5
-1.0
-0.5
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
PC 1
pH (-0.856)
Alkalinity (-0.685)
f (PC1 (80%), CVPC1 (9%))
Conductivity (0.851)
Acidity (0.706)
Hardness (0.684)
Sulfates (0.862)
Aluminum (0.934)
Chromium (0.661)
Iron (0.890)
Manganese (0.893)
Nickel (0.910)
3.5
Ecological Condition Models (Fishes)
Observed Species Richness
21
Good WQ / Low Mine
Intensity Region
18
15
12
Good WQ / High Mine
Intensity Region
9
6
Bad WQ / High Mine
Intensity Region
3
0
0
3
6
9
12
15
Expected Species Richness
f (basin area (80%), spatial position (8%))
18
21
Spatial Analysis
• Location plays an
important role in watershed
management
• Spatial analysis quantifies
relationships between
locations
• Geographic Information
Systems (GIS) aids in the
analysis
Decision Support System
• An interactive, computer-based system
designed to support a user or group of
users in achieving a higher effectiveness
of decision making
• Functions:
– explore solutions by building alternatives
– allow user interaction and input
– provide for flexible data and analysis capabilities
(Jankowski, 1995)
Questions to Address:
• What are average and low flows for nongauged streams and unsampled sites?
• What are water quality conditions
downstream of sampling?
• Where should abatement activities be
focused?
Mass balance water quality
prediction
• Mass balance

1
5
“Smart” accumulator
1
5
Note:
6
3
8
3
Sampled
Modeled
9
11
Segment-level watersheds
Outlet
Select study area
Mass balance water quality
prediction
• Mass balance

1
5
“Smart” accumulator
1
5
Note:
6
3
8
3
Sampled
Modeled
9
11
WV Stream Condition Index
Summary
• Spatial decision support system allows
integration of components
• Hydrologically networked watersheds
linked for “smart” mass balance model
• A tool for repeatable, transferable,
standardized information for watershed
management