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Use of geospatial data to predict downstream influence of coal mining in Appalachia
Citation:
JOHNSON, B. R., A. HAAS, AND K. M. FRITZ. Use of geospatial data to predict downstream influence of coal mining in Appalachia. Presented at Mid-Atlantic Stream Restoration Conference, Cumberland, MD, November 07 - 08, 2007.
Impact/Purpose:
Use physicochemistry collected throughout a partially mined watershed to quantify downstream influence of headwater streams using exploratory geostatistical tools. A specific objective was to measure downstream extent of mining disturbance by comparing conductivity semi-variograms from mined and un-mined portions of the watershed.
Description:
A 2001 Supreme Court decision first called into question whether some headwater streams could be considered jurisdictional under the Clean Water Act. A subsequent decision then required that non-navigable waters must be "relatively permanent" or "possess a significant nexus" to navigable waters to be considered jurisdictional. As a result of these decisions, regulatory agencies are now faced with the challenge of accurately measuring hydrologic permanence of headwater streams and their degree of influence on the quality of downstream, navigable waters. NERL-Cincinnati is currently addressing the need for hydrologic indicators in the Headwater Intermittent Streams Study (HISS). Determination of "significant nexus" requires that stream ecologists move beyond the stream reach or habitat spatial scales where we typically operate. Novel watershed-scale study designs that incorporate measures from throughout stream networks may be a useful strategy for quantifying the downstream influence of headwater streams and to help identify "significant nexus".