Research Points To Inexpensive Aid For Acidic Streams UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.) Researchers in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences have found that a few feet of pipe, some concrete man hole sections, and a pile of lime stone rocks can make an acidic stream flow cleaner, thanks to a Swedish idea and a commitment to finding an inexpensive solution to a severe problem. Dean Arnold, adjunct assistant professor of aquatic ecology in the School of Forest Resources, said tht several diversion wells de signed to introduce calcium into streams polluted by acid mine drainage have succeeded in neu tralizing the acidic water to levels that allow the return of insects, fish, and other aquatic life. According to Arnold, a diver sion well is a very simple machine with no moving parts that bashes calcium carbonate rocks lime stone. to the layperson together until the stones are reduced to a size fine enough to be dissolved in the stream. Lime applications have long been used to neutralize acids in soil and water, but apply B&B SPRAY PAINTING SANDBLASTING SPRAT - ROLt> BRUSH Specializaing In Buildings, Feed Mills - Roofs - Tanks - Etc., Arial Ladder Equip. Stone - Barn - Restoration 574 Gibbon s Rd., Bird-In-Hand, PA Answering Service (717) 354-5561 ing lime to streams previously was 100 cumbersome and costly. Acid mine drainage is caused by seeping groundwater from ac tive and abandoned mines, ac cording to Arnold. Once coal is mined, the surrounding rock ma terial —often containing pyrite— is left exposed to groundwater and oxygen. Pyrite, or iron disulfide, easily dissolves in water. “Water causes pyrite to break down into two parts sulfuric acid and ferric hydroxide both of which are harmful,” Arnold said. “We worked with lime appli cations IS years ago to neutralize acid rain in lakes and streams and tested various machines to add lime to streams. A machine from Sweden worked like a champion, but it cost $36,000. However, we saw another Swedish company’s design for a diversion well, which was much less expensive.” Using the Swedish well as a model, Arnold and his students designed their own version. They used concrete sections for man holes and polyvinyl chloride pipe. A diversion well works by dam ming a stream and inserting an 8- .1010-inch pipe through the dam to divert water into a large well dug deep enough to allow water to drop at least 8 feet The water is piped under the pressure of gravi ty into limestone rocks. The forCfc of the water acts as a giant blend er. churning the stones into chips and pieces small enough to dis solve in water. The lime-laden overflow is then reintroduced into the stream. “The key was to find a system that is inexpensive, simple, rea sonably weatherproof and capable of being maintained by untrained personnel,” Arnold said. “All you have to do with a diversion well is make sure the well is about half full of limestone and that water is WE HAVE SEED. Tha last bag yon plant is as important as tha first If you’re expanding your com acreage in 1996, Pioneer has an excellent supply of top perfuming hybrids and soybean varieties in all maturities. All an available; including aaiUar Quantity Savings Discounts stUI apply. Dual-purpose early hybrids for silage or grain. If your current seed supplier can’t offer all these benefits isn’t it time you called your local Pioneer sales representative? Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. North American Seed Divirion Eastern Sales Area Office 1-800-323-3481 Plonaarw brand prodwcta ara sold aubjact to tba lama and eondltlona ol aala which art part ot lha laballng and aala documtnli. Plonaar la a brand nama; numbara Identify varlatlaa and producta. •8M Trademark and aarvica mark, raglalarad or appllad lor, of Plonoor Hl-lrad Intornallonal, Inc., Doe Molnoa, lowa, U.B.A. (e) IM6. PHII hybrids for later planting. Fhll return policy; no penaltiesfor returned seed. Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 18, 1996-A35 flowing through the pipe.” Arnold says the best results have come from limestone, also called calcium carbonate, that is about 95 percent calcium. He warns that dolomite, also called magnesium carbonate, will not work in diversion wells because it is harder to break up. Research conducted over the past two years by Malt Gray, graduate student in wildlife and fisheries science, shows that in sect and fish populations signifi cantly improve after treatment. “An acidic stream has a pH of 4, while a healthy stream has a pH greater than 6,” Gray said. “The streams treated by our diversion wells get a consistent reading of pH 5 to 5.5.” As a result. Gray relates, acidi fied streams where few plants, in sects or fish could be found before treatment have shown marked im provement in biological indicators PIONEER. BRAND - PRODUCTS of stream health. “Mayflies, which are extremely sensitive to acid in streams, have returned,” he said. “We found fish coming back into our study streams as well.” Much of Gray’s research cent ers on whether the improved streams could generate a food sys tem with enough nutrients to sup port a fish community. He studied sodium loss, which causes high mortality in trout released in aci dic streams, and found no signifi cant losses after the diversion well treatment. Gray also studies how leaves falling into the stream decompose. In acidic water, leaves do not de compose quicldy, leaving little food for insects. Gray’s research found that leaf litter broke down much faster in the treated water. “Leaf litter is the basis of the food chain in a small stream,” Gray said. “Increase decomposition and (Turn to Pago A3B) A r
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers