Influence of Conductivity Dissipation on Benthic Macroinvertebrates in the North Fork Holston River, Virginia Downstream of a Point Source Brine Discharge during Severe Low-Flow Conditions

ABSTRACT

The North Fork Holston River (NFHR) was examined in fall 2005 to determine the potential impact of a brine discharge on benthic macroinvertebrates. Conductivity of the discharge ranged from 5900 to 10,930 μ S/cm with a highest measurement of 18,000 μ S/cm. During normal flow, conductivity dissipates rapidly downstream of the discharge; however, low-flow conditions in 2005 hindered dissipation. Benthic macroinvertebrate surveys determined statistically significant differences (p = .05) in all metrices between sites excluding taxa richness. Hydropsychid caddisflies were the predominant taxa at the first two sites below the brine discharge, accounting for 74.3 and 68.8% of the organisms collected. Therefore, Ephemeroptera-Plecoptera-Trichoptera (EPT) abundance minus Hydropsychidae [EPT-H] was the most predictive parameter measured. When hydropsychids were removed from statistical analyses, mean EPT abundance was highest at upstream reference sites 1 and 2 (256 and 297, respectively) and reduced at all downstream sites, ranging from 24 to 52 EPT organisms. Virginia Stream Condition Index (SCI) scores indicated impairment downstream of the discharge with scores of 46.9, 41.8, and 55.8, well below the impairment threshold of 61. These results suggest subchronic, intermittent toxicity occurs under low-flow and may contribute to altered benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages downstream of the brine discharge for approximately 26 miles.

Key words:

• brine discharge
• conductivity
• benthic macroinvertebrates
• low-flow
• freshwater mussels
• Unionidae

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research was supported by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The authors also thank Jo Cherry for her assistance with the conductivity dissipation work and Alicain Carlson for her assistance in processing the benthic macroinvertebrate samples.