Fox said for many years, the HCT has partnered with the DEP and Dietz-Gourley Consulting (DG) in acid mine drainage (AMD) passive and active remediation projects. Fox said recently, Headwaters’ partnerships and remediation efforts have expanded to acid rain impacted waters using innovative treatment and remediation approaches.
According to Fox, with this investment of Growing Greener funding to HCT, the DEP has signified its commitment and support of further investigations, identification and implementation of remediation efforts to restore acid rain impaired waters. Fox said these projects have groundbreaking potential to help reverse decades of water quality degradation in the state of Pennsylvania and nationally.
Fox said the Clarion River Headwaters project will assess, identify and develop remediation plans for the acid rain impacts in the upper Clarion River tributaries. Fox said it will lead to a series of construction remediation projects with a potential investment approaching $15MM.
In addition, Fox said the Smith Run Project, located in the Clarion Headwaters, is an acid rain remediation construction project that will be implemented in that tributary to restore Smith Run. Fox said it will help in the restoration of downstream waters in the Clarion River Watershed.
According to Fox, matching funds of $65,000 are required to move forward with these water quality projects. Fox said this conservation effort is one of the most important ones to arise in the Headwaters region since the founding of the HCT organization and will make a lasting difference to water quality in the region, Pennsylvania and beyond.
The HCT provides opportunities for corporations, small businesses and individuals to help fund important regional conservation efforts through the Headwaters Conservation Partnership. Current HCP partners include Northwest Savings Bank, CNB Bank, Atlas Energy, Dominion, EQT, Domtar, Pennsylvania Energy, and the EADS Group.
Interested companies and individuals can obtain more information about this special effort and how to support it on the HCT Web site www.headwaterspa.org or by contacting Headwaters at 814-503-8654.