The Sandy Creek watershed, spanning approximately 23,387.6 ha across Barbour, Taylor, and Preston Counties in West Virginia (WV), faces degradation from coal mining as defined by the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA). These activities contribute 49.5% of all acidity loading (4,230 kg/d) to Tygart Lake and Tygart Valley River. Tributaries of Left Fork Sandy Creek and Little Sandy Creek suffer from acid mine drainage (AMD) within the Sandy Creek watershed. In response, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s (WVDEP) Office of Special Reclamation (OSR) initiated the design of three AMD treatment systems in 2016 to rectify the impaired streams by improving pH.

By 2017, OSR had retrofitted F&M Coal Co. in the headwaters of Left Fork Sandy Creek to ensure consistent AMD treatment. The outdated treatment was replaced with a combination of high-density lime slurry systems and larger settling ponds. This retrofitting aimed to meet water quality standards under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permitting program and was completed in 2020. Groundwork for AMD treatment within Left Fork Little Sandy (LFLS) Creek and Maple Run watersheds commenced in 2016 after legislative revisions to the state’s water quality standards. WVDEP received USEPA approval for a watershed-based NPDES Permitting Variance on February 20, 2018. Construction of an in-stream doser using the high-density lime slurry system on LFLS Creek and a hydrated lime mechanical feed system along Maple Run concluded in 2019.

Before 2016, no efforts made to improve the water quality or stream ecology of Sandy Creek had worked due to the overwhelming amount of AMD. Upon completion of all water treatment systems, the previously depressed pH approached near neutrality, allowing the migration of fish species upstream. Fish and benthic macroinvertebrate surveys in 2021 and 2023 demonstrated increased diversity and richness. Similar positive results were observed below the F&M Coal permits in Left Fork Sandy Creek. Utilizing AMD treatment systems, the Sandy Creek watershed has made noteworthy strides in achieving long-term ecological restoration goals outlined in the Watershed-based Variance. While 22.9 km of Sandy Creek and Little Sandy Creek have begun to experience relief from the long-term AMD problem, evidence now shows improved water quality and the return of aquatic life in the watershed.

This pilot study aimed to investigate the mobility of metals from mine wastes within a river ecosystem in New South Wales Australia. By identifying the potential movement of metals from underground coal mine effluent, in water and sediment to invertebrates (prey) and platypus (predator) tissue this study sought to detect potential biomagnification. Understanding this is crucial to document the risks for the conservation of the potentially endangered Australian platypus. This study also critically evaluates how regulation of coal mine discharges consider the conservation values of receiving waterways. This study highlights the need for collaborative efforts between mining enterprises, environmental regulators and community to protect species of high conservation value.

We believe that this is a unique research study. We explored the potential biomagnification of metals in coal mine wastewater to a downstream stream and river. The mine and study area is approximately 100 kilometres southwest of Sydney, Australia. Samples were collected from: (1) mine wastewater, (2) stream sediment, (3) river invertebrates and (4) platypus fur. Two platypuses were caught on two sampling occasions about 2 kilometres from the mine. As the home range of a platypus can extend for more than 7 kilometres, it is assumed that they could forage downstream of the mine discharge. Prior to laboratory analysis, macroinvertebrates were freeze-dried to remove water and platypus fur samples were thoroughly cleaned. All samples were then analysed for 16 potentially toxic elements.

Wastewater from the coal mine contained an unusual combination of three abundant metals with the following median concentration (barium 3500 µg/L, lithium 1300 µg/L and strontium 660 µg/L). The median concentration of three metals in the wastewater exceeded Australian guidelines for ecosystem protection (nickel 60 µg/L; zinc 44 µg/L and arsenic 60 µg/L). The most abundant metals in the river sediment were barium, iron and aluminium. Eight metals were found present in platypus fur including barium (9 µg/kg), aluminium (55 µg/kg), iron (425 µg/kg) and zinc (175 µg/kg).

This study reveals the potential harm of metals in mine wastewater for aquatic wildlife, in this case, the potentially endangered Australian platypus. The disposal of mine wastes to receiving waters containing platypus should consider contamination of platypus river food webs. Contaminants may biomagnify throughout multiple trophic levels and harm this potentially endangered species. This study advocates for a more comprehensive regulatory framework that considers contamination of river food webs and effects on species of conservation significance