This panel will include presentations about the work non-profits do to restore watersheds in east and west PA—pitfalls and problems; planning for the future; paying for it; who should be implementing the work; who should commit to it; and why it is so difficult to follow our plans. Will Pennsylvania’s resurrected streams stay that way?

1. Mountain Watershed Association
home of the

2. WHO ARE WE?
• Community-based grassroots organization
• Formed around a kitchen table in March of 1994
• Over 1,000 members
• 6 Full-time staff + 2 AmeriCorps Members
• Elected Volunteer Board of Directors
• Committee Structure
• Home of the Youghiogheny Riverkeeper
Protecting, conserving and restoring…

3. What We Do
MINE DRAINAGE
REMEDIATION
COMMUNITY
OUTREACH,
EDUCATION, &
ADVOCACY
WATER MONITORING
ENHANCE
RECREATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES

4. Community Outreach & Activism

5. Community
Information
Sessions

6. Proposed Rustic Ridge Deep Mine
120 PEOPLE ATTENDED A PUBLIC
MEETING EXPRESSING
OPPOSITION TO THE MINE

7. ACTIVE MINING

8. Marcellus Citizens Stewardship Project
Photos Provided By: Josh Whetzel

9. Drinking Water Contamination

10. Annual Membership Meeting
Annual Banquet
Children’s Fishing Day & Duck Race
Cleanup Events
Wildflower Walk
Scenic Film Festival
Yough Defense Party
EVENTSANNUAL EVENTSS

11. LONG TERM NON-PROFIT PLANNING

12. MWA PLANS
Indian Creek Watershed
Comprehensive Plan (1998)
PL-566 Watershed Plan and
Environmental Assessment (2000)
Indian Creek River Conservation Plan (2001)
Watershed Assessment Report Upper Indian Creek
Watershed, Westmoreland County, PA (2004)
Hydrology and Hydraulic Report Mill Run-Reach 15
Stream Restoration (2004)
Biological Monitoring Data Report, Indian Creek,
Donegal Township, Westmoreland County (2008)

13. Indian Creek Valley Hike-Bike Trail Feasibility Study
(2009)
Indian Creek Valley Municipal Authority Source Water
Protection Plan (2012)
Mountain Watershed Association
Operation, Maintenance, and
Replacement Plan (2013)
Qualified Hydraulic Unit Plan
MWA PLANS

14. COMMITMENT OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
SUPPORT IN RESTORATION

15. WHY FUNDING IS NEEDED

16. MORE REASONS FUNDING IS NEEDED

17. Sagamore Treatment System

18. Kalp Treatment System

19. Gallentine Treatment System

20. Melcroft Treatment System

21. Permapress Treatment
System

22. Marsolino Site

23. MWA IS WORKING WITH REDMEDIA
TECHNOLOGY FOR THIS DISCHARGE
Rondell Site
NEW TECHNOLOGY
IS AVAILABLE THAT
HAS THE
POTENTIAL
TO TREAT THE
RONDELL
DISCHARGE

24. WHY OMR FUNDING IS NEEDED

26. ESTABLISHING A TRUST FUND
HOW MUCH MONEY IS
NEEDED TO START A TRUST
FUND?
SHOULD WE ESTABLISH A
TRADITIONAL TRUST FUND OR
ARE THERE OTHER
ALTERNATIVES?
WHAT ANNUAL COSTS AND
FEES ARE INVOLVED?
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO
EARN ENOUGH MONEY TO
UTILIZE THE FUND?

27. PAID STAFF
- INCREASED COST
+ STATE RECOGNIZES DATA AND
DATA CAN BE USED IN COURT OF
LAW IF NEEDED
+ EXPERTISE TO MAKE DESCISONS
AND RESPOND QUICKLY TO
MAINTENANCE ISSUES
+CONSISTENCY
MONITORING & MAINTENANCE
+ UPDATED ON LATEST
TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE
VOLUNTEERS
+ DECREASED COST
- ALTHOUGH VALUABLE STATE
DOESN’T RECOGNIZE DATA AS
A VALID SOURCE
- SLOW TO RESPOND TO
MAINTENANCE ISSUES DUE TO
TIME CONSTRAINTS, LACK OF
EXPERTISE OR CONSENSUS
NEEDED
- INCONISISTENT MAYBE A
VARIETY OF PEOPLE ALL WHO
NEED TRAINING
PAID STAFF VS/AND VOLUNTEERS

28. Water Sampling
MWA Collects 600
Water Samples Annually:
Mine Drainage Treatment Systems
300 samples at 5 locations
Discharge Sites
48 samples at 3 locations
Champion Creek
104 samples at 8 locations
Youghiogheny Quarterly Monitoring
72 samples at 18 locations
Swimmable Waters Project
60 samples at 15 locations

29. MWA IS IN THE PROCESS OF
SETTING UP AN IN-HOUSE
LABORATORY FOR
PROCESSING BACTERIA
WATER SAMPLES

30. Macroinvertebrate Monitoring

31. Dataloggers
THIS GRAPH SHOWS THE TYPICAL RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN LEVEL AND CONDUCTIVITY AND IS
WHAT OUR STAFF LOOKS FOR WHEN ANALYZING
THE DATALOGGER DATA THAT WE HAVE FOR THE
21 LOGGERS DEPLOYED IN THE INDIAN CREEK
AND YOUGHIOGHENY RIVER WATERSHEDS

32. Indian Creek Valley Trail

33. Youghiogheny River Trail Manager
Priorities:
• South Connellsville river access
• Updated & reprinted trail maps
• Increased camping opportunities

34. ACCURATE TRACKING OF RESOURCES
(VALUE OF OUR WORK)
PHOTO OF INDIAN CREEK BEFORE
RESTORATION
SAME SEGMENT OF INDIAN CREEK
TODAY AFTER RESTORATION EFFORTS

35. CLASHING FUNDING CRITERIA

36. CONFLICTING GRANT CYCLES
REQUIRED MATCH, HOW MUCH???
WHAT MATCHES WHAT? WHEN?
UNREALISTIC
EXPECTATIONS?

37. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
TOO COMPLICATED
MILLIONS SPENT ON AMD WHILE 8 STREAMS
IRREPARABLY HARMED FROM 2010-2014 DUE
TO UNDERGROUND MINING. IN ADDITION NEW
DISCHARGES CAUSED.
RESTRICTED USE OF FUNDING, SUCH AS FOR
ENGINEERING.

38. Government Intrusiveness
ON FUNDRAISING
Micromanaging roles &
regulations makes it hard
for small groups to raise
$$
Small Games of Chance ON VOLUNTEERS
Confusing regulations on
clearances
• Who needs them?
• When are they needed?

39. Mountain Watershed Association
Home of the Youghiogheny Riverkeeper
PO Box 408/1414-B ICV Road
Melcroft PA 15462
(724) 455-4200
www.mtwatershed.com