rom that point on, Gracie never rested. She made phone calls, wrote letters, and worked with reporters to highlight flooding problems in the area. She founded a citizens' group in 1996 and spearheaded tours of government officials to assess damage in the Shoup's Run Area.

or two years she served as an advocate for streambank restoration, and in 1998, her citizens' group went on to become the Shoup's Run Watershed Association. She invited her neighbors along Shoup's Run, DEP Watershed Management from Harrisburg, local and county government officials, representatives from the Huntingdon Co. Conservation Office, and other environmental organizations such as the Chesapeake Bay Authority, the Juniata Clean Water Partnership, and WPCAMR. With a constitution in hand, a mission statement, bylaws, objectives, and elected officers, the Shoup's Run Watershed Association was ready to literally "cleanup" the watershed and improve the water quality.

n the last three years, under Gracie's leadership, Shoup's Run Watershed Association has been extremely successful in accomplishing many of its initial goals, with many more goals yet to be realized. The Association has obtained over a million dollars worth of grants for the area-grants to finance streambank restoration, water monitoring equipment, a flood mitigation study, a fluvial geomorphologic study, and in the near future, a passive treatment system to cleanup the acid mine drainage and restore aquatic life to a tributary in the Kenrock Area.

racie is looking forward to Brook Trout thriving in the Miller Run tributary that currently is being affected by acidity coming from drainage from old mine openings. With the help of a Growing Greener Grant, a passive treatment involving limestone sand will be designed and put into operation to help add alkalinity to the water and allow fish that are at the mouth of the stream to be restored to a three-mile section of Miller Run.

racie also visualizes a time when streams that disappear in the Wood Area and enter Shoup's Run as acid mine drainage from an underground mining complex, known as the "Dudley Discharge", will be alleviated by rerouting the water back to Trough Creek and treating the remaining water before it enters Shoup's Run.

houp's Run is currently working with the Army Corps of Engineers on a flood protection project in the Coalmont/Middletown Section of the watershed. The project was made possible through a $645,000 grant obtained through the efforts of former Congressman Bud Shuster. When the Association went looking for money to help with flood protection, the project would involve more than just applying for a grant. The Association carried petitions, wrote to congressmen, and worked to have the law changed that would allow the Army Corps to work on smaller projects in rural areas. Through the efforts of Congressman Shuster, Act 581 was changed, the grant money was allocated, and many residents' homes were saved. Upon completion of the project, many residents can nowlook forward to the safety of their homes in the event of another flood.

he Shoup's Run Flood Protection Project should be a reality in the next year or so, and another goal will be met, but the Association also feels that as long as acid mine drainage continues to enter Shoup's Run, water quality and aquatic life will suffer, as well as recreation and tourism. The improvement of water quality will not only enhance the aquatic life of Shoup's Run and its tributaries, but will also improve the quality of water flowing into the Raystown Lake, the Juniata River, and ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay.

To use a quote that was brought to our attention by the Susquehanna River Basin Commission:
"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world because indeed that's all that ever do."—Margaret Mead

GRACIE ANGELO is one of these caring people, and indeed she can help change the world, and not only her world, but also the world of generations to come.



See past Watershed Heroes here!