Freshwater mussels as indicators of mining pollution in Dunkard Creek, West Virginia
Restricted (Penn State Only)
- Author:
- Jones, Malichai
- Area of Honors:
- Civil Engineering
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Nathaniel Richard Warner, Thesis Supervisor
S. Ilgin Guler, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- mussels
mussel tissue - Abstract:
- The objective of this thesis was to explore and document the impact of mining pollution on freshwater mussels in Dunkard Creek, West Virginia. Dunkard Creek was the site of a large spill of high salinity water that caused an algal bloom that led to the death of all mussels in a 30 mile stretch of Creek. Repopulation efforts led by the WV Department of Natural Resources have not been successful. This investigation hypothesizes that continued poor water quality associated with mining activities is the cause. In this study, mussel growth was measured in 56 mussels dispersed evenly amongst 5 silos each at four separate locations along Dunkard Creek. Water samples were collected biweekly and sediment samples were collected twice during the study period, May 2021 to October 2021. In October, mussels were harvested, and measured for overall shell growth, and it was found that average mussel growth was greatest at the most upstream location of Brave, while all other sample locations were the same average growth. The locations with lower growth rates were all located below Miracle Run, a tributary to Dunkard Creek. Miracle Run watershed contains areas of mining wastewater release which contribute to increased levels of salinity with a high content of sulfate, chloride, and sodium- all of which decrease water quality. Analysis of sediment radium activity did not indicate a difference between upstream locations, Miracle Run, and downstream indicating that the legacy spill likely is not the cause of reduced growth rates. Due to the poor water quality from Miracle Run, mussel repopulation efforts should focus on areas with the greatest water quality-upstream of Brave- to have the greatest chance of success.