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More Than 125 Attend West Branch Susquehanna Symposium, Awards Presented
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The May 6 West Branch Susquehanna Symposium attracted over 125 people from Trout Unlimited chapters, watershed groups, local colleges and universities, and conservation districts, as well as folks representing various agencies and abandoned mine reclamation agencies from across Pennsylvania. Between the West Branch Susquehanna Symposium and the Joint Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference (see separate article) so far this year over 1,023 people attended conferences designed to help restore Pennsylvania watersheds. (other watershed conferences)
The Keynote Address was given by Dr. T. Allan Comp from the U.S. Office of Surface Mining and was followed by a variety of presentations relating to water quality and biological improvements in the West Branch, as well as, other AMD-related topics.
On May 7 a group of about 40 people took part in the field training day where participants learned how to collect water chemistry, flow, macroinvertebrate and habitat data according to state/federal protocol. They also learned how to use Hach kits to test for a variety of field parameters that are indicative of AMD. Overall, it was a great success!
West Branch partners also celebrated the completion of 20 years of coordinated efforts to restore life to the West Branch Susquehanna River in northcentral Pennsylvania with the released of a benchmark study by Trout Unlimited detailing the marked improvements in water quality, as well increases in fish populations and diversity in the West Branch as a result of their efforts.
Student Posters
A student poster contest was held this year for students to showcase their research relating to AMD and the West Branch. Winners were chosen by a panel of judges consisting of local college professors and are as follows: 1st - Andrea Graham, PSU DuBois; 2nd - Claudia Rojas, PSU main; and 3rd - Ben Moorhead, PSU main. Each student received a certificate and a monetary award to be used toward their educational expenses.
Awards Presented
West Branch partners also gave out awards for outstanding service in the West Branch watershed for 2009. Winners were chosen by members of the West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Coalition through an online vote and are as follows:
-- Volunteer of the Year: Dr. Art Rose, Clearfield Creek Watershed Association;
-- Watershed Group of the Year: Clearfield Creek Watershed Association, accepted by Earl & Alene Smithmyer;
-- Watershed Professional of the Year: Rebecca Dunlap, Trout Unlimited; and
-- Outstanding Service Award: Scott Roberts, DEP Deputy Secretary for Mineral Resources.
The award was presented to Mr. Roberts by Amy Wolfe, TU’s Eastern Abandoned Mine Program Director. Wolfe remarked that “when you talk to Scott, it is apparent there is a genuine interest, a deep-seated passion, for restoring land and water impaired by abandoned coal mines”.
The West Branch Susquehanna watershed has more than 1,200 miles of impaired streams and rivers and more than 36,000 acres of abandoned mine lands. As a result of coal mining activities beginning over 100 years ago, the abandoned mines drain water laden with toxic metals into the watershed, polluting streams and rendering them lifeless.
Trout Unlimited established the West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Initiative in 2004 to restore the West Branch Susquehanna River watershed. Subsequently, Gov. Rendell made cleanup of the West Branch Susquehanna a priority for the Commonwealth with the recognition that these impairments are a limiting factor to the tourism and development opportunities and subsequently the overall economic potential of the region.
Under Gov. Rendell’s direction, the DEP created the West Branch Susquehanna River Task Force, an umbrella group composed of state and federal agencies and conservation organizations.
Mr. Roberts has been a Task Force leader since the group’s inception.
“Scott has been supportive of abandoned mine drainage cleanup efforts across the West Branch – particularly of efforts led by watershed groups,” Wolfe said. Roberts was also recognized for his contributions to mine reclamation activities across the state with the Mayfly Award at the statewide Mine Reclamation Conference (see separate article).
For more information, visit the West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Initiative website. You can find additional Symposium details, news clips, photos and download the presentations from the Symposium webpage or contact Rachel E. Kester, Project Coordinator, West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Initiative by calling 570-748-4901 or by sending email to: rkester@tu.org.
By Rachel E. Kester, Project Coordinator, West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Initiative.
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6/21/2010 |
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