Ecological assessment of Uncle Sam Gulch Creek water quality under conditions of acid mine drainage

an annual increase in post-mining territories. This is partly due to a
change in funding priorities in this area and their widespread
reorientation to the search for alternative sources of raw materials to
ensure the development of modern high-tech industries. One of the
biggest threats to the environment in this development is the
deterioration of the freshwater quality due to poor management of
abandoned mining areas. And one of the most significant problems is
often created by acid mine drainage.
As a part of the study, information on the current environmental state
of a past American mining territory located near Basin, Montana,
USA, was analyzed and summarized; a conceptual exposure model
was created regarding the studied natural and technogenic
interactions; systematization and data updating on temporal and
spatial changes in the qualitative characteristics of surface waters that
are in direct contact with the abandoned mine were carried out; the
level of efficiency of implemented reclamation works on the territory
was determined.
The results of the water quality environmental assessments proved
that the measures taken thus far are absent of a sufficient level of
effectiveness for its full rehabilitation. To accelerate the process of
changing the water quality of the investigated water object, both in
terms of condition and degree of purity, a combination of a passive
treatment system coupled with an artificial reduction of acid mine
drainage volumes was suggested.