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Polluted Mine Runoff in Contrary Creek, VA

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Polluted Mine Runoff in Contrary Creek, VA

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Contrary Creek, a small creek located in Lousia County, VA has been contaminated by old mining sites.  The creek is park of the York River Watershed.  While these mines halted operations in the early 1920s, the remnants of the mines are leaching heavy metals like zinc, copper, and lead into the stream.  The heavy metals are in high enough concentrations that the creek cannot sustain life.  The leaching also causes the water to be very acidic, or have a low pH, which also limits the type of life that can be supported there.  The area is being studied and vegetation is being used to improve the health of the creek.

Sources:
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6983&context=etd
https://www.umw.edu/greatminds/2016/03/31/digging-for-answers/

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Swimming and Fishing in the Baltimore Harbor?

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Swimming and Fishing in the Baltimore Harbor?

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This article gave me pause because I had not considered the fact that people may be fishing out of the Baltimore Harbor and consuming fish that could contain toxic metals, pesticides, and other chemicals. A goal was set for 2020 to be the year that fishing and swimming in the harbor could be safe. It looks as though the date needs an extension. This article is relevant to my students because they could learn that seafood can carry toxins and that it is not always safe to eat fish just because you catch them. Personally I need to learn more about where the crabs we eat are caught. It is time for me to ask more questions...

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Heavy Rainfall causes sewage to leach in to the Baltimore Harbor.                          Baltimore City's century old infrastructure is constantly releases sewage into the surrounding waterways especially during high rain events.  Not only does it cause the water to be unsafe to touch, it provides food for algae and causes blooms which produce "dead zones" affecting the populations of the Bay's animals.  Increased algae also affects the water clarity negatively stunting the growth of the Bay's underwater grasses.   

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Heavy Rainfall causes sewage to leach in to the Baltimore Harbor.                          Baltimore City's century old infrastructure is constantly releases sewage into the surrounding waterways especially during high rain events.  Not only does it cause the water to be unsafe to touch, it provides food for algae and causes blooms which produce "dead zones" affecting the populations of the Bay's animals.  Increased algae also affects the water clarity negatively stunting the growth of the Bay's underwater grasses.   

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Sources:
https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-sewer-overflow--20190709-ate7z52vb5g3jfreqtzy7k4w6e-story.html
https://www.chesapeakebay.net/issues/nutrients

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The largest Rayon producer was illegally dumping PCB's into the Shenandoah River causing a spike in pollution and toxic chemicals.  It was later shut down after it continually violated dumping order and continued polluting the water.  The interesting part is Virginia shifting their policy from "working with troubled companies to keep jobs, to shutting down and fining the company". This was a massive step in the right direction.  My question is why did they allow ANY company to dump anything directly into a river?  I fell with all of the known contaminants flowing into the bay from run off or agriculture, why allow companies even access to direct dumping.