Lower Wheeling Creek Report

     Wheeling Creek is the subject of a case study, as a tributary of the Ohio River. Since Wheeling had been first settled in 1769, the Creek had undergone many changes until the present day. It had been a highly industrialized urban center, including river and rail transportation facilities, as well as bridges carrying roads across the Ohio River. In the Wheeling Creek watershed, agriculture is dominated by cattle and dairy operations. There have been many hypothetical asunptions as to why the Creek had become the way it is today. However, after some detailed and meticulous research of Wheeling Creek's background information, I may have evidence to support my theories as to what I believe the causes may be. The two pollutants that are responsible for the pollution of this stream is due to the old process of dredging and surrounding sewage and runoff.

     As I said before, the first source of pollution of the creek would be of agriculture and sewage. This also includes the factor of acid mine drainage. Evidence in support of this assumption is that the creek had been located in an area where mines had been located as well. The high concentrations of sulfuric acid had been drained into the creek. this may account for the fact that closer to the Ohio River there is less oxygen because it had been dissolved until saturation. It may have had a higher temperature as well. It also has a higher alkilinity which shows that it has a higher buffering capacity. This is shown by the relative average in pH of the stream, that never reaches below 6. The creek also has conductivity.Because industries have popped up around the creek, there has been runoff and sewage problems of pollution. Combined sewage outflows carry both sewage and stormwater runoff away as the excess is released into rivers and streams. They are major sources of pollution in watersheds, too. Finally, agriculture had also sprouted up around the creek. It enters the streams in the form of runoff from pesticides, fertilizers and as chemical toxins. When I mentioned that it's an area run by cattle and dairy operations, other examples of pollutants include animal waste from feedlots, siltation from plowing near streams and stream bank erosion caused by cattle.

     Another source of pollutant that causes the contamination of the creek is the previous work of dredging. Dredging of the stream bed has occured throughout history in many stream beds. The shape of the creek has been noticed currently with all of its meanders and the order of all the different streams. Dredging involves the deliberate removing of large rocks and cobble. In this particular watershed, sides of rocks were dredged in order to provide fill material for roads and building activities. However, more recently it has occured due to frequent flooding along the lower area. Because of the machines that were used in order to perform this process, disruption of the stream bed occurs and short-term siltation can cause harm to downstream communities. It alos takes habitats away from plants and animals. This has alluded to the fact that rocks have been dispersed throughout the stream. The closer area to the Ohio River have more uniform rock size and are much smaller, that allow for a greater velocity and water depth. Also, on a negative side, it overturned sediment that therefore polluted the water.

     These are two of the many problems that may have caused the problems in the stream. Combined with sewage and runoff, and dredging, this creek has become yet another victim to pollution of today. There are so many factors today that may cause this. However, in this particular case these two causes are relevant from the beginning of its origin to today. It has been changed drastically and mainly by human interaction and impact. Agricultural industries and factories should become aware or should be reported for such incidents of leaking chemical toxins as pollutants as runoff into streams like this. Streams that have existed since origin, that have provided habitat for many organisms and supplied the natural resource of water for its various services should be maintained and protected. No more dredging should occur either so that the stream could flow naturally. Humans should become aware of how different activities can affect mother nature and how to mitigate these situations from prior actions. The Lower Wheeling Creek is a subject of pollution under intensive case study and its causes are pretty severe.