Panther Creek: Evaluating Recovery of a Mining-Damaged Stream Ecosystem Completed
Historically, Idaho has been home to many productive underground and open-pit mining operations. These activities have also produced water quality problems in some areas. One such example is the Blackbird Mine in central Idaho. Following mining operations from the 1940s through the 1960s, Panther Creek and its tributaries were severely damaged by runoff from the Blackbird Mine. Water-quality restoration efforts began in 1995. Though substantial monitoring efforts were made before and after the restoration efforts, the results have been largely unavailable to the public.
We compiled and synthesized more than 30 years of data to examine how restoration efforts have affected aquatic communities. To do this, we:
- assessed the effectiveness of water quality restoration efforts in reducing contamination in different stream media (water, sediment, periphyton, and insect tissues)
- examined differing recovery trajectories for stream invertebrate and fish communities in response to improving water quality
- identified apparent field thresholds for recovery of different taxa
- discussed when, if ever, a “recovering” stream ecosystem is “recovered"
Below are publications associated with this project.
Recovery of a mining-damaged stream ecosystem
Below are news stories associated with this project.
Historically, Idaho has been home to many productive underground and open-pit mining operations. These activities have also produced water quality problems in some areas. One such example is the Blackbird Mine in central Idaho. Following mining operations from the 1940s through the 1960s, Panther Creek and its tributaries were severely damaged by runoff from the Blackbird Mine. Water-quality restoration efforts began in 1995. Though substantial monitoring efforts were made before and after the restoration efforts, the results have been largely unavailable to the public.
We compiled and synthesized more than 30 years of data to examine how restoration efforts have affected aquatic communities. To do this, we:
- assessed the effectiveness of water quality restoration efforts in reducing contamination in different stream media (water, sediment, periphyton, and insect tissues)
- examined differing recovery trajectories for stream invertebrate and fish communities in response to improving water quality
- identified apparent field thresholds for recovery of different taxa
- discussed when, if ever, a “recovering” stream ecosystem is “recovered"
Below are publications associated with this project.
Recovery of a mining-damaged stream ecosystem
Below are news stories associated with this project.