On the west branch, pH runs lower than the main branch. The drop in pH is caused by mine acid drainage and runoff from old culm banks. When there is heavy rainfall, pH drops due to runoff from the culm banks. Carbon Dioxide Seasonal fluctuations due to respiration of aquatic organisms and chemical decomposition of organic material. Winter produces less carbon dioxide than summer because water is colder, which slows down the metabolism of cold blooded organisms and chemical decomposition.
Heavy rainfalls tend to lower carbon dioxide measurements, probably due to dilution from runoff.
Probable cause is detergents from cleaning. Caused by salty melt water runoff from local roadways due to severe ice storm 2 days earlier. Iron Levels on the west branch are running higher than the main branch. More mine acid drainage and culm bank runoff are greater on the west branch. Possible cause, mine acid drainage of sulfates gets diluted with runoff during other test dates which have a higher discharge.