Effects on Suspended and Substrate Sediments in Two Streams Resulting from Different Gas-Pipeline Installation Techniques

摘要

The effects of gas-pipeline construction projects on suspended solids (SS) and streambed sediments were investigated at two stream sites. The Little Miami River in Ohio was crossed using the wet-ditching technique. Concentrations of SS were elevated up to 400 m downstream during the two days of trenching operations, and fine sediment was deposited on the streambed up to 200 m downstream of the crossing. The SS decreased rapidly after trenching was completed, and the fine sediment was removed from the streambed by high stream flows two to eight months after construction. Canada Creek in Michigan was crossed using a plow method. The time duration of stream disturbance was much less for the plow method, and the effects on suspended solids and streambed sedimentation were minimal. For both installation methods, the impacts were reversible, and no long-term impacts on the stream environments were detectable. 24 refs., 10 figs., 1 tab. (ERA citation 13:017724)