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Our work to restore the Tioga River watershed from the impacts of historic abandoned mine drainage (AMD) continues to move forward as construction of a multi-partner, multi-million dollar treatment plant will begin following final design work.
In the meantime, our scientists are advancing research to better understand how improved water quality may affect the Tioga Reservoir once the treatment system is operational. Today, metals associated with AMD bind nutrients such as phosphorus, limiting their availability within the reservoir. But once AMD is treated and those metals are removed from the system, more nutrients may become available, making it important to understand whether changing conditions could result in the formation of harmful algal blooms.
To establish this important baseline, SRBC is continuing to monitor both Tioga Reservoir and neighboring Hammond Lake, which serves as a comparison site because it is not affected by AMD. Surface and bottom sensors in both lakes are collecting dissolved oxygen and temperature data to determine when and how often the lakes stratify and mix—processes that strongly influence nutrient movement and water quality.
In addition to monitoring lake conditions, our team collected water samples and deployed temperature and conductivity loggers in streams flowing into Tioga Reservoir to better understand the characteristics of water entering the reservoir.
This work also continues to provide hands-on research opportunities through our partnership with Dr. Greg Moyer and Mansfield University. This summer, SRBC scientists welcomed a new graduate student to the field, introducing her to the techniques and equipment used to monitor lake health.
For more background on the future Tioga River AMD Treatment Plant, check out our interactive story map!
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