Harrisburg, PA–(May 6, 2010)

Contact Tom Rathbun, PADEP at 717-787-1323

Twenty years of coordinated efforts to restore life to the West Branch Susquehanna River in north-central Pennsylvania have led to marked improvements in water quality, as well increases in fish populations and diversity that are detailed in a benchmark study released by Trout Unlimited, in cooperation with PADEP, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, and an alliance of approximately 30 watershed associations, conservation districts, and local businesses comprising the West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Coalition.  Final results of the benchmark study will be released in the fall.

The West Branch Susquehanna River is the centerpiece of the Pennsylvania Wilds, yet more than 1,000 miles of this majestic river and its tributaries are sterile or badly degraded from mine drainage and pollution from thousands of acres of abandoned mine sites. However, a renaissance has begun, and we are seeing measurable results that are leading to recreational and economic opportunities that will benefit the entire state.

–J. Scott Roberts, DEP’s deputy secretary for Mineral Resources Management

The study compares chemical and biological conditions of the Susquehanna from the mid-1980s to 2009, finding dramatic improvements in water quality with a 72 percent reduction in iron and an 87 percent reduction in aluminum in Clearfield County.  Alkaline treatment of mine discharges has significantly reduced acidity levels in the river, while pH has steadily increased from 3.9 in 1984 — a toxic level for most aquatic life — to 6.4 last year.

A 1998 fishery survey in Clinton County found only three species in the West Branch, contrasted with surveys from 2009 that found 16 species at this location and a 3,000 percent increase in catch rates.  Overall, researchers assessed water quality and habitat data at 11 sites on the river and at the mouth of 69 mine-drainage-impaired tributaries.  Fish populations were assessed at nine sites.

This remarkable progress is the direct result of cooperation among government, the mining industry and the environmental community to seek out innovative and cost-effective ways to reclaim old mine sites and treat historic mine discharges. Under Governor Rendell’s leadership, we have created the Mine Drainage Trust Fund to finance systems that will treat some of the most significant mine discharges in the watershed and restore water quality in the headwater of the West Branch, as well as Clearfield Creek and the Bennett Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek.

–J. Scott Roberts, DEP’s deputy secretary for Mineral Resources Management

PADEP has committed significant resources to restoring the West Branch Susquehanna River, including:

• $73 million in Growing Greener grants to watershed groups and local governments for 620 projects;
• $14 million through 63 bond-forfeiture projects that have reclaimed 1,131 acres of abandoned mines;
• More than $50 million in Abandoned Mine Reclamation contracts to reclaim 2,357 acres; and
• $2.1 million to plug 115 abandoned natural gas wells in four counties in the watershed.

For more information, visit  www.wbsrc.org.

admin Announcements, Chesapeake Bay acid mine drainage, Chesapeake Bay, clean water, fish habitat, Nonpoint source pollution, Susquehanna River, water quality

In the wake of PA DEPs new budget cutbacks, our understanding is that PA DEP officials are still evaluating how the massive budget cuts are going to impact specific DEP programs.  A revised detailed budget hasn’t been released by DEP, and many critical questions remain.

StormwaterPA is not clear, for example, what the apparent deletion of the “stormwater” line item means for the total stormwater program.  Are we looking at the elimination of any 167 planning matches, or something far more  severe?  We have been told that optional projects such as the BMP Manual Revision Committee, which has been described and discussed in this blog in recent weeks, are no longer being supported by PA DEP staff, offices, and budgets, although sub-group meetings are continuing (more discussion on this below).

In the midst of so many stormwater-related program changes from Chapter 102 to MS4/NPDES Phase II to the BMP Manual itself, impacts of budget cutbacks and staff reductions would seem especially dangerous…

Status of the BMP Manual Revision and Activities of sub-group Committee

The nine sub-groups designated by PA DEP as part of the Manual Revision Committee will continue to meet, though in an unofficial capacity with no guarantees that any of their work or recommendations will have an impact on the Manual as it currently reads.

StormwaterPA  welcomes any news that results from these efforts and is more than happy to provide a forum for discussion.  Write to us, Sub-Group Scribes, so we can keep all stakeholders informed! You can email us at info@stormwaterpa.org

As an example of what may come out of these meetings: we attended the recent (October 27) Capture and Re-Use sub-Group meeting outside of Allentown (Newton Engineering Group offices) ,where the discussion was far-reaching and explored the concept of adding another technology, spray irrigation, to this BMP itself or to the broader BMP list.

The DEP regional office and other sub-group members described extensive use of spray irrigation as a technique for stormwater volume control, especially in areas such as super-sensitive mined lands where infiltration BMPs for volume control could entail serious groundwater problems (i.e., increased acid mine drainage).  Clearly, Pennsylvania has large areas where such groundwater sensitivities exist and where a spray BMP could provide a useful stormwater management answer.  Though the Capture and Re-Use Sub-Group has yet to compile its recommendations for forwarding to DEP, this is an interesting example of adding to the Manual and making it more comprehensive…

admin BMP Manual Revision acid mine drainage, Act 167, BMPs, capture and reuse, groundwater contamination, MS4, NPDES, PA BMP Manual, PA DEP, spray irrigation, stormwater best management practices, volume control