Abandoned Mine Posts

by Andy McAllister, Watershed Coordinator

There’s good news to report!  Your letters and emails to our federal legislators have worked.  The specific language that allows the Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program (WCAP) funds to be used as match for other federal programs was re-inserted into the FY10 Federal Appropriations Bill.  That bill was passed by the US House of Representatives and subsequently, by the US Senate just last week.  The bill is now on its way to the White House and, barring any unforseen problems, it will be signed by the President.

For 10 years, WCAP, a source of funding for Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) projects provided though the U.S. Office of Surface Mining (OSM), has provided valuable complimentary funds for non-profits doing water treatment projects to clean up AMD. By only being available to non-profits groups, typically local watershed groups, WCAP ensures locally driven stakeholder supported projects that leverage additional monies from other federal programs. WCAP funds are made possible through the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) and the annual Federal Appropriations Bill is part of the mechanism by which WCAP gets funded.

In the past, Federal Appropriations Bills contained language which expressly stated that WCAP funds could be used as matching funds for any other federal grant source however, in recent years, that hasn’t been the case. Recent Appropriations Bills did not include the explicit language necessary to allow this match.   In early 2009, the Eastern Coal Regional Roundtable (ECRR), WPCAMR, and other environmental organizations in the eastern coal fields called for your help to urge our federal legislators to re-insert the missing language into the next Federal Appropriations Bill.  It is your response to that call for action that alerted our legislators to the problem and the importance of the WCAP program.

To find out more about how OSM’s Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program can help you with your next Abandoned Mine Reclamation project or to apply, contact your regional OSM office or click here to view the WCAP application process in the Federal Assistance Manual.

by Andy McAllister, Watershed Coordinator

WPCAMR is happy to report that the decision makers in Harrisburg have affirmed the value of the Watershed Specialist program by renewing funding for the Watershed Specialist contracts from 2010 through June of 2012.  We are grateful for this news, especially considering all of the financial difficulties and budget cutbacks faced by our State today. We’re also grateful for the outpouring of support given to the Watershed Specialist program by individuals and organizations within the watershed community as a result of WPCAMR’s Watershed Specialist advocacy campaign. It is the letters and emails in response to our call for action that, in part, gave the supporters of the program within the DEP the ammunition they needed to press for continued funding. The amount of support from you, our readership, and from within DEP is a testament to the value of the Watershed Specialist program.

Without a doubt, this announcment from DEP is certainly good news for the watershed community and the Watershed Specialists in particular. However, after we’ve all breathed that collective sigh of relief, we must remember this isn’t a permanent solution, it’s merely a reprieve. Without a permanent funding source in place, the future of the Watershed Specialist program is precarious. With that in mind, WPCAMR will continue to work with members of our watershed community, the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD), and other partners in advocating for permanent funding for the Watershed Specialist program. Look for more articles about our Watershed Specialists in future editions of Abandoned Mine Posts.

by Andy McAllister, Watershed Coordinator

The County Conservation District Watershed Specialists have been a vital force in Pennsylvania’s watershed movement for nearly 10 years, providing much needed environmental services in their counties and saving the state millions of dollars in project costs, in part by locating matching funding and in-kind contributions for environmental projects. Whether it’s fighting Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD), restoring streamside vegetation, or reducing water pollution caused by agricultural or urban runoff, our Watershed Specialists have been instrumental in many of Pennsylvania’s environmental successes. As part of a campaign to increase awareness of our county Watershed Specialists, WPCAMR Video Diaries pays a visit to the Westmoreland Conservation District to talk to Watershed Specialist, Rob Cronauer about his work and the future of the Watershed Specialist positions.  Note: If you are at a work computer and cannot view the video, check with your IT person to see if embedded videos are blocked on your computer. Click on the player below to watch.

by Andy McAllister, Watershed Coordinator

The Ohio River Watershed. It’s a place of beauty and a place of connections. With over three and a half million people residing in the Ohio River Watershed in Pennsylvania, our society, our history, and indeed our very existence, has become intimately entwined with the watershed. Like arteries reaching out to the furthest reaches of the body, the Ohio River Watershed continues to nuture and feed us…providing fuel for a nation.

The Ohio River is formed by the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers at Point State Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. From Pittsburgh, it flows northwest through Allegheny and Beaver Counties, before making an abrupt turn to the south-southwest at the West Virginia-Ohio-Pennsylvania triple state line. Thomas Jefferson once wrote about the river, “The Ohio is the most beautiful river on earth. Its current gentle, waters clear, and bosom smooth and unbroken by rocks and rapids…” But there’s more to the story than just a single body of water. It’s about the people and places that make up the watershed, our connections to it, and the efforts to restore it to a place of grandeur. It’s about celebrating our past and our future. It’s about the watershed.

On October 1st, you will have an opportunity to celebrate the grandeur, the beauty, and the importance of the Ohio River Watershed and the successes of those whose tireless efforts continue to bring life back to the rivers at The 2009 Port of Pittsburgh - Ohio River Watershed Celebration.

The Port of Pittsburgh - Ohio River Watershed Celebration’s annual cruise will cast off Thursday, October 1st from the Gateway Clipper docks at Station Square in downtown Pittsburgh. This year, the cruise will take place on the Monongahela River and with its theme, “The Ohio River Watershed - Fuel for a Nation” will focus on topics relating to energy efficiency and state-of-the-art innovations.

The cruise provides a forum for government, academia, and grassroots groups to discuss watershed priorities and water quality issues while offering cruise-goers a chance to learn more about the important role that our waterways continue to play in our daily lives. It’s an opportunity for guests to learn about river history, aquatic life, energy leadership, river recovery, river resources and improvements in the Ohio River Watershed. For anyone involved in watershed restoration or just curious about the watershed and watershed groups, this is a “must attend” event.

As was the case last year, two cruises will occur simultaneously, one for children on the Gateway Clipper’s Empress labeled, “The Imagination Cruise” and one for adults aboard the Majestic named, “The Networker Cruise”. Due to overwhelming popularity among school children, the “Imagination Cruise” is full. However, there is still room on the adults-only “Networker Cruise”. The cruise is free, however each passenger must register. You can register for the “Networker Cruise” at: http://www.streamrestorationinc.org/rsvp/