DEP Testing for Golden Algae
Washington, PA Observer-Reporter
19 November 2009
By Bob Niedbala, Staff writer
niedbala@observer-reporter.com
CLARKSVILLE - Environmental agencies took water samples Wednesday from
a dozen streams and the Monongahela River to test for the golden algae
believed responsible for the fish kill two months ago in Dunkard Creek.
The state Department of Environmental Protection and federal
Environmental Protection Agency conducted the sampling on the river and
on streams in Greene and Fayette counties.
"We know that golden algae was a contributing factor in the fish kill
and so we believe it's important for us to establish how prevalent it
is in the entire (Monongahela River) watershed," DEP spokeswoman Helen
Humphreys said.
Streams sampled Wednesday were chosen because of their
higher-than-normal levels of total dissolved solids as measured by the
waters' conductivity.
TDS levels in the sampled streams are relatively high, Humphreys said,
though not nearly as high as those found in Dunkard Creek during the
fish kill. Except for Dunkard Creek, no fish kills have been reported
in the sampled streams.
TDS, which includes chlorides, is known to create a "salty, brackish
water" on which the golden algae thrives, Humphreys said. Sources of
TDS are many and can include power plants, abandoned mine water
discharges, active mine water discharges and wastewater from natural
gas well drilling, she said.
Environmental officials said earlier that the golden algae found in
Dunkard Creek is normally found in coastal waters with high levels of
salt or minerals. The presence of algae in the creek was the first
documented case of the organism in the mid-Atlantic states, EPA said.
DEP officials earlier expressed concern about the possibility of golden
algae in Whiteley Creek. Humphreys said the agencies were only testing
for the algae's presence in the stream Wednesday, though Consol Energy
reportedly has found the algae there. A Consol spokesman could not be
reached Wednesday for comment.
Sampling Wednesday was conducted on Dunkard Creek, Georges Creek,
Whiteley Creek, Middle Run, Browns Run, Ten Mile Creek, Dunkard Fork of
Wheeling Creek, an unnamed tributary of Enlow Fork, Fish Creek and
Redstone Creek.
In the river, sampling was done downstream of Dunkard Creek, Georges
Creek, Whiteley Creek and Ten Mile Creek.
The fish kill on Dunkard Creek was first reported at the beginning of
September. During the month, fish and other aquatic life in a 30-mile
section of the stream were killed.
Investigators believe a toxic bloom of golden algae led to the kill.
They also believe high levels of TDS and chlorides originating from
Consol's Blacksville No. 2 mine water discharge created conditions for
the bloom.
Humphreys said state and federal agencies continue to investigate the
fish kill and each week conduct a conference call to discuss findings.
They also continue to examine the interaction between TDS levels in the
stream and the algae.
"We know golden algae thrives in brackish water and without high TDS
levels, the golden algae would not have been able to thrive the way it
did," she said.
Both are considered factors in the fish kill. "How exactly they
interacted may be hard to determine but we have a good idea what those
factors were," she said.
The state last fall also began recording relatively high TDS levels on
the Mon. The levels are not considered a health threat, though they can
effect the taste and odor of treated drinking water.
DEP will be looking into ways to reduce the levels of TDS in the Mon,
Humphreys said.
"One of the solutions is going to be taking a watershed approach to
water quality, looking at what we can do to lower the levels of total
dissolved solids," she said.
Asked how levels can be reduced, Humphreys said, "That's a question
that's going to take some time to answer and this (water sampling) is
the first step."