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Additional information on this topic provided below. |
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Oven Run Trail Gets a Lift
Written by Guest Producer, Len Lichvar, Executive Director
of the Southern Alleghenies Conservancy
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| Carl Jones, Watershed Specialist
for the Somerset Conservation District, operates
machinery while Branden Diehl, an AmeriCorps
member with the Southern Alleghenies Conservancy
smoothes the new surface during the recent
enhancement of the Oven Run AMD project Interpretive
Trail. |
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 onservation
organizations recently worked together once again to enhance
the Oven Run abandoned mine drainage (AMD) Interpretive Trail
along Route 403 between Kantner and Hooversville in Somerset
County, PA.
 he
trail, which includes self-guided interpretive signage that
explains the AMD problems in the Stonycreek River watershed
and what is being done about them, is located at Oven Run Project
Site D also known as Oak Trail. The passive AMD treatment system
is one of six AMD abatement project sites in the area.
he
trail was originally constructed in 1997 through funds provided
by the National Trout Unlimited ‘Embrace-A-Stream’
program, as well as through funds from the local Trout Unlimited
Chapter, Mountain Laurel. Natural wear and tear over the past
few years, as well as some disturbance when the treatment system
was retrofitted with a flushing system in order to extend the
life of the system, began to erode much of the trail surface
and affect its appearance and usefulness.
he
Somerset Conservation District secured funds from the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Growing Greener
program for materials and equipment. Volunteers from the Southern
Alleghenies Conservancy, Stonycreek-Conemaugh River Improvement
Project, Mountain Laurel Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Ameri-Corps
members worked for three days to reconstruct the original integrity
and usefulness of the trail.
he
trail has paid dividends many times over through the years.
Although simplistic in design and non-technical in interpretation
visitors have come from as far away as eastern Europe and Australia
to learn about water quality improvement efforts in the Stonycreek
River Watershed. Elementary, high school and even college students
on field trips have often used the area and local, state and
federal agencies have also utilized and visited the trail as
well.
 ave
Steele, Somerset Conservation District Manager says, “We
are pleased to be able to work with many of our trusted partners
in this effort that will ensure that the positive contribution
this trail has provided in the past will continue to do so in
the future.”
he
final Oven Run Project site was completed in 2002 marking the
successful completion of an effort that was built on the creation
of public-private partnerships between businesses, agencies,
elected officials, non-profits and volunteer groups. Much of
what was initiated and proven at Oven Run was used as a model
for other similar partnership and projects throughout the bituminous
coal fields where AMD is the number one water quality impairment.
he
United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource
Conservation Service, (USDA NRCS) that has been a primary funder
of the effort through its PL-566 program reports that with 5
of the 6 sites completed prior to 2002, 111 tons or iron, 78
tons of aluminum and 886 tons of acid are being removed from
the Stonycreek River each year. Just as important, the treatment
systems are also adding 251 tons of very much needed alkalinity
to the river.
he
result has been an historic turnaround in the water chemistry
of the river. Volunteers from SCRIP verified that the river
has changed from a net acidic river to a net alkaline waterway.
Downstream locations near Carpenter’s Park that once had
very acidic pH levels of 4.5 today have pH readings of over
7 what is often found only in limestone rich watersheds.
he
impact of this has been the return of fish and other aquatic
life to stretches of the river that have been void of them for
nearly 100 years. Trout again are able to be placed and survive
year round at Hooversville and are found throughout the lower
river. SCRIP and other organizations began planting smallmouth
bass fingerlings in the river two years ago and the PA Fish
and Boat Commission will continue that effort in 2003. The comeback
of the Stonycreek is not complete but verifiable progress can
now be measured.
he
Oven Run Interpretive Trail describes the man made problems
and solutions while the Stonycreek River acts as natural living
history lesson as well as tribute to Somerset County conservationists
and their tireless efforts.
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For more information, visit these
sites:
 SCRIP
– Acid Mine Remediation Project
Southern
Alleghenies Conservancy
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