Putnam County may not quickly come to mind when we think about acid mine drainage, but the problem certainly exists for Manila and Heizer Creeks located near Poca. Mining in this area occurred prior to environmental considerations, and the two streams suffered the consequences. While Abandoned Mine Lands and the Office of Surface Mining have looked at the problems, members of the Heizer-Manila Watershed Association are working to solve them. My involvement with the Association as an intern with the Office of Surface Mining, provided me with the opportunity to investigate methods to treat acid mine drainage.

Part of my duties for the watershed association includes stream monitoring. Water quality testing of Manila Creek indicated high amounts of iron and acidity in the stream. It is a consideration with any community project, to look at the long term effects and benefits as carefully as possible. Wetlands seemed to be the answer, at least for some sections of the stream. They provide long term treatment with little or no maintenance. Measuring the cost of other techniques against the potential for wetland treatment found that using wetlands to treat acid mine drainage, by far out weigh the cost of other methods. A little research concluded that wetlands have been found to improve a variety of water quality problems. Armed with this information and additional resources on other wetland projects provided by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources; Environmental Resources Section, I made the decision to develop a pilot wetland project (Picture 1).

The release of mine drainage (increased potential long-term benefits of wetlands include a cleaner alkalinity and reduced iron contents in the stream), a place of interest and learning for the community, and improved wildlife habitat. Another important factor was that a wetland project could be constructed in a non-invasive manner. The location to construct and restore the wetland is another important part of the success of the project. Having the project in a public area where people could see the results would increase public awareness about the benefits of wetlands. It was decided to utilize the Amherst Plymouth Wildlife Management Area (WMA) on Manila Creek near Poca (Picture 2).

One thing that was not known at the time the project was conceived, was how it would be perceived by the manager of Amherst Plymouth WMA and the Office of Surface Mining. The answer was overwhelmingly positive! Wetlands, when present, are one of the most productive parts of the ecosystem, the lack of them can have a great impact on the overall environmental integrity of an area.

The cost of the restorations was minimal, and in comparison to all other methods, it is virtually pocket change. The biggest investment is the time and labor involved in construction and restoration. A small dike was built around an existing wetland to create additional surface area, and provide a pathway for the impacted stream to flow into the wetland. Native West Virginia wetland species such as cattails, sedges, and rushes were planted to compliment the species already present in the area. A noticeable difference could be seen almost immediately, the once dry area became saturated with water. It may be some time before a true measure of success can be seen; however, preliminary testing show improvements in the water quality (higher pH and lower iron concentrations). Water from mine drainage is now given a chance to be treated before it trails off into the stream. A wetland holds water like a sponge, which is another advantage for treatment. It also helps minimize flooding. After some rain in the area, there has been no impact due to the partial impoundment of the wetland area. It is also important to note that even in one of the driest summers recorded in West Virginia, the wetland area has remained lush and green (Picture 3).

Perhaps it is only natural to consider wetland creation and restoration in areas such as Heizer and Manila Creeks. Past treatment methods have been costly and offered little or no community involvement. The wetland pilot project offered the opportunity to approach the problem of acid mine drainage through a low cost, hands-on environmentally friendly method.

e-mail <Bonnett1@newwave.net>