The overall goal of this SSP project was to evaluate the exposure and toxicological effects of contaminant stressors in the water and sediment of the Clinch River in areas of high mussel decline in Virginia and in areas of high abundance and recruitment in Virginia and Tennessee. The investigation also included an assessment of major tributary streams with varied histories of degradation, recovery and disturbance.
The specific objectives of this project were to:
1. Integrate existing data sets on mussel populations, NPDES discharges, mining and other energy permitted activities, pesticide use, and land use.
2. Using passive sampling devices, measure water concentrations of a suite of polar and non-polar organic contaminants, including current use pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), legacy organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and natural and synthetic hormones at each site.
3. Measure water concentrations of inorganic contaminants (e.g., metals and metalloids), and nutrients (e.g., nitrate, nitrite, total ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorus) at each site.
4. Measure sediment concentrations (bed and pore water) of a suite of organic and inorganic contaminants, including current use pesticides, PAHs, PCBs, legacy OC pesticides, natural and synthetic hormones, metals and metalloids, nutrients (e.g., nitrate, nitrite, total ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorus), and total organic carbon at each site.
5. Conduct ASTM Method E 2455-06 toxicity tests with juvenile mussels using sediment pore water collected from each site.
6. Compare the results of the toxicity tests to measured concentrations of contaminants in surface and pore water and sediment compartments (objectives 2-4) from the study sites and to published criteria and toxicity benchmark values for standard aquatic test organisms and mussels.
7. Assess growth and survival of mussels in situ at each site over two years.
8. Synthesize the findings to inform management efforts for aquatic species and water quality in the Clinch River watershed and elsewhere.
