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.
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.
| FAYETTE COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT |
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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,
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, 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.
local sportsmen’s clubs including the Yough Area Fisherman’s Association, 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.
| CONSERVATION DISTRICT RECEIVES GRANT TO DESIGN TREATMENT FACILITY |
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.
| RASLER RUN COLDWATER CONSERVATION PLAN |
Photo of Rasler Run
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
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
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.
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.
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.