Table of Contents
This is the most comprehensive subcategory in the Knowledge Base. It covers all three monitoring disciplines — biological, chemical, and physical — along with the chemistry foundations needed to interpret AMD water quality data. Whether you are a volunteer monitor, conservation district staff, or technical practitioner, start here.
Monitoring Disciplines #
| Article | What you’ll learn |
| Water Quality & Water Pollution | Foundational concepts for understanding water quality in AMD-affected streams |
| Biological Monitoring Overview | Using macroinvertebrates and fish to assess stream health affected by AMD |
| AMD Chemistry Intro | Introduction to the chemistry of acid mine drainage — essential context for all chemical monitoring |
| Chemical Parameter Guides | Individual articles on alkalinity, acidity, pH, iron, aluminum, manganese, sulfates, DO, and more |
| Physical Monitoring Overview | Flow measurement, weirs, temperature, and visual observations in AMD streams |
Chemistry Foundations #
New to AMD chemistry? Read these in order before diving into individual parameter guides:
- AMD Chemistry Intro — overview of AMD chemistry concepts
- Acids, Bases and pH — how pH works in acidic drainage
- Pyrite Reactions — the chemical reaction at the source of AMD
- Buffering — why some streams resist acidification and others don’t
- Ferrous/Ferric Iron — iron chemistry in AMD treatment and monitoring
- Neutralizing Acid — how treatment systems raise pH
- Removing Metals — how treatment systems remove iron, aluminum, and manganese
Related Resources & Data #
- SRBC Mine Drainage Portal — searchable chemical data from mine drainage sources (Resource Library)
- Data Hub — real-time monitoring data and GIS tools for your watershed
Questions? Ask in the Forums #
Post monitoring questions in the Monitoring and Methods forum. For equipment or protocol questions, try Technical Help.
| Source: AML-Connect / EPCAMR | Last Reviewed: March 2026 | Forum: /community/forums/monitoring-and-methods/ |
