Problem
Sugar Creek is a tributary of the Williams River in Pocahontas County. Dogway Fork is a tributary of the Cranberry River, spanning Pocahontas and Webster Counties, in the southeastern part of the state. Both ultimately drain to the Gauley River. For both streams, their most sensitive use designations are Trout Waters—waters that sustain year-round trout populations—and Water Contact Recreation, including swimming and fishing uses.
Sugar Creek and Dogway Fork were originally listed on West Virginia's 303(d) List of Impaired Streams in 1998 with pH water quality violations. The pH readings were typically 3.7 in Sugar Creek and 3.8 in Dogway Fork. The state's water quality criterion for the streams' use designations specifies a pH of 6.0–9.0.
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Project Highlights
West Virginia's Department of Environmental Protection (WV DEP) identified these acid-impacted streams for water quality restoration efforts. WV DNR deposited fine limestone granules into the streams. Adding alkaline limestone sand helps raise the water's pH and neutralize the acidity. WV DNR is able to finance the long-term restoration of such acid-impacted water quality problems through funding set up through a portion of license fees and various legal settlement proceeds.
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Results
The limestone sand treatment raised the pH of the streams. Recent water quality monitoring has shown that the typical pH reading in Sugar Creek is now 6.4, and in Dogway Fork it is 7.0. After the limestone treatments, WV DNR began stocking trout and has maintained trout life in the streams. In total, 2.5 miles of Sugar Creek and 6.8 miles of Dogway Fork have been restored to viable trout fisheries.
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Two streams, Sugar Creek and Dogway Fork, designated as trout waters by West Virginia, were affected by acid rain deposition and did not meet the state's water quality standards for pH. The state listed both streams on its section 303(d) (impaired waters) list in 1998, 2002, and 2004.
