The Beech Creek Watershed has been identified by Trout Unlimited as a high priority area for abandoned mine drainage (AMD) remediation because many of Beech Creek’s pristine tributaries hold strong populations of native brook trout.

Due to the mainstem of the stream being contaminated, these trout have become isolated.

To combat this, the abandoned mine drainage has to be addressed and corrected through various treatment methods.

The event was an attempt at reaching out to property owners within the Beech Creek watershed area whose properties may contain abandoned mine features — spoil piles, high walls, pits or even abandoned deep mine entries.

BREANNA HANLEY/THE EXPRESS A map of the Beech Creek Watershed outlines upcoming projects.

If these features are removed, and alkali materials such as lime are added, the landscape can be revegetated and the amount of acid entering the waterway can be reduced.

The polluted water can also be conveyed through a series of ponds, limestone beds or wetlands that neutralize acid and remove metals through passive treatment.

Active treatment of the water includes either direct application of lime or by pumping water to a streamside treatment facility to chemically treat it.

Those in attendance were given an opportunity to ask questions about the process, what they as landowners can do to help and how to contact someone if they have concerns.

As they chatted, a video entitled “Angling for Hope: A Vision for Pennsylvania’s Beech Creek” played in the background, which described the Beech Creek Watershed and its tributaries that are affected by AMD.

BREANNA HANLEY/THE EXPRESS Area residents review information about the Beech Creek Watershed Restoration Project in Clarence during a recent informational session.

The video can be found by that title on Youtube, or through this link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaXBSRmYEdE

Sportsmans Club President Jeff Horner was enthusiastic about the project.

“It would be a wonderful thing (for the stream to be cleaned up.) We have a trout nursery Gary (Halsnik) takes care of for us. It would be nice to be able to put fish in. It would be a good thing for everybody,” said Horner.

“It would be awesome to fish through here,” said Gary Halsnik, Raceway Chairman, “They had to start somewhere, and this is where they started. It’s helping down through here.”

Wes Burrows, Mike Day and Todd Desmond attended the event to get information about the project.

“I would like someday to see fish in Beech Creek. It’s a beautiful stream that would be great for fly fishing,” said Burrows.

Day recalled the stream in previous years appearing very orange from the contaminants in the water, and noted how the stream is already better now than it was back then.

“It would be huge just to see it have trout in it. It’s such a great cold water stream. Think of the people it would bring in, too,” said Desmond.

Representatives from the Sportsmans Club grilled burgers and hotdogs for guests, and had an array of drinks to choose from to combat the heat while guests asked questions about the water restoration project.

“We’re doing our best,” said Cooper, “I’d like to think everyone wants clean water. We need everybody to understand what we’re trying to accomplish and work together.”

“If we left everything alone, geology would fix its own problem in 400 to 1,000 years depending on the watershed. I’d like it to be a little faster than that — I want my kids to fish here,” he continued.

For more information about this project you can reach out to Trout Unlimited directly at PA-AMD@tu.org, the Pennsylvania DEP Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation at 814-472-1800, the Centre County Conservation District at 814-355-6817 or the Clinton County Conservation District at 570-726-3798