The Shade Creek Watershed, the second largest tributary to the Stonycreek River in Somerset County, is heavily impacted by five large-flow mine discharges in close proximity. Being within a close radius allows for the combined treatment of those discharges in one centralized treatment plant. The plant will restore 3.5 miles of Dark Shade Creek, 10 miles of Shade Creek, and four miles of the Stonycreek River.

A Tale of Two Watersheds

Shade Creek is formed at the confluence of the aptly named Clear Shade Creek and Dark Shade Creek. Clear Shade Creek drains much of the Gallitzin State Forest and contains stretches of Exceptional Value, High-Quality, Wild Trout, and Class A Fisheries. Dark Shade, on the other hand, was mined for coal significantly, still has operational mines, and suffers the consequences of that industry, particularly the mining that occurred before the 1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. Upon their confluence, Shade Creek is a paddler’s dream containing sections of Class IV/V rapids. The aquatic habitat through this section is also of a quality that will allow Shade Creek to be a cold-water fishing destination and economic driver for Somerset County.

The ‘Big Five’

While most of Dark Shade Creek is mined by both underground and surface means, the most significant impacts originate as drainage from five legacy underground mine entries: Reitz #4, Loyalhanna #6, Reitz #2 Upper, Reitz #2 Lower, and Reitz #1. Of those five, Reitz #4 and Loyalhanna #6 are the most impactful to Shade Creek, contributing 96 percent of the iron loading, 86 percent of the acidity loading, and 34 percent of the aluminum loading. Reitz #2 Upper is a major aluminum contributor at 22 percent. Reitz #2 Lower and Reitz #1 are smaller contributors, but can be easily captured and conveyed for added stream buffering for smaller downstream discharges.

Stonycreek River Revival

Water quality of the Stonycreek River has improved significantly over the last few decades. It has changed from a river running orange down to its confluence with the Little Conemaugh River in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, to a river prized by paddlers with more sections holding sport fishing opportunities every year – even in downtown Johnstown. Shade Creek’s abandoned mine discharge loading is one of the final issues for a successful environmental revival, which will be a contributing factor to a regional economic renaissance.

Project Results

The goal of this Phase I project is to complete investigations and data compilations that will inform the 10 percent conceptual design, as well as final design, construction, and permitting cost estimate of the centralized plant to treat the ‘Big 5’ discharges. This information and design will allow the Shade Creek Watershed Association to submit a grant application to gain funding for project completion.

Learn more about this project at shadecreekwatershed.org.

Project Details

Location:
Somerset County, PA
Owner:
Shade Creek Watershed Assocation