The following article first appeared in the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition’s Catalyst newsletter--

Some of the earliest passive treatment systems installed by the SRWC and its partnering organizations were constructed on Pennsylvania State Game Lands #95.

Due to its location in Butler County and close proximity to the Greater Pittsburgh area, this is a heavily used Game Land property. In addition, the North Country Trail travels by or through six of these treatment systems.

The SRWC [Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition] has 10 passive systems that not only are collectively neutralizing 400,000 pounds of acidity per year and removing nearly 200,000 pounds of metals per year, but they range in age from 21 to 28 years old! Some rehabilitation was in order!

The SR114B and SR114D passive systems, located in the Slippery Rock Creek Watershed, were constructed in 1995 and are now 28 years old.

Both systems have required very little maintenance during this time and are utilized as prime examples of the benefits of Anoxic Limestone Drain (ALD) technology when used for the proper water quality.

System B was experiencing problems as flow rates from the ALD had significantly decreased over the years, an indication of plugging, compromised piping, or other issues and needed to be replaced.

The System D system ALD was still producing net-alkaline water after 23 years; however, the area where it is located was dramatically sunken, indicating significant limestone dissolution.

Construction began this spring. Because it was uncertain as to when it would cease to function, a conceptual design was developed where, for the B system, the ALD was replaced and increased to 500 tons of limestone.

Sludge from the settling pond was removed and the pond was expanded.

For the D system rehabilitation, the ALD was also replaced and increased to 1,500 tons of limestone. Increasing the limestone in both ALDs is expected to increase the alkalinity production which will benefit Slippery Rock Creek.

Iron and organic matter from all of the settling ponds and wetland were removed and placed in a sludge pond that was constructed next to the system as part of the rehab and improvements.

This rehabilitation was made possible through a PA DEP Growing Greener grant and funding from the US Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program (WCAP) and the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds.

With these much-needed improvements, we look forward to monitoring the systems for success in treating degraded water impacted by abandoned mine drainage.

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For more information on programs, projects, upcoming events and how you can get involved, visit the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition website.  Follow them on Facebook.  Click Here to sign up to sign up for regular updates.

The Butler County-based Coalition was established in 1994 to restore land, water and wildlife resources in the Slippery Rock Watershed.

Related Article:

-- 2023 Celebrate The Bloom! At Jennings Environmental Education Center A Rainy Success In Butler County  [PaEN]

NewsClips - Watersheds:

-- AP: Municipalities Say An Adverse Ruling On A Case Now Before PA Supreme Court On Stormwater Fees Could Drain Them Financially

-- Bay Journal - Karl Blankenship: Hershey, EPA Hope New Pollution Control Partnership On Dairy Farms Will Be Sweet Success

-- Warren Times: Habitat Improvement Projects Continue By Partners In Brokenstraw Watershed

-- Citizens Voice: Freeland Stormwater Project In Luzerne County Largest Infrastructure Investment In 2 Decades

-- ABC27 New: Dover Twp., York County Receives $5.8 Million Federal Grant For Floodplain Restoration Project

-- Reading Eagle: $260,000 In Grants Awarded To 4 Schuylkill River Watershed Improvement Projects In Berks County

-- Schuylkill River Greenways Hosts Sept. 8 Bus Tour Of Stream Restoration Projects

-- Lancaster Clean Water Partners Host In-Person Municipal Stormwater Forum Sept. 25, Clipper Magazine Stadium, Lancaster. 7:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

-- Potter Leader: Upper Allegheny Watershed Assn. To Hold Calendar Photo Contest

-- Lehigh Valley’s Wildlands Conservancy: Bushkill Creek Restoration; First Graders Wild About Learning; Be Part Of The Stream Team!; Much More

Related Articles - Watersheds:

-- National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Awards $14.9 Million To Restore Delaware River Watershed, Including $7.3 million In Pennsylvania  [PaEN]

-- Shapiro Administration Works With Communities To Secure $100 Million+ In Federal Funding To Prevent Future Flood Damage In Philadelphia, Allegheny, Bucks, Northampton, York Counties  [PaEN]

-- Public Health Watch: Black Water - How Industry Fights Controls On Manganese, A Little-Known Drinking Water Contaminant - By Natasha Gilbert  [Highlights Problems In Beaver County Water Supply]   [PaEN]

-- Master Watershed Steward Don Horn Promotes Sustainability And Clean Water - By Alexandra McLaughlin, Penn State News  [PaEN]

-- Slippery Rock Watershed Passive Mine Drainage Treatment Systems Receive Rehab In Butler County  [PaEN]

-- Protecting Clean Water Together: Talking Dirt And Downpours In Monroe County - By Carol Hillestad for the Brodhead Watershed Association  [PaEN]

-- Our Pocono Waters Hosts Sept. 6 Webinar On New Model Ordinance To Mitigate The Environmental Impacts Of Warehouse Facilities  [PaEN]

-- DCED Awards Nearly $3.5 Million In Grants For Wastewater, Drinking Water Projects In Mifflin, Somerset, Sullivan Counties

-- Schuylkill River Cleanup Attracts Over 100 Volunteers In Montgomery County  [PaEN]

-- 2023 Celebrate The Bloom! At Jennings Environmental Education Center A Rainy Success In Butler County  [PaEN]

[Posted: August 31, 2023]

9/4/2023