The Susquehanna River Basin Commission this week announced it would use a $6.1 million grant provided by the Pennsylvania General Assembly and Gov. Rendell to improve water quality in 25 miles of the polluted West Branch Susquehanna River and support Pennsylvania’s farmers.

Two projects will be conducted under the grant to secure a total of 15.7 million gallons per day of water to replace the amount used by farmers. The one project would treat some 10 MGD of water polluted by abandoned mine drainage and release it into the West Branch. The AMD is harmful to aquatic life and limits some recreational uses.

The remainder of the grant is earmarked for additional cleanup and flow enhancement projects by SRBC aimed at increasing water reserves by another 5.7 MGD.

SRBC Chairman Maj. Gen. William Grisoli, Commander, North Atlantic Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said, “The Commission is grateful to the Commonwealth not only for understanding the need to secure water for times when the state’s streams are stressed, but also for appreciating the multiple benefits its investment will reap for the environment and for the agricultural community.”

The new funds were contained in the state budget that was approved on July 2. Of the $6.1 million, SRBC will spend $3.9 million toward the long-term operation and maintenance of the Commonwealth’s planned Barnes and Tucker abandoned mine remediation project in Cambria County.

For the past 30 years, the Department of Environmental Protection has diverted and treated water from the abandoned Barnes and Tucker mines into the Ohio River watershed. The new project will return the mine’s treated drainage back to the Susquehanna basin.

The treatment project, sponsored by DEP, is currently in the design phase with construction estimated for spring 2008 through spring 2009. The treatment plant is expected to operate for 75 years and result in the treatment and release of up to 10 MGD into the West Branch Susquehanna River – resulting in the restoration of 25 miles of the river.

Concurrent with the Barnes and Tucker project, SRBC will spend the $2.2 million balance to develop other alternative water sources to secure the remaining water needed toward the total 15.7 MGD of fresh water daily to increase stream flow and enable farmers to continue using water for their operations.

The increased clean water flow into the West Branch is earmarked to replace the amount used by farmers during times of low flow (SRBC regulations require consumptive water users to compensate for their use).

Until these projects are completed, SRBC intends to continue a temporary suspension of its consumptive water use requirements for agricultural water users.

Sen. Wenger (R-Lancaster), who spearheaded the initiative in the General Assembly, said, “Ensuring that our state’s agricultural industry remains healthy and viable for the future is absolutely in everyone’s interest. The Barnes and Tucker project is the major step toward permanently removing the burden of individual farmers to comply with SRBC’s requirements. It’s a win for our farmers, the environment and for the people of Pennsylvania.”

For more information on SRBC and its activities, go to the SRBC website.

NewsClip: Grant to Be Used in River Cleanup Project

Link: Mine Water Could Help Provide Make Up Water in Susquehanna Basin

7/21/2006