Skip to main content
Log in

Effects of clay discharges on streams

1. Optical properties and epilithon

  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Placer gold-mining on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand provided a field test-bed for investigating the impacts of fine inorganic suspensoids (clays) on streams not subjected to other abuses. The suspensions of clays (40% between 0.55 and 1 µm in diameter) seeping into the streams from gold mines were colloidally stable. The clay particles attenuated light in the streamwater with near maximum efficiency leading to severe degradation of stream optical quality. Turbidity increased from a median of 2.4 NTU upstream often to > 100 NTU (median 15 NTU) downstream. The stream waters, which were strongly-coloured by humic substances, were changed from a dark organge colour to a bright ‘muddy’ appearance downstream of mining, and visual clarity was reduced from a few metres to as low as 0.03 m (median 0.33 m). The clay discharges decreased light penetration into the stream water such that irradiance averaged over a 12 hr photoperiod at the bed (typically about 0.3 m depth in runs at baseflow) fell from about 340 µE m−2 s−1 upstream to as low as 80 µE m−2 s−1 (median 190 µE m−2 s−1) at matched downstream sites. This reduction in light proportionally reduced benthic primary productivity downstream of the mining activity. In turn this reduced benthic algal biomass and lowered the phototrophic content of the epilithon. In spite of their extremely low settling velocities (< 1 µm s−1) some clay particles were deposited on the stream bed owing to entrapment in the epilithon matrix. This decreased the organic content of the epilithon (from an average of 19% upstream to 8.5% downstream) so reducing its quality as food for invertebrate animals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Public Health Association (APHA), 1989. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. 17th ed. American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association and Water Pollution Control Federation. Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biggs, B. J. B., 1990. Periphyton communities and their environments in New Zealand rivers. N. Z. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 24: 367–338.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bisson, P. A. & R. E. Bilby, 1982. Avoidance of suspended sediment by juvenile Coho salmon. North am. J. Fish. Man. 4: 371–374.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bjerklie, D. M. & J. D. LaPerriere, 1985. Gold-mining effects on stream hydrology and water quality, Circle Quadrangle, Alaska. Wat. Res. Bull. 21: 235–243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bott, T. L., J. T. Brock, C. S. Dunn, R. J. Naiman, R. W. Ovink & R. C. Petersen, 1985. Benthic community metabolism in four temperature stream systems: an inter-biome comparison and evaluation of the river continuum concept. Hydrobiologia 123: 3–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, G. W. & J. T. Krygier, 1971. Clear-cut logging and sediment production in the Oregon Coast Range. Wat. Res. Res. 7: 1189–1198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, E. H., J. A. Haverkamp & W. Chapman, 1985. Eroding soils: The off-farm impacts. The Conservation Foundation. Washington D.C. 252 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collier, K. J., 1987. Spectrophotometric determination of dissolved organic carbon in some South Island streams and rivers. N. Z. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 21: 349–351.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dall, P. C., 1979. A sampling technique for littoral stone-dwelling organisms. Oikos 33: 106–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies-Colley, R. J., 1988. Measuring water clarity with a black disk. Limnol. Oceanogr. 33: 616–623.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies-Colley, R. J. & M. E. Close, 1990. Water colour and clarity under baseflow conditions in New Zealand rivers. N. Z. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 24: 357–366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies-Colley, R. J., R. D. Pridmore & J. E. Hewitt, 1986. Optical properties of some freshwater phytoplanktonic algae. Hydrobiologia 133: 165–178.

    Google Scholar 

  • Folk, R. L., 1965. Petrology of sedimentary rocks. Hemphills, Austin, Texas. 159 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham, A. A., 1990. Siltation of stone-surface periphyton by clay-sized particles from low concentrations in suspension. Hydrobiologia 199: 107–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart, B. T., 1981. Trace metal complexing capacity of natural waters: a review. Environ. technol. Lett. 2: 95–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hickey, C. W., 1988. Benthic chamber for use in rivers: testing against oxygen mass balances. J. envir. Engineering, ASCE 114: 828–845.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jassby, A. D. & T. Platt, 1976. Mathematical formulation of the relationship between photosynthesis and light for phytoplankton. Limnol. Oceanogr. 21: 540–547.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jorgensen, B. B. & D. J. Des Marais, 1988. Optical properties of benthic photosynthetic communities: Fibre optic studies of cyanobacterial mats. Limnol. Oceanogr. 33: 99–113.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Judy, R. D., P. N. Seeley, T. M. Murray, S. C. Svirsky, M. R. Whitworth & L. S. Ischinger, 1984. 1982 national fisheries survey. Volume 1 technical report: Initial findings. United States Fisheries and Wildlife Service, FWS/OBS-84/06. 140 pp.

  • Kirk, J. T. O., 1976. Yellow substance (gelbstoffe) and its contribution to the attenuation of photosynthetically active radiation in some inland and coastal south-eastern Australian waters. Aust. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 27: 61–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirk, J. T. O., 1983. Light and photosynthesis in aquatic ecosystems. Cambridge. 401 pp.

  • Kirk, J. T. O., 1985. Effects of suspensoids (turbidity) on penetration of solar radiation in aquatic ecosystems. Hydrobiologia 125: 195–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • LaPerrierre, J. D., S. M. Wagener & D. M. Bjerklie, 1985. Gold-mining effects on heavy metals in streams, Circle Quadrangle, Alaska. Wat. Res. Bull. 21: 245–252.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemly, D. A., 1982. Modification of benthic insect communities in polluted streams: Combined effects of sediment and nutrient enrichment. Hydrobiologia 87: 229–245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lenat, D. R., 1984. Agriculture and stream water quality: a biological evaluation of erosion control practices. Envir. Man. 8: 333–344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leopold, L. B., M.G. Wolman & J. P. Miller, 1964. Fluvial processes in geomorphology. Freeman, San Francisco. 522 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lerman, A., 1979. Geochemical processes. Wiley-Interscience. 481 pp.

  • Lloyd, D. S, J. P. Koenings & J. D. La Perriere, 1987. Effects of turbidity in fresh waters of Alaska. North am. J. Fish. Man. 7: 18–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McIntire, C. D., 1973. Periphyton dynamics in laboratory streams: A simulation model and its implications. Ecol. monogr. 43: 399–420.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, J. L., 1989. Can the P/R ratio be used to assess the food base of stream ecosystems? A comment on Rosenfeld and Mackay (1987). Oikos 54: 119–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mook, D. H. & C. M. Hoskin, 1982. Organic determinations by ignition: Caution advised. Est. Coast. Shelf Sci. 15: 697–699.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, M. L., 1984. Primary production and grazing in freshwater and intertidal reaches of a coastal stream, Southern Alaska. Limnol. Oceanogr. 29: 805–815.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinn, J. M., 1985. Wastewater effects on epilithon, particularly sewage fungus and water quality in the Manawatu River, New Zealand. Unpublished PhD thesis, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinn, J. M., R. J. Davies-Colley, C. W. Hickey, M. L. Vickers & P. A. Ryan, 1992. Effects of clay discharges on streams. 2. Benthic invertebrates. Hydrobiologia 248: 235–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinn, J. M. & C. W. Hickey, 1990. Magnitude of effects of substrate particle size, recent flooding, and catchment development on benthic invertebrates in 88 New Zealand rivers. N. Z. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 24: 393–409.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, J. B., R. C. Simmons & A. R. Burkholder, 1989. Effects of placer mining discharge on health and food of Arctic grayling. Wat. Res. Bull. 25: 625–635.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenfeld, J. S. & R. J. Mackay, 1987. Assessing the food base of stream ecosystems: alternatives to the P/R ratio. Oikos 50: 141–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, P. A., 1991. The environmental effects of sediment on New Zealand streams: a review. N. Z. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 25: 207–221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryder, G. I., 1989. Experimental studies on the effects of fine sediments on lotic invertebrates. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. 216 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sloane-Richey, J., M. A. Perkins & K. W. Maleug, 1981. The effects of urbanization and stormwater runoff on the food quality in two salmonid streams. Verhandlungen der internationalen Vereinigung für theoretische und angewandte Limnologie 21: 812–818.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinman, A. D. & C. D. McIntire, 1987. Effects of irradiance on the community structure and biomass of algal assemblages in laboratory streams. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 44: 1640–1648.

    Google Scholar 

  • Terhune, L. D. B., 1958. The mark VI groundwater standpipe for measuring seepage through salmon spawning gravel. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 15: 1027–1063.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Nieuwenhuyse, E. E. & J. D. LaPerrierre, 1986. Effects of placer gold mining on the primary productivity in sub-artic streams of Alaska. Wat. Res. Bull. 22: 91–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Olphen, H., 1977. Introduction to clay colloid chemistry. Wiley-Interscience, New York. 318 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vant, W. N. & R. J. Davies-Colley, 1984. Factors affecting clarity of New Zealand lakes. N. Z. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 18: 367–377.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagener, S. M. & J. D. LaPerrierre, 1985. Effects of placer mining on invertebrate communities of interior Alaska streams. Freshwat. invert. Biol. 4: 208–214.

    Google Scholar 

  • West Coast Gold Miners Association 1988. Treatability study: alluvial gold mining effluent. West Coast Gold Miners Association and New Zealand Department of Trade and Industry report. 45 pp.

  • White, D. S. & J. R. Gammon, 1977. The effect of suspended solids on macroinvertebrate drift in an Indiana Creek. Proc. Indiana Acad. Sci. 86: 182–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winterbourn, M. J., K. J. Collier & A. K. Graesser, 1988. Ecology of small streams on the West Coast of the South Island, New Zealand. Vereinigung für theoretische und angewandte Limnologie. 23: 1427–1431.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winterbourn, M. J., B. Cowie & J. S. Rounick, 1984. Food resources and ingestion patterns of insects along a West Coast, South Island, river system. N. Z. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 18: 43–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolman, M. G., 1985. A method for sampling coarse river-bed material. Am. Geophys. Union Trans. 35: 951–956.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Formerly DSIR Marine and Freshwater.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Davies-Colley, R.J., Hickey, C.W., Quinn, J.M. et al. Effects of clay discharges on streams. Hydrobiologia 248, 215–234 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006149

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006149

Key words

Navigation