Study area

Project Title: Blue Ridge Parkway Landfill Seepage Number: VA128 Location: Near Roanoke Cooperating Agencies: National Park Service Project Chief: Donna Belval Period of Project: ????

Location of project

Problem  
An unnamed stream that runs through National Park Service (NPS) land at the Blue Ridge Parkway, VA originates at the base of an abandoned landfill.  Based on physical conditions at the stream and the lack of biologic diversity in the stream, an outflow pipe from the landfill is suspected of being a source of leachate from the landfill to the stream.  NPS would like to know more about the chemical and biologic conditions of the stream, and whether this stream may have an adverse effect on other water bodies.

Objective
To determine whether leachate from the landfill is being discharged to the stream, and if so, whether potentially harmful chemicals have been or are being released into the stream from the landfill.

Relevance and Benefits
This project furnishes hydrologic data that contributes to the protection of life and property by assessing the potential impacts on the aquatic biota in streams on National Park lands, and possible parallel impacts on the Roanoke River.

Approach
Water samples and sediment samples will be collected in the stream near the landfill, and at several points between the landfill and the Roanoke River, approximately 1/2 mile away.  Samples will be analyzed for a broad range of inorganic and organic constituents, including pesticides and PCB's.  At the same sites, species diversity will be determined, and water samples will be collected to test toxicity.  Analytical methods used will be EPA-approved methods, and chain-of-custody procedures will be followed.  Samples will be collected once at high baseflow (February-March) and once at low baseflow (July-August).