-
The Setiment Pollution from
the Konterra Sand Mining Site -
-Stormwater Impacts on Indian Creek of the Anacostia River
Background
Location for Indian Creek and Konterra Sand Mining Site
Why sediment matters
DocumentationBackground
Indian Creek of the Anacostia River has been known for its murkiness for many years. Whenever it rains moderately or heavily, the stream has been very turbid for a long time period compared to other tributaries of the Anacostia. For example, after rainfall of 2.05 inches on 02.01.2008, the creek had been extremely turbid (look like milky coffee color) for at least succesive 5 days. A neighboring urban stream, the Little Paint Branch was almost clear 2 days after the rainfall. Where is the source of the turbid water? The extremely turbid water comes from the headwater of Indian Creek - Konterra Sand Mining Site.The 2.05-inch rainfall is smaller than the one-year-storm event (2.7 inches for Prince George's County, Maryalnd). This means that the amount of rainfall could happen more often than once a year statistically. That amount of rainfall has to be contoroled to an acceptable level.
The Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) started to document these events to help solve this problem. AWS is going to advocate this sediment pollution problem as well as accumulate the evidence of pollution.
Indian Creek
Indian Creek - Zoom-in
Sediment, especially fine sediment, clogs fish gills, smother fish eggs, damage aquatic animals’ habitat, kills clams and mussels, kills oysters in the Chesapeake Bay, blocks sun light needed for aquatic plants, and reduce wildlife population along the affected waterway. It is also aesthetically unpleasant for river users and waterfront visitors and decreases property values near the waterway.
Sediments fill in gaps between stones in which aquatic insects live resulting insect population decrease. The insect population decrease will reduce fish population who feed on aquatic insects. Some sediment particle size is the same as what filter feeders such as clams, mussels, oysters, and Atlantic Menhaden, eat. Sediment pollution is the most serious form of water pollution to filter feeders.
Because fine sediment suspends in the water for a long time period making cloudy water, the polluted water won’t allow sun light to penetrate into the water. This prohibits aquatic plants from growing. Aquatic plants provide habitat for fish, absorb nutrients, and produce oxygen into the water. These benefits will be lost when the water is polluted with sediment. The lack of sun light will kill aquatic animals and plants. Those deceased animals and plants consume oxygen when they are decomposed causing low dissolved oxygen in the water, further exacerbating the water quality.
Eventually aquatic plants and animals population decrease will result in terrestrial wildlife and bird population decrease because some of them feed on the aquatic plants and animals.
- 12.19.2007
Komweti Mutu of the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) found severe sediment pollution in the Northeast (NE) Branch of the Anacostia in Bladensburg, Maryland. Kamo and Masaya Maeda of AWS tracked it down to the source and found that the Konterra site has been discharging very turbid water into a tributary of Indian Creek. The creek was very turbid even 3 days after rainfall.
@Reagan National Airport
- 02.03.2008
Masaya Maeda of AWS found very turbid water again in Indian Creek even 2 days after the rainfall on 02.01.2008 and tracked it down to the Konterra site. He also visited a neighboring stream, the Little Paint Branch, and found much less turbid water there. The apparent difference in turbidity can be seen below.
Indian Creek and the Little Paint Branch3 days later (02.04.2008) from the fainfall @Sunnyside Ave.
5 days later (02.06.2008) from the rainfall @Sunnyside Ave.
@Reagan National Airport
- 02.15.2008
Masaya Maeda of AWS found very turbid water again in Indian Creek even 2 days after the rainfall on 02.13.2008 and tracked it down to the Konterra site. He also visited a neighboring stream, the Little Paint Branch, and found clear water there. The apparent difference in turbidity can be seen below.
Indian Creek and the Little Paint Branch
Purpose History Gallery Calendar Newsletter Contacts Links Action News
Join AWS Programs River Tours Maps & Directions Virtual Tour Articles Watershed Info
Copyright © 1998-2005 Anacostia Watershed Society.