Tests Show Six Streams With Algae

Confirms water plant did cause fish kill

Morgantown Dominion Post
3 December 2009
By Alex Lang

Eleven West Virginia streams have tested positive for some type of contamination and six had at least one test come back to show there was golden algae present, according to tests done by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

In November, the state DEP took 39 samples from 20 streams across the state to see if the golden algae had spread. The tests were conducted after hundreds of fish began dying in Dunkard Creek in Blacksville in early September. Other aquatic life also died. The DEP determined that golden algae was the cause.

The recent tests showed two streams in the Dunkard Watershed, one in the Upper Ohio South Watershed and four in West Fork Watershed all had at least one test positive for golden algae. A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report also says once the algae is in a watershed it is difficult to remove and "essentially there to stay."

"It is something we are going to live with," DEP Spokeswoman Kathy Cosco said.

One of the creeks had an exceptionally high number of cells per milliliter. The Short Creek stream in the Upper Ohio South Watershed tested for 137,306 cells/mL.

To compare, areas of Dunkard Creek with algae that released toxins had at least 242,300 cells/mL.

"It's definitely something we are looking at," Cosco said.

However, just because the algae has been found in other streams, it doesn't mean they will experience a fish kill like in Dunkard Creek, DEP officials have said.

The EPA report — released Tuesday — said algae was indeed the cause of the fish kill, but elevated levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) led to the algae bloom that caused the fish kill.

"The algae is not known to grow or produce toxins at the natural levels of TDS in Dunkard Creek," according to the report.

Lou Reynolds, a fisheries biologist for the EPA compiled the report. Reynolds did not return phone calls or e-mails in time for this report.

The report does mention a CONSOL mine was at the focus of the inquiry, but did not implicate Blacksville No. 2 mine as a direct cause of the increased TDS.

"Our investigation was centered on the Blacksville No. 2 discharge in the WV Fork of Dunkard Creek," Reynolds wrote.

CONSOL officials have previously said they stopped the discharge into the stream.

The elevated TDS and ions, such as chloride and sulfate, were "many times" higher than levels known to cause aquatic life impairment. These elevated levels allowed the algae to grow and produce the toxins.

But, the problem isn't an easy one to solve. According to the report, there are nutrients that can be added to the water, but they haven't been successful in large reservoirs or rivers and streams.

The only realistic option for local watersheds is to control the amount of TDS in the water. The EPA proposes a water quality criterion to protect aquatic life.

Cosco said increasing any standards has been part of the discussion. But the organization has focused on the short-term problem and not on the long term solutions.