 Despite
abundant forests and protected land in the headwaters and natural areas
throughout its middle section, the Loyalhanna Creek Watershed is impacted by a
series of challenges. Current challenges include abandoned mine drainage,
sedimentation as a result of erosion, and monitoring for potential pollution
effects from Marcellus Shale gas exploration. Each poses a different problem
with a different solution. LWA is involved in projects that are working to
address each of those challenges.
Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD)
 Most
of the Loyalhanna Creek Watershed is underlain with the Pittsburgh coal seam,
which is part of the Monangahela formation. This seam of coal was heavily mined
in the late 1800s and the early 1900s. Communities throughout the area appeared
where coalmines were located. By the 1920s, coal resources were depleted and
many mines were abandoned. Water was left to fill and drain from the mines. It
is this draining water that created, and continues to create, water pollution
problems in the Loyalhanna Creek Watershed.
The formation of AMD occurs when rocks in the abandoned mines are exposed to
water and oxygen. Through a series of chemical reactions, minerals from the
exposed rocks are dissolved and carried with the water out of the mine. Because
of the reactions that occur, the water draining from the mines can be very
acidic (pH 2.0-5.0) or close to neutral (pH 6.0-7.0). It will also carry with it
different metals in different concentrations. The most common metals found in
the Loyalhanna Creek tributaries are iron and aluminum. The characteristics of
the AMD will vary depending upon the geology and hydrology of the area from
which it originates. To learn more about the chemistry of AMD, visit the Western
PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation Website at
www.amrclearinghouse.org.
Current AMD Treatment systems maintained by LWA include:
Upper Latrobe AMD Treatment Project
A $500,000 Growing Greener II project, the construction of a full-scale passive
treatment system, was completed in 2010. Located on four acres of ground in the
heart of Latrobe, PA, this project involved the design and construction of three
large settling ponds and an expansive wetland area to allow for natural
filtration of the metals contained in a 500 gallon per minute AMD discharge. A
unique aspect of the project involved the pre-planning of sludge removal for
future operation and maintenance cost savings. System Design: Iron Oxide
Recovery, Inc., Robert Hedin. System Construction: C.M. Construction, Larry
Roskiak.
Saxman Run AMD Treatment and Hydroelectric Project
In 2005, LWA began an innovative project to develop a system that will collect
the AMD flow from the Upper Saxman Run discharge, and convey it through a 1,800
foot pipeline to a site near the Latrobe Wastewater Treatment Plant. At the end
of the pipeline, the water passes through a micro-hydroturbine where it
generates approximately 3 kW of electricity. The electricity is used in a
localized process, and powers an existing AMD system operated by Saint Vincent
College that is currently treating a small portion of another nearby discharge.
The first of its kind in the state of Pennsylvania, and likely the eastern
United States, this project has faced many obstacles, but was completed in June
2010. System Design: Paul C. Rizzo Associates. System Construction: R & L
Development Company, Inc., Rich Myers.
Friedline Mine Successive Alkalinity Producing System at Powdermill
Nature Reserve
Constructed in 1997, LWA worked in collaboration with Carnegie Museum of Natural
History’s Powdermill Nature Reserve to construct this pilot system to treat a
small, acidic AMD discharge stemming from an old house coal mine located at the
former Friedline Mine Site on the Reserve.
For more information on any of these systems, contact the LWA Project Manager.
Erosion/Sedimentation
Erosion is a common problem throughout the entire Loyalhanna Creek Watershed. It
occurs where water has the ability to scour away at exposed soil, and will carry
it to alternate locations. The speed of water and amount of plant cover or
vegetation both influence the rate and severity of erosion. Sedimentation occurs
when excess solids enter waterways due to stream bank erosion, road run-off and
soil loss from agricultural areas.
 Many streamside landowners have removed streamside vegetation, thus enabling
stream bank erosion to occur. Plants and trees growing along stream banks hold
soil in place and slow the velocity of flowing water. It is critical to ensure
that stream banks are covered with adequate vegetation to help prevent erosion
and sedimentation on the stream bottom.
The presence of excess sediment on stream bottoms can cause a variety of
problems for aquatic life. It coats habitat and food sources that are critical
for fish and insects living within the stream. In addition, sediment will often
be deposited in areas that are not convenient causing waterways to seek
alternate routes. This may cause flooding or other challenges.
Working with a coalition of organizations, including Forbes Trail Trout
Unlimited, PA Fish and Boat Commission, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, and
Westmoreland Conservation District, LWA has successfully implemented over 20
streambank restoration projects throughout the upper and middle Loyalhanna Creek
Watershed. Projects involve the construction of rootwads, rock and log vanes,
and sawtooth deflectors to restore the damaged banks to reduce sedimentation,
while creating stream habitat for fish and other inhabitants. For more
information on any of these projects, or to report an erosion concern on your
property, contact the LWA Project Manager.
Marcellus Shale Gas Exploration
To Review LWA's
Policy on Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Drilling that was adopted June 21, 2011,
click here.
 LWA
is part of the Laurel Highlands Marcellus Shale Monitoring Project, a
collaborative effort with the Conemaugh Valley Conservancy, Kiski-Conemaugh
Stream Team, Mountain Watershed Association and Somerset Conservation District.
As the number of Marcellus shale well sites rapidly increases across our region,
we want to protect the waterways near drilling sites, as well as the over 2,500
miles of streams flowing throughout the Loyalhanna Creek Watershed. One step to
monitor water is to install Solinst dataloggers downstream from Marcellus well
sites; these data loggers will take readings of water temperature, water level
and conductivity, 24/7.
This program is made possible through funding by the Colcom and Katherine Mabis
McKenna Foundations. Data logger locations will not be publicized, but
monitoring results will be posted bi-weekly on our Website - stay posted for
more information.
LWA is partnering with Carnegie Mellon University
graduate, Dan Hussain, and his company, HydroConfidence, on his project to
develop and field test a prototype of a system to monitor groundwater systems
for possible methane migration from Marcellus wells. This project is made
possible by a grant from the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds. For
more information visit:
http://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2011/december/dec12_shalegasstartup.html
Additionally, the CREATE lab
at Carnegie Mellon launched an effort with LWA to pilot a "WaterBot" prototype
monitor to measure the effects of Marcellus
Shale Drilling on the streams, lakes and rivers in a cost-effective manner.
For more information visit:
http://create.posterous.com/create-pilots-waterbot-with-loyalhanna-waters
Stream Data
Click on the links below to review collected stream/macroinvertebrate data in
Acrobat PDF format.
Adelphoi Village Pipe Discharge
Crabtree Discharge
Friedline Mine System Inflow
Friedline Mine System Outflow
Upper Latrobe System Inflow
Upper Latrobe System Outflow
Lower Saxman Discharge
Upper Saxman Discharge
Unity Discharge
West Derry Discharge |
