Iron Pyrite + Water + O2 = Sulfuric Acid

Acid mine drainage is the most prevalent pollutant in Raccoon Creek and its tributaries, and has been defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the number one water quality problem in Appalachia. The watershed contains about 25,610 acres of underground mines and 21,550 acres of surface mines. In the headwaters alone, there are 1,100 acres of abandoned surface mines and 110 acres of abandoned coal refuse piles.

More than a century of coal mining has affected the water quality of the watershed’s surface waters. Acid Mine Drainage flowing from abandoned underground and surface coal mines causes the most severe degradation to the living resources and aquatic habitat in the Raccoon Creek watershed. The gravity of the problem ranges from a reduction in the diversity and quantity of fish in most of the main stem, to the complete loss of wildlife and quality habitat in some of the tributaries.

In AMD waters, such as this area of Pierce Run, high concentrations of metals, such as iron (orange) and aluminum (white), are detrimental to aquatic ecosystems.

To better understand the effect of the acid on the ecosystem, compare the common substances below to the water entering the Raccoon Creek Watershed from coal mining operations. The optimal pH range for most living things is between 6.5 and 8.2, much of the AMD water has a pH below 3.0!

Erosion is the process in which soil particles loosen and are carried away by water or wind. The process transfers topsoil to the stream, reducing water quality, harming aquatic life, and destabilizing hillsides and riparian zones. Sedimentation is the accumulation of soil in the streambed, which usually occurs where the water current has slowed and cannot suspend soil particles. This accumulation reduces water clarity and can alter aquatic habitat that is essential for fish and macro-invertebrates. The Ohio EPA has identified siltation as a significant problem in Raccoon Creek with the main sources of impairment ranging from abandoned coal mines to removal of riparian habitat. Portions of the Raccoon Creek watershed with the most significant erosion and sedimentation degradation include Sandy Run, Lake Hope, Honey Fork, Wheelabout Creek, Elk Fork, Meadow Run, Opposum Run, Strongs Run, Raccoon Creek (from Flatlick Run to Little Raccoon Creek) and Williams Run.

The presence of untreated or poorly treated sewage in surface or groundwater can pose significant risks to both humans and the environment. Raw sewage contains many pathogens that are dangerous to public health. People who come into contact with contaminated water could contract illnesses such as typhoid, tuberculosis, cholera, hepatitis, tetanus, dysentery, and gastroenteritis. Poor sewage disposal practices—in the most extreme cases, a pipe that discharges waste directly into a water body—can significantly damage the aquatic ecology. The high levels of nutrients in sewage can increase the amount of algae present in the water. Rapid increases of algae colonies, or “blooms,” can significantly decrease the amount of oxygen in the water, making the stream inhospitable to other aerobic (oxygen-dependent) organisms. Such an event is often referred to as a “fish kill” and is commonly associated with sewage system failures and other episodes of contamination. Ohio EPA lists Meadow Run and Little Raccoon Creek as impaired by wastewater with the cause of impairment listed as organic enrichment/ dissolved oxygen. Private septic systems typically are environmentally sound, as long as they function properly and are maintained. Unfortunately, many systems in the watershed are not (officials have estimated 80% or 2,186 systems in Vinton County may be failing or in need of maintenance), leaving untreated sewage to discharge into Raccoon Creek and other waterways.

For more on the Meadow Run study please see our Water Quality Monitoring page.

In addition to effluent from households and treatment facilities, byproducts from gas and oil drilling also impair portions of the watershed. Ohio EPA’s 305b Report lists oil and grease as causes of impairment to four Raccoon Creek tributaries, Russell Run, Flat Run, Opposum Run and Long Run. Brine, underground trapped sea water, is circulated to the earth’s surface during well drilling. Although most of the brine, once separated from the fuel, is re-injected into the ground, inspectors must make sure the saline does not seep into the wells and contaminate the groundwater. The metals and chlorides in brine hinder vegetation growth and are difficult to remove from the soil once contaminated.

According to Ohio EPA’s 305b Report and Raccoon Creek’s Basin study in 1995, industrial point sources have impaired three Raccoon Creek tributaries. The Austin Powder Corp. has contributed unionized ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite to the Austin Powder Tributary to Elk Fork. The Pillsbury/General Mills plant in Wellston has discharged unionized ammonia to Meadow Run and also has impaired Little Raccoon Creek.