This presentation will discuss the accomplishments of the West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Initiative over the past ten years as made through the efforts of TU and member agencies and organizations of the West Branch Susquehanna River Task Force and West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Coalition, as well as the needs and challenges that remain on the horizon as work continues toward the recovery of the West Branch Susquehanna Watershed.

1. 1
A Decade of Progress for the
West Branch Susquehanna
Restoration Initiative
2004-2014
Amy Wolfe
Trout Unlimited
Director
Eastern Abandoned Mine Program &
PA Eastern Brook Trout Habitat Initiative
June 2014

2. 2
Mission
To conserve, protect, and
restore North America's
coldwater fisheries and
their watersheds.
PROTECT RECONNECT RESTORE SUSTAIN

3. 3
Celebrating 55 years!
www.tu.org
>150,000 members 400+ chapters 200+ staff 30 offices nationwide

4. 4
West Branch Susquehanna Watershed

5. 5
West Branch Susquehanna Watershed

6. 6
Target Species Brook Trout –
Using the Conservation Success Index to Prioritize our Projects
www.tu.org/csi

7. 7
www.tu.org/csi

8. 8
Target Species
Brook Trout –
Population
Integrity

9. 9
Target Species
Brook Trout –
Habitat Integrity

10. 10
Target Species
Brook Trout –
Conservation
Strategy

11. 11
West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Initiative - The Beginning
2002-2003
We are going to
restore the West
Branch or else!
2004

12. 12
West Branch Susquehanna River Task Force
Mission
To restore water resources impacted by abandoned mine lands and mine drainage within the
West Branch Susquehanna River basin, ultimately improving the quality of life for those
living in and visiting the watershed.

13. 13
Goal #1. Develop a comprehensive assessment and restoration plan for
the West Branch Susquehanna watershed, with a primary focus on
abandoned mine lands and mine drainage.

14. 14
Goal #2. Provide support and technical assistance for efforts to address
AMD within the West Branch Susquehanna watershed, with an
initial emphasis on the completion of projects underway in the
Bennett Branch Sinnemahoning and Kettle Creek watersheds.

15. 15
Goal #2. Provide support and technical assistance for efforts to address
AMD within the West Branch Susquehanna watershed, with an
initial emphasis on the completion of projects underway in the
Bennett Branch Sinnemahoning and Kettle Creek watersheds.
Trout Unlimited
AMD Technical
Assistance SRBC Mine Drainage Portal

16. 16
Goal #2. Provide support and technical assistance for efforts to address
AMD within the West Branch Susquehanna watershed, with an
initial emphasis on the completion of projects underway in the
Bennett Branch Sinnemahoning and Kettle Creek watersheds.

17. 17
Goal #2. Provide support and technical assistance for efforts to address
AMD within the West Branch Susquehanna watershed, with an
initial emphasis on the completion of projects underway in the
Bennett Branch Sinnemahoning and Kettle Creek watersheds.

18. 18
Goal #3. Build public support within the West Branch Susquehanna
watershed for a broad restoration effort.

19. 19
Goal #4. Secure adequate funding to carry out a West Branch
restoration initiative.
Since 2004 more than $113 million has been invested by DEP and
other state and federal agencies, Foundation for PA Watersheds,
private industry, and others on land reclamation and water
treatment.

20. 20
West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Coalition
Mission
To promote public awareness and stimulate efforts to restore water
resources impacted by AML and AMD within the West Branch
Susquehanna River basin, ultimately improving the quality of life
for those living in and visiting the watershed.
21 volunteer/conservation organizations
21 TU chapters
8 county conservation districts
1 municipality
10 businesses
61 WBSRC members
and 1 supporting organization (not MOU signatory)

21. 21
Goal #1. Build local grassroots and public support through
positive educational efforts.
Water: An
Endangered
Resource

22. 22
Goal #2. Provide a forum for the communication and exchange
of information on restoration activities within the
watershed.
www.wbsrc.org

23. 23
Goal #3. Promote public awareness of the economic benefits of
restoration efforts.

24. 24
•16 additional sites
West Branch Susquehanna Recovery Benchmark
Project Data Collected in 2009
•55 at trib mouths
•12 river sites
Data collected:
water quality
aquatic insects
fish
stream habitat

25. 25
Red indicates value is outside of DEP water quality criteria levels
pH Iron (mg/L) Aluminum (mg/L)
Spring - 1984 4.6 0.74 0.9
Summer - 1984 3.8 0.19 2.1
Spring - 2009 6.6 0.2 0.21
Summer - 2009 6.3 0.06 0.07
% Reduction - Spring 73% 77%
% Reduction - Summer 68% 97%
West Branch Susquehanna River at Renovo

26. 26
Fish

27. 27
• Natural attenuation
• Remining and reclamation
• Better permitting for mining
projects
• Passive and active treatment
systems
West Branch Susquehanna Recovery Benchmark Conclusions
Water quality and biological improvements can be attributed to a
combination of:

28. 28
Natural Attenuation vs. Treatment

29. 29

30. 30
Continuing with the success…
• Prioritize, assess, re-prioritize, plan, and implement projects in unaddressed watersheds
• Monitor recovery
• Celebrate accomplishments
• Maintain existing treatment systems
• Protect from other sources of degradation
• Maintain funding (Title IV AML Fund Expires in 2021…we have to start thinking about that now!)

31. 31
All 60+ members
of the WBSRCAll members of the West
Branch Susquehanna River
Task Force
A BIG Thank You to:

32. 32
American Fisheries Society President’s Fishery
Conservation Award (Seattle, WA - 2011)
Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for Environmental
Excellence (Harrisburg, PA - 2012)
Pennsylvania WILDS Award
(St. Mary’s, PA - 2012)

33. 33
Thank you!
Amy G. Wolfe
Trout Unlimited
Director
Eastern Abandoned Mine Program &
PA Eastern Brook Trout Habitat Initiative
awolfe@tu.org
570.786.9562