CLEARFIELD – The public was invited to the Clearfield Elks Wednesday night to hear a presentation concerning water quality in the area. Specifically the upper West Branch of the Susquehanna River between the state Route 879 bridge in Clearfield to just above Anderson Creek in Curwensville.
The results were compared to those taken 25 years ago in 1984.
The public meeting was made possible by the Old Town Sportsman’s Association, Trout Unlimited and the West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Coalition.
The presentation was a summarized version of a large study done by interns Aaron Furgiuele, Zeb Buck, Lori Smith and Zack Bassett. In May and August of 2008 they took water samples and studied insect and fish life at 14 locations along the upper West Branch Susquehanna water system.
“This is really a student driven research project,” said Becky Dunlap of Trout Unlimited.
The purpose of this study was to see how regulations impacted the waterways. In the audience question segment of the presentation it was also revealed that this could be used as a snap shot of water conditions to see if Marcellus Shale drilling has any impacts on the water ways.
Trout Unlimited is involved with the study on the affects of acid mine drainage due to its effects on the fish populations. Dunlap likened eastern brook trout to being like canaries in a mine shaft. When the trout begin to die out then there is something wrong with the water system.
The study checked for metals, aluminum, iron and manganese, in the water that originate from mines. This is in order of threat to the aquatic life. PH levels were also examined as well as sulfates. In general everything has improved noticeably except for sulfate levels, which aren’t regulated by the Department of Environmental Protection.
Not all locations were equally improved. Water directly below the Raftsman’s Dam in Clearfield Borough is healthy enough that fish, moderate pollution tolerant insects and clams were found. Up river near Lower Witmer Park the conditions were not as good. The still waters and compacted soil are less friendly towards insect life. Then there was Montgomery Run.
“The pH is pretty low. Near unsustainable levels,” Smith.
The pH levels found were between four and five when most fish are more at home at the less acidic levels of six and above. On the pH scale seven is neutral and the lower the pH the more acidic the water.
Overall the waterways in the area seemed to be on the route to recovery.
There were some interesting results such as sulfates in Hogback Run, which has a native brook trout population.
“Sulfates indicate coal mining. Natural waters don’t have high sulfate levels,” said Furgiuele answering an audience question about the presences of sulfates in Hogback Run when there was no mining along that water source.
As part of their study the students had the assistance of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission in the Hogback area. A total of 19 fish species were trap-netted, with smallmouth bass being the most abundant. Fish species ranged from smallmouth and rock bass to chain pickerel and bullhead catfish to suckers and panfish. While no trout were captured during trapnetting, a fisherman caught a rainbow trout in the area while trapnetting was occurring.
The audience had many questions that spread out into related fields. The group was asked if they knew of the impact from fly ash from RRI Energy’s Shawville Station. A few were concerned regarding the thermal discharge from both the coal plant and the in development Bionol Clearfield ethanol plant.
Concerning Shawville, Furgiuele explained that the plant had gotten in under the old rules, and a permit renewal was coming up that would require public comments. According to a prior Gant article the Shawville Station has been operating without a permit since the 1980s.
“It’s not going to be a repeat of Shawville. There are laws now,” said Furgiuele concerning the ethanol plant.
“I think we need to make a distinction between past mining practices and today,” said Furgiuele after some comments about how mining being a curse and a blessing.
Furgiuele stated that there had been no discharges like the old mines since DEP regulations had started being enforced.
“Coal mining is not the culprit anymore,” expanded Furgiuele.
Acid rain was still said to be a problem. Another topic discussed was the frac water from Marcellus Shale drilling, which contains salt. If allowed into the water, streams could affect the watershed in a new way.
After the presentation the West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Coalition, Trout Unlimited, was presented with a $1,000 check from the Old Town Sportsmen’s Association.
The full results of the study will be available in the future on the West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Coalition’s Web site as well as the Trout Unlimited Web site.
