Pollution from runoff is responsible for a surprising 88 percent of all damaged streams in Pennsylvania, with sediment and dust from dirt and gravel roads topping the list of major contributors.

The sediment negatively impacts sensitive species like the fish, mussels and eastern hellbender salamanders that reside in Little Mahoning Creek, a prized Pennsylvania fishery that attracts trout anglers from across the nation.

This past summer, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and numerous partners completed their first major project to address this probem at Little Mahoning Creek. The group initiated a dirt and gravel road repair project to stop runoff from a half-mile stretch of Mottarn Road, which runs downhilldirectly toward Little Mahoning Creek.

The partnership included the Indiana County Conservation District, the Penn State Center for Dirt and Gravel Roads, North Mahoning Township, Boyd and Shriver, Inc. and Falcon Drilling.

gWe selected this road for the project because of its condition and proximity to the creek,h said Anne Daymut, watershed specialist for the Indiana County Conservation District. WPC Senior Director of Freshwater Conservation Nick Pinizzotto said, gThe challenge we face here is to stop loose soil from getting transported into streams by erosion caused by poorly drained and stabilized roads. When it does, the sediment sinks to the bottom of the stream and pollutes an area that is vital for fish reproduction and other aquatic life. The result is a loss of critical habitat for coldwater species and a reduction in the overall productivity of the stream.h

To fix these problems, the team dug under Mottarn Road and installed eleven new underground pipes, then regraded the road and resurfaced it using more eco-friendly shale and fly ash supplied by the Penn State Center for Dirt and Gravel Roads. These improvements will result in long-term benefits, not only in preventing sediment and dust pollution, but also in saving resources by extending the life of the road.

The Indiana County Conservation District contributed $10,000 from the Commonwealthfs Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program and WPC added $25,000 through a grant from the Colcom Foundation.

Through a grant also secured by WPC, The Indiana County Conservation District has recently prepared a Prioritization Plan that identifies the dirt and gravel roads that present the biggest threats to Little Mahoning Creek.

gThe Prioritization Plan lists the top 50 dirt and gravel roads based on the amount of sediment they are currently seeping into Little Mahoning Creek,h said Anne Daymut. gIt is our hope that, through the partnership, wefll be able to work our way down the list and fix all 50 roads.h

In October, the Indiana County Conservation District, WPC and Southern Mahoning Township began working with a private landowner to repair Wise Road, a gravel road that tops the list as the largest sediment producing dirt and gravel road along the creek.

There is considerable repair work ahead, but by successfully shoring up one road and beginning another, the partnership moves forward in protecting Little Mahoning Creek for future generations.

For more information, see the Winter edition, Conserve Newsletter from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.

11/29/2008