WESTERN MARYLAND RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, INC.
 

North Branch Casselman Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Project - Phase 1 -

Garrett County

The North Branch Casselman River is a high quality mountain stream classified for water contact recreation and aquatic life.  Regions of the river near Grantsville, in Garrett County, Maryland, have been impaired by acid mine drainage from abandoned coal mines to the point where aquatic life such as the Hellbender salamander and stonecat catfish have been eliminated.

With grants from the U.S. Department of Interior Office of Surface Mining and the Maryland Bureau of Mines, the WMRC&D awarded design and construction contracts to build several systems to treat the AMD and restore the quality of water in the North Branch Casselman to that which is appropriate for the return of aquatic life.

The site contained multiple AMD seeps which drained into the river.  Remediation consisted of building several limestone line settling ponds in order to remove aluminum and iron and raise the pH before discharging into the North Branch Casselman River.

All programs and services of the Western Maryland RC&D Council are offered on a non-discriminatory basis, without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital or family status, disability or political beliefs.

Copyright © 2004 Western Maryland RC&D Council, Inc.
Last modified: 10/29/08