| CONSERVATION DISTRICT RECEIVES GRANT TO DESIGN TREATMENT FACILITY |
The Fayette County Conservation District (FCCD) was awarded a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection Growing Greener Grant in August of 2002 to design and permit an abandoned mine drainage (AMD)
passive treatment system for discharges located along Morgan Run in Dunbar Township, Fayette County.
The Morgan Run AMD Remediation Project - Phase I, as the project is officially known, is being proposed to address
the major source of nonpoint source pollution impacting Morgan Run. This project is a collaborative effort of local
partnerships and builds on work previously done within the Youghiogheny River Basin and the Morgan Run
watershed itself.
Presently, Morgan Run is severely degraded by a reclaimed surface mine located near its headwaters. So in
essence, discharges from this site prevent Morgan Run from attaining its designated use as a high quality cold water
fishery (HQ-CWF). Therefore, remediation of the discharges from this surface mine will return the stream to its
designated use and provide additional benefits as well.
Phase I of the project will consist of the design of a fully engineered AMD treatment system, with bid package, for the
site including all necessary detailed site investigations and all required permitting. Each landowner at the site, one
public and one private, have agreed to allow all necessary activities of Phase I to be completed. Once Phase I of the
proposed project is complete, Phase II can begin. Phase II will consist of the actual construction of the treatment
system designed in Phase I and an application for Phase II funding will likely be submitted in a sub-sequent grant
round.
In 2000, the Fayette County Conservation District (FCCD) received a Growing Greener Grant to perform a watershed
assessment and restoration plan for the Morgan Run watershed. Morgan Run is an approximately 3,200 acre (5
square miles) watershed located in Dunbar Township, Fayette County.
Protection Growing Greener Grant in August of 2002 to design and permit an abandoned mine drainage (AMD)
passive treatment system for discharges located along Morgan Run in Dunbar Township, Fayette County.
The Morgan Run AMD Remediation Project - Phase I, as the project is officially known, is being proposed to address
the major source of nonpoint source pollution impacting Morgan Run. This project is a collaborative effort of local
partnerships and builds on work previously done within the Youghiogheny River Basin and the Morgan Run
watershed itself.
Presently, Morgan Run is severely degraded by a reclaimed surface mine located near its headwaters. So in
essence, discharges from this site prevent Morgan Run from attaining its designated use as a high quality cold water
fishery (HQ-CWF). Therefore, remediation of the discharges from this surface mine will return the stream to its
designated use and provide additional benefits as well.
Phase I of the project will consist of the design of a fully engineered AMD treatment system, with bid package, for the
site including all necessary detailed site investigations and all required permitting. Each landowner at the site, one
public and one private, have agreed to allow all necessary activities of Phase I to be completed. Once Phase I of the
proposed project is complete, Phase II can begin. Phase II will consist of the actual construction of the treatment
system designed in Phase I and an application for Phase II funding will likely be submitted in a sub-sequent grant
round.
In 2000, the Fayette County Conservation District (FCCD) received a Growing Greener Grant to perform a watershed
assessment and restoration plan for the Morgan Run watershed. Morgan Run is an approximately 3,200 acre (5
square miles) watershed located in Dunbar Township, Fayette County.
State Game Lands No. 51, Morgan Run
empties into the Youghiogheny River just
upstream of the city of Connellsville. Most of
the watershed is rugged mountain terrain,
mainly forested and with sparse human
habitation. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat
Commission reports indicate Morgan Run was
a viable trout fishery prior to the surface
mining done in its headwaters. The stream is
characterized as a steep gradient mountain
stream with a drop-pool nature. The stream
is quite picturesque with excellent riparian
cover that includes mature hardwoods,
hemlock and rhododendron. There is
extreme interest in restoring the stream as a
trout fishery by several local sportsmen’s
clubs including the Yough Area Fisherman’s
Association,
empties into the Youghiogheny River just
upstream of the city of Connellsville. Most of
the watershed is rugged mountain terrain,
mainly forested and with sparse human
habitation. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat
Commission reports indicate Morgan Run was
a viable trout fishery prior to the surface
mining done in its headwaters. The stream is
characterized as a steep gradient mountain
stream with a drop-pool nature. The stream
is quite picturesque with excellent riparian
cover that includes mature hardwoods,
hemlock and rhododendron. There is
extreme interest in restoring the stream as a
trout fishery by several local sportsmen’s
clubs including the Yough Area Fisherman’s
Association,
Photo 1: Topographic Map of Morgan Run Watershed
South Connellsville Rod and Gun Club, Dunbar Sportsmen’s Club and the Chestnut Ridge Trout Unlimited.
Restoring the stream as a trout fishery would provide an additional 4 miles of stream for trout fishing and
approximately $9,856 worth of recreational value being brought into Fayette County annually.
The Phase I project is an extension of both the DCNR funded Youghiogheny Rivers Conservation Plan (RCP) and
the Growing Greener funded Morgan and Jonathan Runs Watershed Assessments and Restoration Plan. The RCP
identified the study of Morgan Run as one of its management plan options. Another benefit of this proposal is that
once the AMD is addressed in Morgan Run it will also serve to improve the water quality entering both the North
Fayette Municipal Authority’s (5 miles) and the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County’s water facilities (12
miles) located downstream of the confluence of Morgan Run and the Youghiogheny River. In addition, the mouth of
the stream is located adjacent to the Youghiogheny River Rails to Trails Bike/Hike route which receives a total of
approximately 600,000 annual visitors (400,000 on the lower segment and 200,000 on the upper segment). Given
the public owner-ship and access of this stream, the recreation potential of the watershed is tremendous if the water
quality can be improved.
The overall goal of this project is to restore Morgan Run to its designated use as a high quality cold water fishery.
As a result of the proposed project, there will likely be an immediate improvement in water quality and the eventual
restoration of stream biodiversity resulting in not only a healthier watershed but also an increase in recreational
activities, predominately trout fishing.
Restoring the stream as a trout fishery would provide an additional 4 miles of stream for trout fishing and
approximately $9,856 worth of recreational value being brought into Fayette County annually.
The Phase I project is an extension of both the DCNR funded Youghiogheny Rivers Conservation Plan (RCP) and
the Growing Greener funded Morgan and Jonathan Runs Watershed Assessments and Restoration Plan. The RCP
identified the study of Morgan Run as one of its management plan options. Another benefit of this proposal is that
once the AMD is addressed in Morgan Run it will also serve to improve the water quality entering both the North
Fayette Municipal Authority’s (5 miles) and the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County’s water facilities (12
miles) located downstream of the confluence of Morgan Run and the Youghiogheny River. In addition, the mouth of
the stream is located adjacent to the Youghiogheny River Rails to Trails Bike/Hike route which receives a total of
approximately 600,000 annual visitors (400,000 on the lower segment and 200,000 on the upper segment). Given
the public owner-ship and access of this stream, the recreation potential of the watershed is tremendous if the water
quality can be improved.
The overall goal of this project is to restore Morgan Run to its designated use as a high quality cold water fishery.
As a result of the proposed project, there will likely be an immediate improvement in water quality and the eventual
restoration of stream biodiversity resulting in not only a healthier watershed but also an increase in recreational
activities, predominately trout fishing.
| RASLER RUN COLDWATER CONSERVATION PLAN |
The Fayette County Conservation District (FCCD) was awarded a $5,000.00 grant from the Coldwater
Heritage Partnership to complete a coldwater conservation plan on Rasler Run in Springfield Township.
Rasler Run is an approximately 4,442 acre watershed within the scenic Indian Creek Gorge. A third order
stream and a tributary to Indian Creek, Rasler Run enters Indian Creek just west of Normalville. The Rasler
Run Watershed is bisected by Route 711 and is largely comprised of wooded areas mixed with some
meadow and farmland.
Heritage Partnership to complete a coldwater conservation plan on Rasler Run in Springfield Township.
Rasler Run is an approximately 4,442 acre watershed within the scenic Indian Creek Gorge. A third order
stream and a tributary to Indian Creek, Rasler Run enters Indian Creek just west of Normalville. The Rasler
Run Watershed is bisected by Route 711 and is largely comprised of wooded areas mixed with some
meadow and farmland.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) re-
designated Rasler Run as a Naturally Reproducing Class A
Wild Rainbow Trout Fishery in 1999. This re-designation
was issued after the PFBC completed a stream survey
documenting the physical, chemical and biological resources
of Rasler Run. The stream survey was initiated after the
PFBC received information from a local landowner and an
angler who indicated that they were catching what appeared
to be wild rainbow trout. Due to its re-designation, Rasler
Run was automatically upgraded from a cold water fishery
(CWF) to a high quality cold water fishery (HQ-CWF) in the
state’s Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) re-
designated Rasler Run as a Naturally Reproducing Class A
Wild Rainbow Trout Fishery in 1999. This re-designation
was issued after the PFBC completed a stream survey
documenting the physical, chemical and biological resources
of Rasler Run. The stream survey was initiated after the
PFBC received information from a local landowner and an
angler who indicated that they were catching what appeared
to be wild rainbow trout. Due to its re-designation, Rasler
Run was automatically upgraded from a cold water fishery
(CWF) to a high quality cold water fishery (HQ-CWF) in the
state’s Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards.
designated Rasler Run as a Naturally Reproducing Class A
Wild Rainbow Trout Fishery in 1999. This re-designation
was issued after the PFBC completed a stream survey
documenting the physical, chemical and biological resources
of Rasler Run. The stream survey was initiated after the
PFBC received information from a local landowner and an
angler who indicated that they were catching what appeared
to be wild rainbow trout. Due to its re-designation, Rasler
Run was automatically upgraded from a cold water fishery
(CWF) to a high quality cold water fishery (HQ-CWF) in the
state’s Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) re-
designated Rasler Run as a Naturally Reproducing Class A
Wild Rainbow Trout Fishery in 1999. This re-designation
was issued after the PFBC completed a stream survey
documenting the physical, chemical and biological resources
of Rasler Run. The stream survey was initiated after the
PFBC received information from a local landowner and an
angler who indicated that they were catching what appeared
to be wild rainbow trout. Due to its re-designation, Rasler
Run was automatically upgraded from a cold water fishery
(CWF) to a high quality cold water fishery (HQ-CWF) in the
state’s Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards.
Photo of Rasler Run
The FCCD goals in completing a Coldwater Conservation Plan on Rasler Run were to develop a clearer
picture of the threats to this watershed and to create an appropriate conservation/protection plan, including
the definition of any additional detailed studies that might be necessary.
The following is a partial list of recommendations derived from the plan:
- conduct a complete watershed assessment with 13 months of water quality sampling,
- identification of headwater streams which could be placed into easements,
- identification & development of areas for fishing (improved access, etc.),
- identification & coordination of abandoned mine lands for re-planting with trees & shrubs,
- creation of wildlife management plans for abandoned mine lands.
Complete recommendations from the plan are available for review at the conservation district office.
The FCCD had several project partners in this endeavor including the Mountain Watershed Association
(MWA), the Chestnut Ridge Chapter of Trout Unlimited, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s Watershed Assistance Center.
Work on the coldwater conservation plan began in July 2003 and was completed in March 2005.
The FCCD looks forward to partnering with the MWA and others to implement recommendations from the
plan.
If you would like information on the Rasler Run Coldwater Conservation Plan, feel free to contact Heather
Fowler or Alex Genovese of the Fayette County Conservation District at (724) 438-4497.
picture of the threats to this watershed and to create an appropriate conservation/protection plan, including
the definition of any additional detailed studies that might be necessary.
The following is a partial list of recommendations derived from the plan:
- conduct a complete watershed assessment with 13 months of water quality sampling,
- identification of headwater streams which could be placed into easements,
- identification & development of areas for fishing (improved access, etc.),
- identification & coordination of abandoned mine lands for re-planting with trees & shrubs,
- creation of wildlife management plans for abandoned mine lands.
Complete recommendations from the plan are available for review at the conservation district office.
The FCCD had several project partners in this endeavor including the Mountain Watershed Association
(MWA), the Chestnut Ridge Chapter of Trout Unlimited, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s Watershed Assistance Center.
Work on the coldwater conservation plan began in July 2003 and was completed in March 2005.
The FCCD looks forward to partnering with the MWA and others to implement recommendations from the
plan.
If you would like information on the Rasler Run Coldwater Conservation Plan, feel free to contact Heather
Fowler or Alex Genovese of the Fayette County Conservation District at (724) 438-4497.