The Coal River Basin: a Divergence of Micro-Species

The Coal River Basin: A Divergence of Micro-Species

R. Dale Biller

Marshall University

Environmental Microbiology

December 5, 2009

Abstract

The chemical and biological pollution of the Coal River has been an ongoing problem since the river watershed has become more populated. This population increase since the end of World War II helped introduce the area to further extensive timber and coal operations that have decimated the watershed through the environmental exposure of chemical and biological pollution. The mining operations are characterized by underground mining, surface mining, and mountaintop removal.

The timbering industries activities increase surface runoff of the river basin and carry the rainfall directly into the river, not allowing for subsurface conductivity filtration and the slow regulation of ground water. These variables have affected the microscopic life of the river.

Introduction

The Coal River is part of a watershed. A watershed is an area of land that drains down-slope to a lowest point. The Coal River basin is a tributary system of the greater Kanawha River Watershed that encompasses most of southwestern West Virginia. The Coal River basin is approximately 891 square miles. The watershed is mostly used for recreational purposes that encapsulate ninety two percent of the land usage of the area. The watershed is an area of land that drains down-slope to the lowest point (1). The down-slope drainage pathways form a network that may be on the surface or underground. The natural progression of the water is to converge into larger and larger stream and river systems. The exception would be in arid regions where the water will gather in a pool at the lowest point of elevation and go through the normal evaporation process. Streams, rivers, and tributaries have associated watersheds and small watersheds converge into larger watersheds. The boundaries of a watershed follow major ridgelines around the stream system and end at the lowest elevation or bottom where the water escapes, commonly called the mouth of the stream.

The inter-connectedness of a stream system is a primary reason for the study of small or large watershed systems. This inter-connectedness however has a down side. Any industry that alters the natural environment without concern of the impacts will affect all waterways down slope from the operation and thus impact the life forms that inhabit those waterways.

Figure 1

Illustrates the drainage pattern for a watershed traveling down-slope which acts a pollution cooridor to the Kanawha River @ St. Albans, WV.

Chemical Aspects of Pollution

Coal slurry impounds contain toxic waste and can contain millions of gallons of sludge. Many of chemicals contained in sludge are carcinogenic while some contain heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, iron, selenium, aluminum, manganese, and mercury. Black water spills and surface water contamination are common pollution sources of the slow process of Coal River contamination.

The toxicity of these heavy metals to algae, lichen, insects, and beneficial bacteria, which aid in the digestive functions of macroorganisms such as fish and wildlife, has a detrimental effect on the river ecology (4). The microorganisms that can survive the poisoning of the river system then aid in the pollution of the environment. Arsenic, for example, can be metabolized into volatile arsine derivatives and can eliminate certain weed and grass species that help filter the environment and reduce the runoff. Algae and lichen are pioneering colonizers of rock surfaces which helps begin the process of soil formation that is needed for the growth of higher plant species. The contamination and elimination of vital microorganisms of the Coal River basin also aids in the decrease of the decomposition process that recycles energy, carbon, and nutrients. The key role of microorganisms to maintain life in the basin is then minimized by the chemical pollution of the surface waters, the soil, and residential rock surfaces.

The carbon cycle of the valley is affected by chemical exposure in that the transformation of plant and animal residues that normally converts to carbon dioxide and humus slow due to a poisoning of the ecosystem. Humus, a soil organic matter, helps improve the water holding capacity of the river basin which aids in evapotranspiration of the watershed. The preservence of ground water in any ecosystem is vital to the life that lives there.

The chemical pollution of the valley results in a net loss of efficiency of the watershed and has a negative affect on the microscopic life, the plant life, and the water cycle.

Biological Aspects of Pollution

As of late (3), the biological impact of pollution in the river has been studied. The studies indicate a high level of fecal coliform, which has increased the level of the bacterium e-coli (Escherichia coli) in the basin tributaries.

The Coal River basin is an area of recreational activity for centuries. In the last forty years the population of the residential area has also increased dramatically. One of the major drawbacks of the increased population has been the absence of a proper sewage treatment service. The common practice has been to drain sewage directly into the river body which has resulted in the biological pollution of the river. The increased levels of fecal coliform and e-coli bacterium have been a growing concern. Part of the problem has been the degradation of sewer tanks that had been in use by the more conscience residents which has only increased the problem as of late.

A common side effect of the increased biological pollution of the water bodies has been waterborne viral and bacterial gastroenteritis. Other disease related problems in the valley have been ear infections, dysentery, typhoid fever, and hepatitis A.

Figure 2

The Total Mass Daily Load (TMDL) of the Coal River by Percentage of Reported.

Pollutant / Number of TMDLs Approved / Percent of Reported
FECAL COLIFORM / 83 / 38.43
IRON / 80 / 37.04
SEDIMENT / 19 / 8.80
PH / 12 / 5.56
ALUMINUM / 11 / 5.09
SELENIUM / 9 / 4.17
MANGANESE / 2 / .93

“The Clean Water Act (CWA) requires a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) to be developed for those water bodies identified as impaired by a state where technology-based and other controls did not provide for attainment of water quality standards. A TMDL is a determination of the amount of a pollutant from point, nonpoint, and natural background sources, including a margin of safety (MOS), which may be discharged to a water quality-limited water body” (5).

The biological pollution of the Coal River watershed has had a net increase in the microorganisms that can affect human health in adverse ways. The pollution problem of the valley is going to be difficult to solve. The largest polluters of the valley live by the upper tributaries of the watershed where sewer treatment services may not be available for a long period of time. Many of these residents lack the necessary funds for an overhaul of their current discharge and remediation needs with many directly or indirectly discharging into the stream system.

Pollution Concentration

The concentration of pollution in a river concentrates on the thawig banks contaminating the soil and on the opposing shoreline where surfaces are available and river currents are slow compared to the deep part of the channel.

Figure 3

Cross sectional shape variability with position in the stream, and discharge affect the place meant of chemical and biological pollution. The deepest part of channel (thawig) occurs where the stream velocity is the highest (6) and is where soil contamination levels are at their highest. Both width and depth increase downstream because the discharge increases downstream. As discharge increases the cross sectional shape will change, with the stream becoming deeper and wider with the pollution concentration reaching peak levels until discharge occurs in the Kanawha River.

A watershed’s evolution occurs daily and the microscopic life have adapted and thrived with these rapid changes. Large floods dilute the pollution levels when the water id high. In times of low flow the concentration of pollution in the river rises and thus the increase of pollution risk associated to the ecosystem and human health.

In the Coal River basin, the timing and intensity of chemical and biological disturbance can be uniformly modified by human activity. The urbanization and increased roads change the impervious surfaces and change the routing of water channels enough to influence discharge rates, evapotranspiration measurements, and pollution concentration. Increased flood occurrence and landslide frequency in the Coal River basin may be attributable to the majority of the basin population living on the river’s edge. The population’s location solidifies the channel direction and thus disallows the river channel characteristics to change to an adaptable pattern for the rivers natural flood rate. This fact allows pollution to build-up on surfaces over time increasing the adverse affect on the environment.

Figure 4

A flooded tributary enters a stream, the increased sediment load will

distribute soil from the highest elevation boundaries of the watershed to the

mouth of the stream into the river. The dilution of pollution occurs when the

water levels increase and concentrate when water levels are low.

Methodology

The cross-reference of facts from governmental agencies and published work were used to solidify the assumption of the divergence of microscopic life in the Coal River basin. The theoretical conclusion was observed over time based on an on-going Thesis of the evapotranspiration of the valley over a period of time of one calendar year. The observation of the water cycle and scientific measurements required for the study has allowed a glimpse of daily life in the watershed on all levels.

Conclusion

The chemical exposure of the watershed brought on by industry has decreased the level of microorganisms that help the ecosystem thrive and perform the natural cycle of life. The biological exposure of the valley has increased the harmful microorganisms of the watershed and has lead to a decrease in human health in the valley. Currently, there is a new sewer system being installed in the lower valley where the concentration of population is highest which should help decrease the levels of coliform bacterium. Unfortunately, work has begun on a new mining operation in the upper tributary range of the watershed. Over time, with ongoing regulation, hopefully the impact on the environment will lesson from these industrial processes and the modification and upgrade of the sewer treatment services will act accordingly.

References

1.  Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board , Oregon Watershed Assessment Manual, 775 Summer Street NE, Suite 360, Salem, Oregon 97301, July, 1999 http://www.oregon.gov/OWEB/docs/pubs/OR_wsassess_manuals.shtml

2.  “Pollution of the Coal River”, http://iaspub.epa.gov/tmdl_waters10/huc_rept.control?p_huc=05050009&p_huc_desc=COAL

3.  Doyle, M. P., and M. C. Erickson. 2006. "Closing the door on the fecal coliform assay." Microbe 1:162-163. ISSN 1558-7460

4.  Rahman, Farhana Alamgir; A; R; S (2004). "Arsenic Availability from Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA)–Treated Wood". Journal of Enviromental Quality 33 (1): 173–180. http://jeq.scijournals.org/cgi/reprint/33/1/173.

5.  “Clean Water Act”, http://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/tmdl/wv_tmdl/Coal/Coal_DR.pdf

6.  Nelson, Stephan A., Streams and Drainage Systems, Tulane University, EENS 111, Physical Geology, Catch: http://www.tulane.edu/~sanelson/geol111/streams.htm

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