Little Toby Creek in Brockway Borough and Snyder Township in northeastern Jefferson County were awarded a $340,000 grant by the Department of Environmental Protection this week.

Although the stream is recovering, large amounts of sediment have deposited in the waterway’s channel from past mining practices. The project by DEP will reduce erosion and sedimentation, increase aquatic habitat, create five acres of wetlands to improve a discharge from a wastewater treatment facility and demonstrate the application of this natural design technique for other Pennsylvania communities located near a flood control facility.

Natural stream channel restoration techniques are proposed within a 3,000-foot section of Little Toby Creek. The restoration will create a stable channel that minimizes disturbances to stream biology and requires less maintenance, providing an alternative to conventional channel dredging and maintenance procedures. The channel will transport sediment more easily and provide good habitat for aquatic life.

In 2002, Brockway received a $50,550 Growing Greener grant to stabilize streambank at four locations along Little Toby Creek in the Upper Clarion River Watershed. The project was one in a series to address sediment impact on flood controls that protect downstream communities.

Link: Project Dedicated That Raises Rainbow Trout in Treated Mine Drainage

4/21/2006