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A Decade of Progress for the West Branch Susquehanna

Restoration Initiative2004-2014

 

Amy WolfeTrout Unlimited

Director Eastern Abandoned Mine Program &

PA Eastern Brook Trout Habitat InitiativeJune 2014

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Mission

To conserve, protect, and restore North America's coldwater fisheries and

their watersheds.

PROTECT RECONNECT RESTORE SUSTAIN

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Celebrating 55 years!

www.tu.org

>150,000 members 400+ chapters 200+ staff 30 offices nationwide

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West Branch Susquehanna Watershed

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West Branch Susquehanna Watershed

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Target Species Brook Trout – Using the Conservation Success Index to Prioritize our Projects

www.tu.org/csi

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www.tu.org/csi

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Target Species Brook Trout –

Population Integrity

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Target Species Brook Trout –

Habitat Integrity

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Target Species Brook Trout – Conservation

Strategy

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West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Initiative - The Beginning2002-2003

We are going to restore the West Branch or else!

2004

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West Branch Susquehanna River Task ForceMission

To restore water resources impacted by abandoned mine lands and mine drainage within the West Branch Susquehanna River basin, ultimately improving the quality of life for those

living in and visiting the watershed.

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Goal #1. Develop a comprehensive assessment and restoration plan for the West Branch Susquehanna watershed, with a primary focus on abandoned mine lands and mine drainage.

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Goal #2. Provide support and technical assistance for efforts to address AMD within the West Branch Susquehanna watershed, with an initial emphasis on the completion of projects underway in the Bennett Branch Sinnemahoning and Kettle Creek watersheds.

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Goal #2. Provide support and technical assistance for efforts to address AMD within the West Branch Susquehanna watershed, with an initial emphasis on the completion of projects underway in the Bennett Branch Sinnemahoning and Kettle Creek watersheds.

Trout Unlimited AMD Technical Assistance SRBC Mine Drainage Portal

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Goal #2. Provide support and technical assistance for efforts to address AMD within the West Branch Susquehanna watershed, with an initial emphasis on the completion of projects underway in the Bennett Branch Sinnemahoning and Kettle Creek watersheds.

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Goal #2. Provide support and technical assistance for efforts to address AMD within the West Branch Susquehanna watershed, with an initial emphasis on the completion of projects underway in the Bennett Branch Sinnemahoning and Kettle Creek watersheds.

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Goal #3. Build public support within the West Branch Susquehanna watershed for a broad restoration effort.

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Goal #4. Secure adequate funding to carry out a West Branch restoration initiative.

Since 2004 more than $113 million has been invested by DEP and other state and federal agencies, Foundation for PA Watersheds,

private industry, and others on land reclamation and water treatment.

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West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Coalition

MissionTo promote public awareness and stimulate efforts to restore water

resources impacted by AML and AMD within the West Branch Susquehanna River basin, ultimately improving the quality of life for

those living in and visiting the watershed.

21 volunteer/conservation organizations 21 TU chapters

8 county conservation districts1 municipality10 businesses

61 WBSRC membersand 1 supporting organization (not MOU signatory)

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Goal #1. Build local grassroots and public support through positive educational efforts.

Water: An Endangered

Resource

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Goal #2. Provide a forum for the communication and exchange of information on restoration activities within the watershed.

www.wbsrc.org

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Goal #3. Promote public awareness of the economic benefits of restoration efforts.

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•16 additional sites

West Branch Susquehanna Recovery Benchmark Project Data Collected in 2009

•55 at trib mouths•12 river sites

Data collected:

water qualityaquatic insects

fishstream habitat

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Red indicates value is outside of DEP water quality criteria levels

pH Iron (mg/L) Aluminum (mg/L)Spring - 1984 4.6 0.74 0.9Summer - 1984 3.8 0.19 2.1Spring - 2009 6.6 0.2 0.21Summer - 2009 6.3 0.06 0.07

% Reduction - Spring 73% 77%

% Reduction - Summer 68% 97%

West Branch Susquehanna River at Renovo

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Fish

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• Natural attenuation

• Remining and reclamation

• Better permitting for mining projects

• Passive and active treatment systems

West Branch Susquehanna Recovery Benchmark Conclusions

Water quality and biological improvements can be attributed to a combination of:

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Natural Attenuation vs. Treatment

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Continuing with the success…

• Prioritize, assess, re-prioritize, plan, and implement projects in unaddressed watersheds• Monitor recovery• Celebrate accomplishments• Maintain existing treatment systems• Protect from other sources of degradation• Maintain funding (Title IV AML Fund Expires in 2021…we have to start thinking about that now!)

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All 60+ members of the WBSRCAll members of the West

Branch Susquehanna River Task Force

A BIG Thank You to:

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American Fisheries Society President’s Fishery Conservation Award (Seattle, WA - 2011)

Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence (Harrisburg, PA - 2012)

Pennsylvania WILDS Award (St. Mary’s, PA - 2012)

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Thank you!

Amy G. WolfeTrout Unlimited

Director Eastern Abandoned Mine Program &

PA Eastern Brook Trout Habitat Initiative

awolfe@tu.org

570.786.9562