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“The Gift of the River” The Role of Creeks, Streams & Rivers in Shaping Elk County

Contents

Forward/Acknowledgments……………………………………………………………….vMap of County Watersheds.........................................................................................................................vii1. Introduction to Elk County………………………………….…………………………12. Industry and Economic development in Elk County……….………………………….4 3. Area population growth due to jobs from industries……………...……....…………..84. Local Historical Impacts of the industries…….………………………………...…...125. Current status of industries in the county / still active operations……………..……18

-statement from someone official???6. Current conditions / status of water / land resources……………….…………….....247. Local Watershed Group and current project............................................. ………….368. Hope for the future what things could be like with the help of everyone....................40References……………...............………………………………………………………...48

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Introduction to Elk County

Prior to European settlement, almost all of the land in Pennsylvania was wooded. This was, and is, a very important feature for healthy ecosystems, streams, and species that can only survive in the ideal aquatic habitat. This will be explained further in the book chapter 6. With the Eastern Continual Divide running north/south through Elk County, many headwaters begin in Elk County. This is a significant feature that we should all understand. Precipitation that lands east of the continental divide drains to the Atlantic Ocean and precipitation falling west of the divide makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico. The divide creates the headwater creeks and streams that confluence to become rivers. How we treat the land surrounding these streams (watersheds) determines the water quality when it arrives downstream. Basically, whatever we do in the headwater watershed, will impact everything.??? This book will attempt to explain the history of events in Elk County that have our creeks, streams, and rivers in the condition they are in today.

A. Historical Facts

In the early 1600’s, Native American peoples are documented living in the great river valleys of what is now Pennsylvania. Historical evidence shows that at one time the Susquehannock Indians commanded a large part of the Susquehanna River drainage area both the North and West Branches (eastern Elk County). The Susquehannocks migrated to this section of the state, traveling northwest up the Susquehanna River into its headwaters, which border the Eastern Continental Divide. The Seneca Indians also utilized the area, as they are one of the Six Nations making up the Iroquois Nation from the Lake Ontario to southern New York area. They moved southward living off of the land and using the resources in and along the rivers long before the white man came to Elk County. Many Native Americans used canoes to travel the Clarion River, the Bennett Branch, and many other creeks, streams, and rivers in Elk County before European settlement.

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Elk county map

In 1684, the Duke of York, later to become King of England, granted William Penn the area that is known as Pennsylvania, in payment for a $200,000 debt owed to William Penn’s father. Penn’s main reason for wanting this new land was to create a refuge for the Quakers (as Penn was a Quaker) who were under persecution in their homelands in England. In these new American colonies, laws were to be established to provide freedom of religious worship. These new laws actually set the stage for Pennsylvania to become a place for those who wished to be free of religious persecution.

In the early 1700’s, Shawnee and other Native American tribes were known to use eastern & central Pennsylvania for hunting grounds, but were pushed westward by growth of the agricultural settlement. Trappers, hunters, and traders also heard of the abundance of wildlife and quickly moved in on the land. Disputes about who had rights to the land lead to much fighting, and eventually the French and Indian War was fought in North America from 1754 to 1763, with the Indians joining the French to fight against the English. Attacks were lead by all parties involved in the effort to gain rights to the land.

Penn later began dividing Pennsylvania into counties, and in 1706 Penn returned to England, with his sons staying in Pennsylvania to become the proprietors. From 1732-1792, the Commonwealth of PA was experiencing boundary disputes. In 1763 Penn’s grandson became Governor of Pennsylvania and waged an active war against the Indians, offering bounties whether captured dead or alive.

With the relocation of native peoples, colonies were established and territories claimed. William Penn contended that his charter gave him no right to take land away from the Indians, and while mention is made of purchases, no records exist of actual transactions. A treaty was made at Fort Stanwix in 1784 between the Commissioners of the State of Pennsylvania and the Six Iroquois Nations, which relinquished all of their remaining land in Pennsylvania. A second treaty was made a few months later in 1785 between the Commissioner at Fort Macintosh (now Beaver County), and the Wyandotte and Delaware Indians who at that time occupied a large area west of the Allegheny River. The County of Elk was included within the boundaries of this great northwest purchase. It is said that the Indians received $10,000 cash for this purchase. Evidence of Native American tribes has been found in many areas of Elk County including Highland, Jones, Millstone & Spring Creek Townships, and ruins are also found in Bennetts Valley. Arrowheads and other artifacts can still be found by the trained eye in many areas of the County. The old “Kittanning Indian Trail” was used by Iroquois and others. This trail runs through western Elk County, and was the most direct route from southern New York to Kittanning. This trail was later used by travelers (settlers), and is also believed to have been a military road that was used to lead expeditions against the Native Americans of the northwest.

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A lifetime resident of Elk County, Jerry Bonfardine recollects his grandfather Hartman telling him about the Susquehannock Indians. The Susquehannock tribe had their summer camp in what is now known as Benezette. Grandpa Hartman said the Susquehannocks would travel up the Susquehanna River from their winter location in Harrisburg, up the West Branch Susquehanna, the Sinnemahoning Creek, and Bennett Branch, finally reaching their summer destination at the mouth of Trout Run. The Susquehannocks would then travel on foot, north up Trout Run. They would cross over the Eastern Continental Divide, and would continue their journey traveling northwest to get to the Warren area and the Allegheny River, where they could catch large fish that they would dry and take back home to their families. Jerry recollects the fish they were after were pike and muskellunge. There is a rock in a small-unnamed tributary near Benezette where the Indians would grind corn

1787-1810 – It is uncertain an exact date of when the first pioneers arrived in the Elk County area, but according to “A History of Elk County” around 1787, John Bennett and his father traveled up the Susquehanna River and the Bennett Branch to hunt beaver, to the point now known as Caledonia in Jay Township. It is almost certain that Bennetts Valley was named after them or by them. Around the year 1798, a General Wade and his family, and a lieutenant Slade, moved to the lower Little Toby watershed (located in southern Elk County). It has been said that they came into the area to chase out the remaining indigenous population. A confrontation was reported in the Little Toby Creek watershed. The natives were quickly overcome and said to have moved out of the area. Around 1803, General Wade and his family built a log house at the mouth of Little Toby. In 1810, Amos Davis settled in what is now Fox Township, and is considered to be the first permanent settler in Elk County. A General “Mad” Anthony Wayne also was said to commanded expeditions against the native people of the northwest, to “remove the danger to settlement”.

1843 – On April 18, 1843, Elk County was formed from parts of Jefferson, Clearfield and McKean Counties. .

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Put old map of Elk Co here

Picture or drawing

B. Natural Resources

Just a few years prior to the beginning of the 19 th century, Elk County was a vast wilderness covered by forests inhabited by many native animal species free to roam as they please. Because of its many forests and streams, Elk County was known as “The Outdoor Paradise”. Native brook trout thrived, deer, wild turkey, black bear and of course elk, roamed fearlessly throughout the County. The land that sustained the wildlife was worth more than anyone could have imagined.

Within the 814 square miles of the County, the Eastern Continental Divide separates two major drainage basins, the Susquehanna and the Ohio. This distinctive topographic feature means many different things, but predominantly; water drains in two different directions, to the east to the Chesapeake Bay, and to the west to the Gulf of Mexico. This also means there are a large number of headwater streams here in Elk County. Add more text about Elk County geology, etc. here

Before the time of the white mans arrival (late 1700’s) I. Forests & forestry resources

Map of forested area of pa or Elk Co prior to white man Facts about amt/acreage of forest in Elk County Lumbering book

II. Watersheds & water resources Maps

III. Coal & & other fuels resourcesIV. Wild lands wildlife & aquatic habitat

Historic game lands – pg 87 Elk Co History book Wild elk herd once thriving, then decimated, relocated from Rockies, new herd

survives pg 3 Pg 303 Elk Co History book

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Susquehanna is a Native American name that’s meaning is debated. It is thought to mean the following: “the place of the stony lick” “the long reach river” and

“lone crooked river.” The interpretation of the Susquehanna River

is the “Great Island River”

1. Industry and Economic development in Elk County After the arrival of the white man

Early settlers were drawn to Elk County because of it vast supply of virtually untouched natural resources. The Native American peoples who inhabited and passed through the area only took the resources they needed to survive, leaving the area as it was prior to their presence.

As the settlers began to establish themselves, food of course was a one of the necessities. Therefore, the first industry established in Elk County was a grist mill. A grist mill is a mill where grains are ground into flour. Somewhere around 1810, William Kersey traveled to and settled in Little Toby Creek and Elk Creek in what is now known as Fox Township. Here he erected a grist mill which was only in operation for two or three years before it burned down. Mr. Kersey did not rebuild the mill and folks had to travel forty miles to a mill on Anderson Creek. In 1818, L. Morey built a grist mill in what is now known as Benezette, near the mouth of Trout Run. And in 1822, James Gillis was running a grist mill, a saw mill and a carding mill in the Montmorency farm area. (A carding mill prepares fibers that will later be spun.)

As the area began to populate and surveyors were investigating the area, the mighty gigantic white pines were noticed. This is a very important turning point in the population growth and land use of Elk County. Soon began the “logging rush” of Elk County. Those who “discovered” the exceptional trees saw dollar signs and Elk County has never fully recuperated from those seeking to exploit the wealth of the quality and quantity of natural resources here in the County. From the Europeans discovery of the abundance of beaver and other fur bearing species in this area, to the still active coal mining and logging practices, Elk County is still producing resources needed for human consumption. The abstraction of coal has had the most detrimental effect, with water quality and related aquatic species being the most harmed.

LOGGING

In these early days of Elk County, lumbering became the king of industries. Elk County was blessed with an abundance of virgin forests of large white pine and hemlock and other valuable timber such as black cherry and oak. The white pine began the “gold rush” of the lumbering in Elk County. Small sawmills were popping up all over the county, especially near streams and rivers, for transportation of the cut timber. Great pine mills had sprung up across Elk County, followed by the hemlock days. Lumber made Elk County a popular destination for men seeking employment, thus drawing many immigrants and pioneers to the area.

As the logging industry exponentially grew, by 1849 rafting and floating logs became a real business. Scattered across the county, many mills, mainly lumber, were being built on the waterways of the county. The Clarion River was the main shipping route to

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Pittsburgh and points south. On the other side of the eastern Continental Divide, the Bennett Branch and many of its tributaries carried timber to Williamsport and places further downstream.

The logging industry created other industries that fashioned the newly forming communities. The streams & rivers were the lifeblood of the businesses and communities. From logging, many new businesses were created. Saw mills were one of the first businesses to be formed from logging. It was discovered that there was a use for the bark from the hemlock tress that they were cutting down. An extraction from the hemlock bark called tannin could be used to tan hides for making leather, thus, tanneries

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caption

were constructed. Elk County’s first tannery was built in 1820. Chemical plants were built for different reasons.??? Need more. At one point, Elk County had the most chemical plants in the state. Other businesses like machine shops, blacksmithing, foundry products, the dye industry, raft building, and the rail road building relied on the logging industry as well. The logging industry brought in money to the area that was not there before, thus stimulating many new businesses to form.

One of the necessities needed during the lumbering days was the maintenance of wagons and rigs and shoeing of horses. Blacksmiths were very much in demand. Perhaps the best-known family in Elk County in this trade is the Gray family. In 1905, Gray operated a blacksmith shop in Caledonia, and later moved and rebuilt the shop in Weedville. He and his four sons, Rex, Clyde, Harry and Lloyd also became masters of the trade and worked in the area. From the Elk County History book, pg 385.

o Look more on Pg. 17 & 18 in Elk Co. history booko Look more on Pg. 1-15 in John’s book

To get an idea of what an old lumber town was like, we will take a look at the Laurel Mill located on Big Mill Creek, which is near Ridgway. It is one of the earlier water powered mills. It was established in 1849. Laurel Mill’s location is where Sandy Beach Recreational Park is currently located on the west side of Ridgway; the H. B. Norton Dam (Ridgway Reservoir) just upstream, currently is the water supply for most Ridgway residents.

Mining When it began Type of mining prevalent Look at old mining town – Wilmer / Benezette – Bennett Branch wq

3. Population increases due to jobs from the above industries

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Pic of gray family, or blacksmith

Look at Elk County population census from the beginning of recording to present

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4. Historical Impacts of the industries

Pennsylvania employs about 90,000 people in the forestry industry. A few examples of jobs that have been created by the forestry industry are: Forester, logger, sawmill worker, furniture builder, flooring makers, and cabinet manufacturers. These 90,000 jobs end up amounting to over 10% of the states workforce. This large number of people being employed by one industry shows just how successful the industry is. Pennsylvania is now the number one producer of hardwood lumber in the nation. Pennsylvania produces over 1 billion board feet of hardwood lumber annually. This is quite an astonishing number.

We now know just how successful the industry is today, but what about the past. Well, forestry in the past was also a very successful endeavor. At one time, lumbering was so prevalent that almost all small towns in the area had a sawmill. The industry, back then, also employed a large number of people and brought a good amount of money to the area. The biggest difference between then and now is the attention being paid to the environment. I will explain some of the things that were done wrong in the past.

Diameter limit cutting- Diameter limit cutting was a common practice in the early days of lumbering. The loggers would have a set diameter that the trees must be in order to be logged. The foresters did not pay attention to what species of tree they were cutting down; they were only interested in the diameter of the tree. The idea behind diameter limit cutting is that the seeds of the remaining trees will create new trees. But the problem is that the trees that are left behind do not have the growing capacity of the larger trees that have all been cut down. Large trees make more large trees,

but small trees make more small trees.

Lack of attention paid to regeneration- In Pennsylvania, we are lucky enough to have a forest that regenerates itself. This means that if left alone, the forest will be able to restore itself to its previous condition.

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Lack of attention paid to water quality- Water may be the most important resource on earth. We realize this now, but in the past we treated waterways like garbage bins. We did not care enough for our rivers, lakes, and streams. Also, when the timber was to be floated down the river, lumber companies would simply clear a path in the water for the timber to follow. Any obstruction that was in the way was taken out. They used explosives to blow up large boulders. This changed all the characteristics of the river that they were using, which lead to a different flow of water. This Fast moving water then stirs up all the sediment and bugs. They then get washed downstream. Without the bugs, fish have nothing to eat. Also, fish can not live in a stream or river that is full of sediment

Lack of attention paid to soil erosion- When all of the trees are being cut down the soil can be easily eroded away. ( I don’t really know about this. Kim you should add something here)

All of these mistakes led to a change in species composition (a lot of red maple and birch as opposed to Oak), loss of water quality, loss of diversity (both plant and animal), erosion, and fires.

Although our forest was once seemingly destroyed, we are very fortunate to have a greatly replenished forest today to enjoy. Pennsylvania’s hard wood forest is, as you have already learned, is a self-regenerating forest. We now have a diverse, high quality, abundant forest. The forestry industry now takes every precaution to care for the environment. Past mistakes cannot be made again as regeneration can become an issue if not planned properly. You could say we got lucky the first time, but the next time may not work out so well.

Some things that the Forestry industry is doing to ensure the safety of our forest, environment, and water quality is: enforcing stricter environmental regulations, having a forestry community (everyone from loggers to foresters etc.) that is far more knowledgeable and far more professional, using certification systems that help track performance and sustainability, addressing insect and disease infestations, ensuring high quality regeneration, using tools such as conservation easements, and focusing mainly on working the forest in a way that helps keep that forest forested rather than converted to other uses.

Coal mining

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Like timbering, coal mining is an important aspect of Elk County’s history for two different reasons. At one time the mining of coal was something positive for Elk County. It gave people jobs, heated people’s homes, and helped develop local economy. Now, coal mining has taken on a different light. We now think of the devastation and lasting negative impression that coal mining has left on our area.There are two main companies that

have mined more than 70% of the coal taken out of Elk County from 1832 to 1970. The Northwestern Mining and Exchange Company and the Shawmut Mining Company have been the main players in the coal mining of Elk County. They chose Elk County because it lies on the northern part of a bituminous coal field. The coal was to be shipped to New York so the close distance lowered transportation costs. Most of the coal that has been mined out of Elk County has come from the Lower Kittanning seam. The amount of coal that has been mined from Lower Kittanning is estimated at about 90 % of all coal taken out of Elk County.Elk County’s first coal mine was opened in 1843, which led to the opening of many more mines all throughout Elk County’s beautiful land. (This will be greatly expanded shortly)

Brick companies

(Kim we need to find some literature on the brick companies. This might be a good project for me once I get to school because the IUP library is pretty much awesome and should have lots of info.)

Johnsonburg

An example of a local industry doing their part to help out with our environment is the Johnsonburg Paper Mill. The mill has operated in Johnsonburg since 1888. The operation of a paper mill combined with tanneries and mining activities historically resulted in the Clarion River being negatively impacted. In 1990 the Johnsonburg Mill had the opportunity to improve its manufacturing process and lessen their environmental impact. With the change of ownership in 1990, it went from a single independent mill operation to part of a corporation that had the necessary capital and resources to rebuild it to the major manufacturing process we see today. With the changing of environmental

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laws and the much needed capital improvements, the Johnsonburg Mill was able to move towards an industry that is able to consistently comply with federal and state environmental regulations.

The first order of business during the modernization of the Johnsonburg paper mill was to build a new wastewater treatment plant. The start up of this new activated sludge plant (a biological waster water treatment process) has improved the quality of the mills discharge and allowed the water quality Clarion River to also improve substantially. This in turn has raised the quality of fishing and improved the recreational value of the river for the public. As a result of the water quality improvements the Clarion River has recovered to become a trophy trout fishery. The river section directly below the mill discharge was designated in 2003 as “All Tackle Trophy Trout” waters by the PA Fish & Boat Commission.

The modernization of the mill with improved technology allowed the Johnsonburg Mill to increase paper production while reducing air emissions permitted by PA DEP. At the same time, the improvements in equipment technology allowed more paper production without any increase in the amount of water used from the East Branch of the Clarion River. This was a major improvement and allowed the mill to grow as an industry to maintain jobs within the region while reducing the environmental impact from the mill.

The mill has also been active both in leadership and funding in Watershed organizations. One such group was the Clarion River Basin Commission. The watershed group existed from 1996 until 2002 and created a river management plan that was used to receive Growing Greened funding for various projects within the watershed. Several the improvements identified and funded through the Clarion River Basin Commission include the removal of low head dams both in Johnsonburg and in Ridgway. These dams represented a significant public safety threat (responsible for past fatalities due to canoes caught in the undertow) and blocked fish migration during spawning periods. As a result of the improvements beginning with the replacement of the mills waste water treatment plant the Federal government and Allegheny National Forest has designated a 52 mile section of river below Ridgway (8 miles below mill discharge) as a National Wild and Scenic River.

The Johnsonburg Paper Mill operates a Cooperative Fish Nursery on-site. The Domtar Fish & Game Club annually receives approximately 12,000 brook, rainbow and palomino trout fry annually. The fish grow from only 3-4 inches to 11 inches or more between their arrival in June and the stocking season the following April. Some years the mills fish nursery has provided the largest fish of any of the state cooperative nursery operations, primarily due to the cold-water temperatures in the east branch of the Clarion River.

Members of Domtar Fish & Game Club consist of Johnsonburg Mill employees (hourly and salary) and retirees. This group maintains nursery operations by monitoring conditions, feeding the fish twice a day and cleaning the raceways. During the spring

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(from April until June) members of the Domtar Fish & Game Club stock the fish in area streams as decided by club members. Locations include the Clarion River and smaller area tributaries open to public fishing. Stream stocking is accomplished by using two “over pack” drums filled with river water and supplied with oxygen. Each drum receives approximately 300 fish. Club members either bucket stock or preferably float stock the stream depending on the conditions or size of the waterway.

Each year a “fishing derby” is held for Johnsonburg Mill where employees, retirees and their families participate in the fun and get prizes. They display their catch proudly. The Children’s Fishing Derby marks the end of the stocking period.

Other public activities associated with the trout nursery include a ‘tagged trout” stocking program. The tagged trout program provides various cash prizes for members of the public if they catch a trout tagged with a Domtar tag. The mill also provides tours of the Nursery for area organizations such as school students, Special Olympics, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Mill tours for the public and for customers usually include a walk-through of the nursery, emphasizing the mill’s dedication to environmental responsibility and its contribution to recreational activities and area sportsmen.

Each year following the Fishing Derby, club members drain the water from the raceways and clean them to prepare for the arrival of a new batch of fingerlings, starting the cycle for another year.

In 2004, the club was a recipient of the AFPA Forest Management Award based on the outreach and collaboration of the Cooperative Fish Nursery being consistent with the principles of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) program. “Through this project, the mill is demonstrating exactly what it means to be a good neighbor,” said W. Henson Moore, AF&PA President and Chief Executive Officer.

Since the paper mill’s 600 million-dollar modernization project in 1992, this

business has gone beyond environmental standards creating a facility that uses 95% of the waste that they produce beneficially. Less than 5 % of their waste residuals are landfilled. This reduces the mills operating cost by avoiding the need to landfill to a third party site such as the Greentree facility or the even more expensive option of operating a landfill as some Mills do. Compared to other Domtar Mills and against all North American mills the Johnsonburg Mill is ranked among the highest for beneficial use of waste and having the lowest landfill volumes. They have accomplished this by working with the state regulatory agency (PA DEP) to beneficially use waste residuals produced during the manufacture of pulp and paper to improve the environment. The waste residuals are used to treat acid water discharges from strip and deep mines and also to improve poor soils so farm crops and wildlife habitat can benefit. The paper mill has received several awards including the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in 1998 for its beneficial use program. It has also allowed the mill to “partner” with various agencies including the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to improve poor soils on strip mine sites to improve wildlife habitat.

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The lands surrounding the elk viewing area near the Benezette, PA have been revegetated with the dewatered sludge from the Johnsonburg Paper Mill wastewater treatment plant. This has created the grasses and clovers needed for not only Pennsylvania’s elk herd but also a variety of other wildlife including turkey, deer, small game and bird species.

The mill also works with the Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) and the Pennsylvania Game Commission on various projects. One of the major projects is the restoration of the former ‘Paper Mill Dam.’ The 240 acre Dill Hill Lagoon treated mill wastewaters from 1937 until 1992. The discharge from the Dill Hill lagoon flowed into the Clarion River approximately halfway between Johnsonburg and Ridgway.

Upon completion of the new wastewater treatment plant by the mill in 1992 the Dill Hill lagoon was no longer required as a treatment facility. The sludge deposits within the lagoon were extensively sampled and characterized within the lagoon. The sludge deposits ranged from less than a foot thick on the east and west sides near the discharge end to 20- feet in depth in the center and northern portions of the lagoon. The composite sludge samples were extensively tested to determine if they were hazardous. The analysis indicated the sludge deposits were non- hazardous. Based on this, the sludge consisting of pulp fiber and lime within the former lagoon was not required to be placed into a landfill. All of the sludge deposits were removed and placed at the north end of the former lagoon. Extensive ground water & surface water monitoring around the sludge deposits is done to ensure compliance with environmental requirements.

During the process of scrapping the sludge deposits within the 240 acre site to the north end of the drained lagoon the topsoil needed to revegetate the area was also removed. As a solution to this problem a plan to successfully revegetate the site was needed. Trials were conducted at Penn State University to develop a “manufactured soil” consisting of dewatered sludge from the new effluent treatment plant, coal fly ash and wood waste. The proposal was approved by PA DEP to revegetate the entire site using this “manufactured soil” made entirely of mill residuals. It represents the largest single use of manufactured soil within Pennsylvania.

The process of revegetating the Dill Hill lagoon has provided opportunities to work in partnership with various agencies and groups to create wildlife habitat and cooperative projects. The entire 240 acre site has been entered into the Cooperative Land Program of the Game Commission. As a partner in this program the site is open to the public for recreational and hunting activities. The same rules as Game Commission property apply to the Dill Hill acreage enrolled. Additionally, the mill partnered with Ducks Unlimited and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. This cooperative project involved creating an artificial wetland using the manufactured soil mixture to improve waterfowl habitat. This 8- acre site was completed in the spring of 2000. The cooperative wetland restoration project was the recipient of the EPA “Five Star Award” in 1999. This award is granted annually by EPA to companies that have completed significant wildlife and habitat restoration projects involving the cooperative efforts of multiple agencies.

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In 1994 PA DEP enacted new Solid Waste Regulations that allowed for the beneficial use of industrial by-products if certain criteria were met. This allowed materials historically land filled to be used for alternative and beneficial purposes. It also saved valuable landfill space and reduced operating costs to industry. In addition to sludge from the mill’s effluent treatment plant, several other waste residuals have been beneficially used in our area. Beginning in 1999 a proposal was approved by PA DEP to use Green Liquor Dregs and Lime Grits (Dregs and Grits) to treat the effects of acid mine drainage (AMD) in the Rasselas area of Elk County. These residuals produced by the mill meet the definition of a co-product. A co-product is a material as defined by Solid Waste Regulations that can be used as an equivalent to a commercially obtained product (lime). Both Green Liquor Dregs and Lime Grits are alkaline by-products of the mills process. Based on the success of the Rasselas project the Grits & Dregs are used to raise ph and lower metal concentrations from past mining activities in other areas of the county.

How does an area industry contribute to the environment? First of all by being in compliance with State & Federal requirements, that is a responsibility and compliance with laws & regulations are needed to maintain their “License to Operate”. Secondly, these environmental contributions are made through “Partnerships”. By partnering with others and combining efforts and resources environmental improvements can occur much easier than trying to work alone. The partners involved in restoring this area of Elk County include the Bennett Branch Watershed Association, PA Game Commission and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Pheasants Forever, the Army Corp of Engineers, the Toby Creek Watershed, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, PA DEP and the DCNR. Working together, these groups address historical acid mine drainage problems while improving poor soils and wildlife habitat in the Benezette area of Elk County. At the same waste residuals are used beneficially and not landfilled, this reduces their operating costs.

These are just a few examples as to how the Johnsonburg Mill, by working with federal and state agencies, has been successful in making major improvements to the environment. With out the successful partnerships that have been developed the success of these projects would not have seen the success that they have today.

5. Current status of above industries in the county

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Are there still active operations? Are they still impacting the resources?

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6. Current status of water / land resources

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a. Biology of a healthy aquatic ecosystem. What is a watershed Stream ecology The Forests Connection to Watershed Health (important section) Beth’s PA Heritage industry report

b. Activities ongoing to fix historical impacts / Watershed groupsc. Toby Creek Watershed Associationd. Bennett Branch Watershed Associatione. Elk County Freshwater Association

7. Hope for the future…what things could be like with the help of everyone

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a. Andy add ending words of wisdom.

Make sure to include:A. mapsB. timelineC. photosD. drawingsE. Quotes

a. Margaret Meadb. Tricha’s tree quotec.

References:

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1. A History of Elk County, Pennsylvania 1981. Copyright Elk County Historical Society 1982. Alice L. Wessman

2. Indians in Pennsylvania 1981 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, T Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Paul A.W. Wallace

3. Lumbering – The King of Industries In early Days of Elk County Published by the Elk County Historical Society, Ridgway, PA. Printed by North Central, Ridgway, PA. Editor Helen Hughes.Copyright Elk County Historical Society

4. Elk County – A Journey Through Time 2003. Clarion River Publishing. John D. Imhof

To learn more about the history of Elk County, please visit the Elk County Historical Society in Ridgway.

Authors

Kim Lanich Elk County Conservation District

Mark LangElk County Conservation District

Andy McAllisterWestern PA Conservancy for Abandoned Mine Reclamation

Artwork by:John Sidelinger and Nelson Haas

Photos submitted by: Kim Lanich, Eric Patton, Larry Fedorko…….????

Acknowledgments (beginning or back cover?)

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This project was funded by grants from the Department of Environmental Protection Environmental Education Grant and a____ Title III grant.

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