Mountain Watershed Association home of the

WHO ARE WE?• Community-based grassroots organization• Formed around a kitchen table in March of 1994• Over 1,000 members• 6 Full-time staff + 2 AmeriCorps Members• Elected Volunteer Board of Directors• Committee Structure• Home of the Youghiogheny Riverkeeper

Protecting, conserving and restoring…

What We DoMINE DRAINAGE

REMEDIATION

COMMUNITY OUTREACH,

EDUCATION, & ADVOCACY

WATER MONITORING

ENHANCE RECREATIONAL

OPPORTUNITIES

Community Outreach & Activism

Community Information

Sessions

Proposed Rustic Ridge Deep Mine

120 PEOPLE ATTENDED A PUBLIC MEETING EXPRESSING

OPPOSITION TO THE MINE

ACTIVE MINING

Marcellus Citizens Stewardship Project

Photos Provided By: Josh Whetzel

Drinking Water Contamination

Annual Membership Meeting

Annual Banquet

Children’s Fishing Day & Duck Race

Cleanup Events

Wildflower Walk

Scenic Film Festival

Yough Defense Party

EVENTSANNUAL EVENTSS

LONG TERM NON-PROFIT PLANNING

WATERSHED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

RIVER/WATERSHED

CONSERVATION PLANWATERSHED ASSESSMENTSHYDROLOGICAL UNIT PLAN

PL 566 WATERSHED PLAN

& ENVIRONMENTAL

ASSESSMENT

STRATEGIC PLANS

OPERATION, MAINTENANCE, AND

REPLACEMENT PLANS

MWA PLANSIndian Creek Watershed

Comprehensive Plan (1998)

PL-566 Watershed Plan and Environmental Assessment (2000)

Indian Creek River Conservation Plan (2001)

Watershed Assessment Report Upper Indian Creek Watershed, Westmoreland County, PA (2004)

Hydrology and Hydraulic Report Mill Run-Reach 15 Stream Restoration (2004)

Biological Monitoring Data Report, Indian Creek, Donegal Township, Westmoreland County (2008)

Indian Creek Valley Hike-Bike Trail Feasibility Study (2009)

Indian Creek Valley Municipal Authority Source Water Protection Plan (2012)

Mountain Watershed Association Operation, Maintenance, and Replacement Plan (2013)

Qualified Hydraulic Unit Plan

MWA PLANS

COMMITMENT OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SUPPORT IN RESTORATION

WHY FUNDING IS NEEDED

MORE REASONS FUNDING IS NEEDED

Sagamore Treatment System

Kalp Treatment System

Gallentine Treatment System

Melcroft Treatment System

Permapress Treatment System

Marsolino SiteTREATMENT

COMING SOON

MWA IS WORKING WITH REDMEDIA TECHNOLOGY FOR THIS DISCHARGE

Rondell Site

NEW TECHNOLOGYIS AVAILABLE THAT

HAS THE POTENTIAL

TO TREAT THE RONDELL

DISCHARGE

WHY OMR FUNDING IS NEEDED

ESTABLISHING A TRUST FUNDHOW MUCH MONEY IS NEEDED TO START A TRUST FUND?

SHOULD WE ESTABLISH A TRADITIONAL TRUST FUND OR ARE THERE OTHER ALTERNATIVES?

WHAT ANNUAL COSTS AND FEES ARE INVOLVED?

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO EARN ENOUGH MONEY TO UTILIZE THE FUND?

PAID STAFF - INCREASED COST

+ STATE RECOGNIZES DATA AND DATA CAN BE USED IN COURT OF

LAW IF NEEDED

+ EXPERTISE TO MAKE DESCISONS AND RESPOND QUICKLY TO

MAINTENANCE ISSUES

+CONSISTENCY MONITORING & MAINTENANCE

+ UPDATED ON LATEST TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE

VOLUNTEERS + DECREASED COST

- ALTHOUGH VALUABLE STATE DOESN’T RECOGNIZE DATA AS

A VALID SOURCE

- SLOW TO RESPOND TO MAINTENANCE ISSUES DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS, LACK OF

EXPERTISE OR CONSENSUS NEEDED

- INCONISISTENT MAYBE A VARIETY OF PEOPLE ALL WHO

NEED TRAINING

PAID STAFF VS/AND VOLUNTEERS

Water SamplingMWA Collects 600

Water Samples Annually:Mine Drainage Treatment Systems

300 samples at 5 locations

Discharge Sites48 samples at 3 locations

Champion Creek 104 samples at 8 locations

Youghiogheny Quarterly Monitoring72 samples at 18 locations

Swimmable Waters Project60 samples at 15 locations

Bacteria Lab

Coming Soon

MWA IS IN THE PROCESS OF SETTING UP AN IN-HOUSE

LABORATORY FOR PROCESSING BACTERIA

WATER SAMPLES

Macroinvertebrate Monitoring

DataloggersTHIS GRAPH SHOWS THE TYPICAL RELATIONSHIP

BETWEEN LEVEL AND CONDUCTIVITY AND IS WHAT OUR STAFF LOOKS FOR WHEN ANALYZING THE DATALOGGER DATA THAT WE HAVE FOR THE

21 LOGGERS DEPLOYED IN THE INDIAN CREEK AND YOUGHIOGHENY RIVER WATERSHEDS

Indian Creek Valley Trail

Youghiogheny River Trail Manager

Priorities:• South Connellsville river access• Updated & reprinted trail maps• Increased camping opportunities

ACCURATE TRACKING OF RESOURCES(VALUE OF OUR WORK)

PHOTO OF INDIAN CREEK BEFORE RESTORATION

SAME SEGMENT OF INDIAN CREEK TODAY AFTER RESTORATION EFFORTS

CLASHING FUNDING CRITERIA

CONFLICTING GRANT CYCLES

REQUIRED MATCH, HOW MUCH???

WHAT MATCHES WHAT? WHEN?

UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS?

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS TOO COMPLICATED

MILLIONS SPENT ON AMD WHILE 8 STREAMS IRREPARABLY HARMED FROM 2010-2014 DUE TO UNDERGROUND MINING. IN ADDITION NEW DISCHARGES CAUSED.

RESTRICTED USE OF FUNDING, SUCH AS FOR ENGINEERING.

Government IntrusivenessON FUNDRAISING

Micromanaging roles & regulations makes it hard for small groups to raise $

$

Small Games of Chance ON VOLUNTEERS

Confusing regulations on clearances

• Who needs them?• When are they needed?

Mountain Watershed AssociationHome of the Youghiogheny Riverkeeper

PO Box 408/1414-B ICV RoadMelcroft PA 15462

(724) 455-4200www.mtwatershed.com