Defense Date
10-31-2022
Graduation Date
Fall 12-16-2022
Availability
Immediate Access
Submission Type
thesis
Degree Name
MS
Department
Environmental Science and Management (ESM)
Committee Chair
Brady Porter
Committee Member
John Stolz
Committee Member
Beth Dakin
Keywords
Ion Chromatography, ICP-MS, Abandoned Mine Drainage, Native Freshwater Fishes, Mass Ratio Analysis, Oil and Gas, Pollutant Detection, State Regulation, ArcGIS, Metals
Abstract
The Buffalo Creek watershed has experienced water quality impairments for various reasons, including but not limited to, agricultural influence, abandoned mine drainage (AMD), on-site wastewater malfunction, and stormwater. The source and cause of the most prevalent impaired areas remains unknown. The goal of this study was to analyze water chemistry using state water quality standards and mass ratio analysis, then to conduct fish community analysis. We found toxic metal pollution across the watershed, with iron, cadmium, copper, and selenium frequently exceeding criteria. We determined which streams are polluted by resource extraction activities by conducting mass ratio analysis. We found conventional oil and gas, and mine drainage to be contributing to the previously unknown sources of pollution in the watershed. The fish community and composition appeared healthy according to the Ohio Index of Biotic Integrity, but the thermal fish index indicated stressed temperature transitions, likely due to development and habitat loss.
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Wilson, K. (2022). ASSESSMENTS OF WATER CHEMISTRY AND FISH COMMUNITY STRUCTURE IN THE BUFFALO CREEK WATERSHED, TRIBUTARY TO THE ALLEGHENY RIVER IN ARMSTRONG AND BUTLER COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA (Master's thesis, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/2076
Appendix F