Ecological Principles for Landscape Design Essay

Ecological Principles for Landscape Design - Essay Example The effects of a compromised water surface quality impair the aquatic ecosystems, public health issues become a threat and the remediation process is a burden on the entire community. Many parties became involved in the development of a resolution including the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, private citizens, outside consulting firms, academia, scientists and geologist’s, and advocacy groups (Snowden). In response the solution involved the removal and transfer of 600,000 tons of material from one of the acid rock formations- Bald Eagle Sandstone- to a nearby treatment area designated the Excavated Rock Placement Area located just below Sky Top (Snowden). The discovery of acidic rock material along the 1-99 area was first discussed and began being explored in 2002 when there was exposure at Bald Eagle Mountain. This area where much of the Sky Top Mountain drainage occurs has been the subject of studies for as far back as the 1970’s.Several agencies are on public record as expressing concern about the potential creation of acidic rock drainage if the bedrock were to come into contact with rain water. There was also concern for the potential damage to groundwater and surface water. Excavated rock was crushed and used locally as road base before the nature of this rock was understood and it was only a very short time before surface and groundwater runoff began raising concerns. Pyrite is a mineral that can cause extremely low PH levels and very acidic water.