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.
Sulfates are slightly lower during cold weather.
The west branch runs slightly higher than the main branch. Probable cause, more mine acid drainage on this branch. Mine acid drainage and culm bank runoff have to be neutralized. Again, mine acid drainage and culm bank runoff is increasing the hardness. Beginning flow flushes excessive amounts into the river and then the remaining runoff flow acts as a diluting agent.