Bill Reichert, Schuylkill Headwaters Association, "Preserving the Future of Our Watersheds"

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The Schuylkill Headwaters Association is a grassroots organization formed in 1997 to promote the environmental integrity of the Schuylkill River watershed within Schuylkill County. Their mission is challenged by over 160 abandoned mine sites leaving 129 miles of streams impaired by acid mine drainage. Through community outreach, education, and volunteer projects, the Association works to remediate acid mine drainage and improve water quality, while planning for long-term preservation through trust funds and consideration of paid staff.

Governo e ONGs

Restoring the Headwaters
Schuylkill Headwaters Association
Our mission is “to promote the environmental integrity of the Schuylkill River, its
tributaries, and the watershed that lies within the boundaries of Schuylkill County.”

Schuylkill Headwaters Association, Inc.
•Community-based grassroots organization
•Formed in 1997
•Approximately 60 members
•No staff + 1 AmeriCorps OSM VISTA volunteer
•Volunteer Board of Directors

Headwaters of
the Schuylkill
River near
Tuscarora
Springs

The Legacy of
Coal Mining on
our waterways…
Abandoned
Mine
Drainage
[AMD]
AMD impacts 3,000
miles of streams across
Pennsylvania and 129
miles in Schuylkill
County.

Watershed Assessments
 2000 – Upper Schuylkill River Assessment Report
2001 – Little Schuylkill River Assessment Report
by L Robert Kimball & Associates

There are over 160 abandoned mine sites in Schuylkill County!
After the Clean Water Act passed in 1972, many coal operations shut
down because they didn’t want to meet stricter regulations.

Abandoned Mine
Drainage Discharge
Sites in Schuylkill
County and map of
impaired streams
Orange= AMD Impaired
Purple= AMD and other impairment
Green=Other impairment
Blue= Clean streams

UPPER SCHUYLKILL RIVER TMDL WATERSHED
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (WIP)
May 2005
Prepared by:
Schuylkill Conservation District
Schuylkill Headwaters Association, Inc.
RETTEW Associates, Inc.
For submission to:
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection
and
United States Environmental Protection Agency

WIP
IDENTIFICATION AND SUMMARY OF PROBLEM AND
POLLUTION SOURCES
 Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD)
 Sediment Runoff and Abandoned Mine Drainage
from Refuse Piles
 Uncontrolled Stormwater Runoff
 Sewage
 Agriculture Related Impairment (Nutrient and
Sediment)
 U. S. EPA Superfund Sites

Outreach & Education
Why it’s important to share what we do…

Exposing the public
to our work in the
headwaters

Last fall students from 3 schools visited the Silver Creek AMD
Treatment System for tours and environmental programming.

Mouths always drop when we tell them that the Silver
Creek AMD System removes between 250 to 550
pounds of iron oxide every day from the water!

Water quality
sampling with
Pottsville High
School students

Silver Creek Rain Gardens
NCCC volunteers transformed desolate mine land with
compacted soil and little vegetation into rain gardens!

Just 6 months later, there is an incredible amount of biodiversity!

Preserving the Future of Our Watersheds
 Long-term non-profit planning
 OMR funds
 Large scale / small projects / everyday costs
 Trust Funds
 How many organizations have trust funds?
 How is it operated?
 Daily Operations ? Maintenance? Matching funds?
 Staff – Paid? Volunteer?
 Volunteers experiencing burn-out?
 Is paid staff necessary?

Preserving the Future of Our Watersheds
 Role of the Watershed Specialist
 Government commitment to support non-profits
 Funding criteria
 Accurate tracking of resources used in restoration

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