Watson Andrew S, Merovich George T, Petty J Todd, Gutta J Brady
School of Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.
Department of Environmental Science and Studies, Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA, 16652, USA.
Environ Monit Assess. 2017 Jul;189(7):339. doi: 10.1007/s10661-017-6036-x. Epub 2017 Jun 16.
Assessments of watershed-based restoration efforts are rare but are essential for the science of stream restoration to advance. We conducted a watershed scale assessment of Abram Creek before and after implementation of a watershed-based plan designed to maximize ecological recovery from acid mine drainage (AMD) impairment. We surveyed water chemistry, physical habitat, benthic macroinvertebrates, and fish community structure in three stream types: AMD-impacted (14 streams), AMD-treated (13 streams), and unimpaired reference (4 streams). We used in-stream measurements to quantify ecological loss from AMD, the amount of ecological recovery expected through remediation, and the observed degree of post-treatment recovery. Sites impaired by AMD improved in water quality with AMD treatment. Dissolved metals and acidity declined significantly in treated streams, but sulfate and specific conductance did not. Likewise, sites impaired by AMD improved in bio-condition scores with AMD treatment. EPT genera increased significantly but were lower compared to unimpaired streams. We found fish at nine treated sites that had none before treatment. Community-level analyses indicated improved but altered assemblages with AMD treatment. Analysis of pre-treatment conditions indicated that only 30% of the historic fishery remained. Remediation was expected to recover 66% of the historic fishery value, and assessment of post-treatment conditions indicates that 52% of the historic fishery has been recovered after 3 years. Developing expected endpoints for restoration outcomes provides a tool to objectively evaluate successes and can guide adaptive management strategies.
基于流域的恢复工作评估很少见，但对于溪流恢复科学的发展至关重要。我们在实施一项旨在最大程度地从酸性矿山排水（AMD）损害中实现生态恢复的基于流域的计划之前和之后，对艾布拉姆溪进行了流域尺度的评估。我们调查了三种溪流类型中的水化学、物理栖息地、底栖大型无脊椎动物和鱼类群落结构：受AMD影响的（14条溪流）、经过AMD处理的（13条溪流）和未受损的参照溪流（4条溪流）。我们利用溪流内的测量数据来量化AMD造成的生态损失、通过修复预期的生态恢复量以及观察到的处理后恢复程度。受AMD损害的地点在进行AMD处理后水质得到改善。处理过的溪流中溶解金属和酸度显著下降，但硫酸盐和电导率没有。同样，受AMD损害的地点在进行AMD处理后生物状况评分得到改善。EPT属显著增加，但与未受损溪流相比仍较低。我们在9个经过处理的地点发现了处理前没有的鱼类。群落水平分析表明，AMD处理后群落有所改善但发生了改变。对处理前状况的分析表明，历史渔业仅留存30%。预计修复能恢复历史渔业价值的66%，对处理后状况的评估表明，3年后已恢复了历史渔业的52%。为恢复成果制定预期终点提供了一个客观评估成功与否的工具，并可指导适应性管理策略。
