U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Effects of Abandoned Coal-Mine Drainage on Streamflow and Water Quality in the Shamokin Creek Basin, Northumberland and Columbia Counties, Pennsylvania, 1999-2001 Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4311 In cooperation with the Northumberland County Conservation District, Bucknell University and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Effects of Abandoned Coal-Mine Drainage on Streamflow and Water Quality in the Shamokin Creek Basin, Northumberland and Columbia Counties, Pennsylvania, 1999-2001 by Charles A. Cravotta III and Carl S. Kirby Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4311 In cooperation with the Northumberland County Conservation District, Bucknell University and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection New Cumberland, Pennsylvania 2004 ii U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GALE A. NORTON, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Charles G. Groat, Director The use of firm, trade, and brand names in this report is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey. For additional information, Copies of this report may be contact: purchased from: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Information Services 215 Limekiln Road Box 25286 New Cumberland, Pennsylvania 17070-2424 Denver, Colorado 80225-0286 Email:
[email protected] Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS Internet Address: http://pa.water.usgs.gov iii CONTENTS Page Abstract . 1 Introduction. 2 Purpose and scope . 2 Geology and mining history . 2 Land use . 5 Water quality . 5 Water-quality protection and restoration . 6 Acknowledgments . 7 Methods of water-quality site selection, sampling, and analysis .