US EPA

Fate and Transport of Metals and Sediment in Surface Water

EPA Grant Number: R829515C002
Subproject: this is subproject number 002 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R829515
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: HSRC - Rocky Mountain Regional Hazardous Substance Research Center for Remediation of Mine Waste Sites
Center Director: Shackelford, Charles D.
Title: Fate and Transport of Metals and Sediment in Surface Water
Investigators: Julien, Pierre , Bledsoe, Brian P. , Watson, Chester
Current Investigators: Julien, Pierre , Bledsoe, Brian P. , Stein, Otto , Watson, Chester
Institution: Colorado State University
Current Institution: Colorado State University , Montana State University - Bozeman
EPA Project Officer: Lasat, Mitch
Project Period: November 1, 2001 through October 31, 2003
Project Amount: Refer to main center abstract for funding details.
RFA: Hazardous Substance Research Centers - HSRC (2001) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Land and Waste Management

Objective:

This effort will focus on surface water and sediment transport, with an emphasis on the fate and transport of metals in rivers from mining wastes. The main thrust of this two-year proposal is to: 1) develop a predictive scientific methodology for evaluating impacts on resulting from both point and diffuse sources of metal pollution; and 2) improve and develop computer modeling tools for the simulation of point-source and non-point source metals and fine sediment contamination in surface waters. The ultimate goal of our research is to improve our mechanistic understanding of the interaction between heavy metals and fine sediment.

Approach:

The study entails: 1) field monitoring of contaminated streams; and 2) computer modeling of advection, mixing and dispersion of fine sediment and heavy metals from point and diffuse sources. The models will be calibrated and tested with field data at a few sites on the 303(d) List. One of the main hypotheses to be tested is the relative importance of riffles and pools in the detention and storage of contaminants and as a potential added mechanism for the dispersion of contaminants in mountain streams. Other sites will be determined in collaboration with the remediation and risk assessment groups of this center proposal, as well as with the Water Quality Control Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Expected Results:

The two most important expected benefits of this research are: 1) an improved understanding of the mechanics of heavy metal fate and transport in mountain streams; and 2) development and validation of numerical models for the simulation of advection, mixing and dispersion of fine sediment and heavy metals in mountain streams. Field measurements will be used to calibrate and test numerical models at several sites where the water quality has been altered by mining waste contamination. Funding is requested to support two graduate students to be supervised by three academic faculty members for a period of two years.

Supplemental Keywords:

streams, water, watersheds, sediments, metals, discharge, effluent, dissolved solids, restoration, aquatic habitat, modeling, monitoring, heavy metals, Rocky Mountains., RFA, Industry Sectors, Scientific Discipline, Waste, Contaminated Sediments, Remediation, Mining - NAIC 21, Hazardous Waste, Ecological Risk Assessment, Ecology and Ecosystems, Hazardous, Environmental Engineering, risk assessment, contaminant transport, contaminated waste sites, contaminated sites, contaminated marine sediment, acid mine drainage, runoff, sediment transport, stream ecosystems, remediation technologies, metal release, field monitoring, computer modeling, mining, treatment, leaching of toxic metals, metals-contaminated soil, aquatic ecosystems, heavy metal contamination, metal wastes, groundwater, heavy metals, metals, mining impacted watershed, mining wastes

Progress and Final Reports:

2002 Progress Report
2003 Progress Report

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R829515    HSRC - Rocky Mountain Regional Hazardous Substance Research Center for Remediation of Mine Waste Sites

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R829515C001 Redox Transformations, Complexation and Soil/Sediment Interactions of Inorganic Forms of As and Se in Aquatic Environments: Effects of Natural Organic Matter
R829515C002 Fate and Transport of Metals and Sediment in Surface Water
R829515C003 Metal Removal Capabilities of Passive Bioreactor Systems: Effects of Organic Matter and Microbial Population Dynamics
R829515C004 Evaluating Recovery of Stream Ecosystems from Mining Pollution: Integrating Biochemical, Population, Community and Ecosystem Indicators
R829515C005 Rocky Mountain Regional Hazardous Substance Research Center Training and Technology Transfer Program
R829515C006 Technical Outreach Services for Communities and Technical Assistance to Brownfields
R829515C007 Evaluation of Hydrologic Models for Alternative Covers at Mine Waste Sites
R829515C008 Microbial Reduction of Uranium in Mine Leachate by Fermentative and Iron-Reducing Bacteria
R829515C009 Development and Characterization of Microbial Inocula for High-Performance Passive Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage
R829515C010 Reactive Transport Modeling of Metal Removal From Anaerobic Biozones
R829515C011 Assessment of Electrokinetic Injection of Amendments for Remediation of Acid Mine Drainage
R829515C012 Metal Toxicity Thresholds for Important Reclamation Plant Species of the Rocky Mountains
R829515C013 An Improved Method for Establishing Water Quality Criteria for Mining Impacted Streams