2003 Volume I SWCA Newsletter
Comming Events
DATE
|
EVENT
|
March 8th
|
Annual Banquet & Election of Officers
(New Stanton Firehall 6 PM)
|
March 29th 9AM
|
Cleanup Zeller's Run (date changed !!)
|
April 26th 9AM
|
Cleanup, Area to be announced
|
Late Spring
|
Lowber Celebration, Date to be announced
|
Another Year
Friends of Sewickley Creek Watershed: In
previous years we have completed small projects throughout the
watershed, but now the SCWA is embarking on a pivotal year. Large
remediation projects are leaving the drawing board and moving into the
field. These efforts will require project management, additional
engineering, heavy construction equipment, volunteer effort and
money. If we all join together, I’m sure, we will be
successful. The SCWA hopes this year is one of health and
prosperity for all.
Trash Wanted !
As you can see on our calendar on the back page the
SCWA has a clean up scheduled for
April 26th. Do you know of place in the watershed that is in
desparate need. Please let us know. Remember trash only
attracts more. Hopefully we can give a fresh start to an eyesore.
Annual Banquet
The annual banquet of the Sewickley Creek
Watershed Association will be held March 8, 2003 at the New Stanton Fire
Hall. Don Baker from the Baltzer-Meyer Historical Society (also
one of our own) will be the featured speaker. The topic of Don’s
presentation will be “Early Settlers in the Watershed”. This evening
will be one of good food, prizes information and camaraderie.
Contact SCWA for tickets $12/adult and $6 children.
Phone: 724-610-0829
Email scwa@sewickleycreek.com
The Plan - SCWA works on watershed plan
Step by step, section by section, chapter by chapter
the grand plan is taking shape. The work on the Sewickley Creek
Watershed Conservation Plan is on schedule with the first draft heading
for an early spring unveiling.
“We are making steady progress on a very exciting
project,” said Prof. Ellen Uschak, president of the Sewickley Creek
Watershed Association, “The public participation has been encouraging
and we look forward to continued input when we present the first draft,
May.”
Lowber Iron Oxide Project
In August, the remaining iron sludge was removed
from the channel at Lowber. The mine discharge was diverted to a
temporary channel so that iron would not be released to Sewickley Creek
during recovery operations. Sludge was removed from the channel
using a pump operated by Keystone Vacuum and an excavator operated by
Stoy Excavation.
Approximately 120,000 gallons of slurry were pumped
into six large tanks (rented from Baker Tanks). The slurry was then
dewatered using a belt press operated by US Filter.
Your Membership
The Sewickley Creek Watershed Association (SCWA) is a non-profit
volunteer organization dedicated to promote the conservation of natural
resources, monitor and improve water quality, and advocate wise land use
practices in the Sewickley Creek Watershed. As such, the association
seeks to use the resources available and educate citizens, organizations
and businesses to implement programs to improve water quality and proper
land use. One of the resources available to the association is its
membership. The (SCWA) started its 2003 membership drive and wants it
to be one of its most successful years. In 2002 the SCWA had a
membership of 188 families, individuals, organizations, and businesses.
It is through these memberships and the volunteers that a number of
projects have been or are being developed. In order to continue doing
these projects we need to increase the membership rolls, along with
volunteers and donations so that improvements to the watershed and the
environment continue. In 2002 several projects continued to move forward
with great success. Such as the Lowber project above.
Your membership in the SCWA will help support
these and future projects. It will enable the membership to
continue to monitor the water quality and identify sources of waterway
pollution and acid mine discharges throughout the watershed. It will
allow the association to work with government agencies to develop and
maintain mine discharge treatment programs and work with local
industries to develop and monitor discharge facilities. It will also
help in restoring and maintaining stream integrity, which will enhance
aquatic and wildlife habitat.
So ask yourself, why become a member? The answer is,
it's the right thing to do.
S.C's Column
Hello all, SC here ! Well, Guess I don’t have
to tell you it’s been cold this winter - not the worst that I’ve seen
though - just ask some of the more senior citizens and they’ll tell you
- but I’m getting side tracked.
You know, it was a while back when I was shooting
the breeze with Jack - Jack Frost that is. I told him that his window
painting was nice an all but he’d better get out of his rut. Expand his
horizons. Seemed to cotton to the idea but wasn’t sure how.
Tarnation Jack, I told him, the water discharges
from the mine are warm - at least warmer than the waters in the creeks
from runoff and snow melt. With this warm water you can make early
morning mist - glaze the trees - make a sparkling wonderland along
the banks.
Jack gave it a try - Got to tell you - when Jack
Frost sets out to do something he does it right. Morning sunrise on
glazed trees is a real beauty. Problem is, he sometimes goes too far. I
had nothin to do with Black Ice - have to work on that one - Take care
now, been great talking with you.
S.C. Watershed.
Member News:
We welcome
Larry D.
Myers of Hempfield Township to the Board of Directors and as the
new Treasurer. Larry has been an active member of the Association
since 1996.
Darl M. Dodson
has become our membership chairman. He grew up in Bucks County, is
married and has three children. Before moving to Greensburg in
1991 he resided in New Hope Pennsylvania.
Spending many hours in the Association’s office,
Wes Stahl have been a busy
volunteer. Wes has been scanning all SCWA photographs (10 years
worth !) into the computer, cataloging, prepairing computer disks as
backups, adding to our database, as well as working with Larry Myers on
various projects.
Sewickley Creek Watershed Association Newsletter is a publication
of the Sewickley Creek Watershed Association.
- SCWA Executive Editor: Tom Keller
- Editor:Jim Schimpf
- Contributing Writers:S.C.,Tom Keller, Daryl Dodson, Larry
Meyers
The Sewickley Creek Watershed Association promotes the
conservation of natural resources, monitors and improves water quality,
and advocates wise land use practices in the Sewickley Creek Watershed.
As such the Association shall use its resources to educate the
citizens of the watershed as to sound environmental practices. In
addition, the Association will seek out and cooperate with government
agencies, interested organizations, businesses and individuals to
implement programs to improve water quality and encourage proper land
use.
