Schuylkill and Carbon Counties
June 17, 1999 7:00 – 9:00PM
Schuylkill County Agricultural Center
The first public meeting for the headwater region of the Schuylkill River Watershed Conservation Plan (SRWCP) study area was held on June 17, 1999 at the Schuylkill County Agricultural Center, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. The purpose of the Plan is to map out a comprehensive and usable strategy to preserve and enhance the cultural, aesthetic, recreational and economic value of the river, and to provide an opportunity for area residents to present their concerns to the scientific community. Participants were invited to register, pick-up handout materials, and study project maps of the watershed and headwater sub-watersheds (Little Schuylkill and West Branch/Main Stem Schuylkill River).

Dixie F. Swenson, Executive Director of the Schuylkill River Greenway Association, opened the meeting by welcoming participants and introducing the partners – Andy Pitz and David Athey, Natural Lands Trust; Elizabeth Kitchel, The Conservation Fund; and Cully Hession and Maeve McBride, Academy of Natural Sciences, Patrick Center. She also introduced moderators Keith Swenson (Little Schuylkill) and Lorah Hopkins (West Branch/Main Stem Schuylkill River). Ms. Swenson briefly described the program and gave directions to participants for the break-out sessions.

Elizabeth Kitchel, provided the Schuylkill River Watershed Conservation Plan project background, and explained the role of the Conservation Fund as conducting an inventory of existing data, analyzing that data and gathering public input.

Maeve McBride described how the Patrick Center of the Academy of Natural Sciences will be compiling key watershed data for use in a graphic information system (GIS). To date, the roads and railroads, land uses, water flows, elevation, buffers, feeder streams and sub watersheds, and soil types have been mapped. The plan will include projections for growth and development. Ms. McBride noted that the information will be accessible for reference and revision as the project progresses.

David Athey related how the Natural Lands Trust will focus on analyzing all of the information gathered and the production of the final document. Mr. Athey stated, "perhaps most important, once the project becomes approved by the state, that river gets placed on the Pennsylvania Rivers Registry and becomes eligible for future funding opportunities based on the recommendations of the plan. Things like helping towns or townships with their plans, preserving green space, stream bank restoration projects, and developing recreational access can all fall under the plan. It is no longer just recommended, it becomes how it can occur."

Members of the audience were directed to participate in one of two breakout sessions. Keith Swenson moderated the session on the Little Schuylkill Watershed and its tributaries. He was assisted by Jennifer Novak, an intern for the Schuylkill County Conservation District. Lorah Hopkins moderated the session on

the West Branch/Main Stem and tributaries of the Schuylkill River. She was assisted by Susan Smith, a planner with Schuylkill County. After each person introduced himself, time was spent defining issues (problems) and opportunities. Each person was given 5 black dots to place on the issues of greatest concern to him. It was up to each individual to decide whether to target all dots on one issue, or to spread the dots over multiple issues.

The nine participants in the Little Schuylkill sub-watershed identified lack of criteria for water quality management as the top concern (20%). Acid mine drainage, especially in the Tamaqua area (16%), inadequate riparian buffers for large and small streams (16%), and the need to conserve farms, rural lands, etc. (16%) were ranked as other top issues. See the attached page entitled The Headwaters – Little Schuylkill and Tributaries for the complete list of issues and opportunities.

Twenty participants in the West Branch/Main Stem of the Schuylkill River sub-watershed were concerned by a lack of regional planning, in part due to the weak state municipal code (18%). Lack of political clout to gain release of federal funds for acid mine drainage (12%), acid mine drainage (11%), raw sewage problems in the Schuylkill Valley and West Branch (11%), and lack of control of urban sprawl (10%) were other chief concerns. See the attached page entitled The Headwaters – West Branch/Main Stem Schuylkill River and Tributaries for the complete list of issues and opportunities.

Dixie Swenson concluded the meeting by thanking the local organizations – Schuylkill County Conservation District, Schuylkill Headwaters, Schuylkill County Trout Unlimited, Schuylkill County Sportsmen’s Association, Schuylkill County Conservancy, and the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition of Abandoned Mine Reclamation.

The Headwaters - Little Schuylkill and Tributaries
Issues???????????Rank
Lack of criteria for water quality management??????09/45
Acid mine drainage, especially in Tamaqua area??????07/45
Inadequate riparian buffers for large and small streams?????07/45
Need to conserve rural lands, farms, etc.???????07/45
Inadequate proposed cleanup of Diversified Metals superfund site????04/45
Inadequate storm water management regulations and review - new and old development??04/45
Raw sewage problems from Delano, New Ringgold, and Tamaqua combined system??04/45
Residue from Old McAdoo Superfund Asso. Site??????02/45
Lack of regulation for bottling plants???????01/45
Industrial sewage into community systems that are incapable of processing
Economic development, Traditional vs. New
Need for sustained monitoring of water quality
Aquifer draw-down
Lack of communication about water quality issues between state and local agencies
Lack of immediate sensitivity to potential problems
Difficulty in balancing of conflicting interests

Opportunities
Good base data/info on small steam water quality
Available Bureau of Mine Reclamation money for Little Schuylkill
Assist DEP establish quality standards
Extensive 1970’s base data available for use
Passionate, dedicated citizens that will get involved
Early river architecture (canal, railroad, etc.)
Expand fishing and other recreational/tourism opportunities. Example – 2,000 acres at Atlas project
Wild trout on tributaries
Diversified economic opportunities including recreation, heritage, tourism
Continue the Schuylkill River Greenway trail
Opportunities to protect and preserve land
Reclaim abandoned mine lands
Creative educational opportunities (living laboratory)
Headwaters area allows cause and effects to be clearly determined
State political leadership (+); local political leadership (+/-)
Opportunity to educate local governing officials
Tourism – 2^nd largest industry in the county

The Headwaters – West Branch/Main Stem Schuylkill River and Tributaries
Issues???????????Rank
Lack of regional planning/Weak municipal code??????18/100
Lack of political clout to gain release of federal funds for AMD????12/100
Acid Mine Drainage?????????11/100
Raw sewage problems in the Schuylkill Valley and West Branch????11/100
Lack of control of urban sprawl????????10/100
Need for preservation of Canal????????06/100
Creation of County Park System????????06/100
Preservation of Open Space ????????04/100
Additional public education on watershed issues??????04/100
Reclamation of abandoned mine lands???????03/100
Creation/Preservation of Trails????????03/100
Wetland mitigation/wetlands????????02/100
Need a water budget to ensure potable water for future?????02/100
Sedimentation (Coal and Agriculture)/ Black water events?????01/100
Stream restoration needed because of diverted streams into mine pits????01/100
Problems with invasive plants????????01/100
Lack of effective Storm water management ???????01/100
Industrial waste??????????01/100
Inter-basin transfer of water – taking water of originating basin????01/100
Inadequate flood control?????????01/100
Dye???????????01/100
Deteriorating Sewage Treatment Plants???????01/100
Nonpoint Source Pollution/Agriculture???????01/100
Need for preservation of cultural resources???????01/100
Clean-up and utilize brownfields/greyfields???????01/100
Need for riparian buffers?????????01/100
"Wildcat" sewers
"Pre-permit" dumps
Trash deposited in storm water drains – i.e., Tires, refrigerators, fast food containers
Combined Sewer Overflow
Need of additional recreation/public access to stream
CAFO – Concentrated Animal Feedlot Operations, potential threat; concern of waste generated

Opportunities
Trails (Water and Land) and connections
Preservation of Historic sites, i.e. canals
Council of Governments (COG)/Regionalization
County Park System
Enabling legislation for regionalization
"Save Our Lands, Save Our Towns" – utilize concepts outlined in Tom Hilton’s book
Land preservation through Schuylkill County Conservancy and state agencies
Tourism
"Save Our Schuylkill" Bond issues
Farms
Open Space
Parks
AMD/AML
Master plan funding for local governments
Clean water
Public Education