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BIG RUN RESTORATION: A SUCCESS STORY
Terry W. Schmidt
• Presented at Pennsylvania Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference, June 26, 2015.
• Terry W. Schmidt, P.E., Vice President, Engineering, Skelly And Loy, Inc., 2601 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110.
BIG RUN RESTORATION: A SUCCESS STORY
• Watershed Assessment and Characterization
• Blacklegs Creek Headwaters Project – Kolb Discharge
• Big Run Restoration – 4 Phase Project
Pennsylvania Coal Fields
Source: USGS
Indiana County, PA
Young Township, Indiana Co.
Kolb Site
• Abandoned underground mine discharge• High flow (approximately 1,000 gallons per
minute)• Selected as first major project in Blacklegs
Creek watershed• Demonstrated ability to manage grant and
complete successful project
Blacklegs Creek Kolb Indiana County
Kolb Site components
• Mine seal
• 18-inch fused, watertight pipe
• Gate valve to control water flow and allow for emergency discharge
• Pipe crossed a stream, shared a trench with a gas line, crossed a driveway, and crossed a railroad prior to entering the treatment site
Riser And Screen AssemblyAt The Kolb Discharge
Big Run Flow Data 2000
• Big Run #2 – 4,700 GPM
• Big Run #3 – 350 GPM
• Big Run #7 – 1,200 GPM
• Big Run #8 – 1,400 GPM
• Main Discharges - > 1/3 of flow
• Main Stem – 20,000 GPM
Big Run & Blacklegs Creek
Phase I – Big Run #2
• 2001 Growing Greener Grant
• Design 2001/2002
• Construction 2002/2003
• Final Report 2004
Phase I – Big Run #2
Phase I - Big Run #2 2003
Phase I - Big Run #2 2003
Phase I - Big Run #2 2003
Phase I - Big Run #2 2003
Phase I – Big Run #2 Flow Distribution/Aeration
Phase I – Big Run #2
Phase I – Big Run #2
Phase I – Big Run #2 O&M
Phase I – Big Run #2
Phase I – Big Run #2
Phase II – Big Run #7
• Big Run #7 2003 Growing Greener Grant
• Grant for #7 Design and #8 Investigation
• Design 2003/2004
• Construction 2004/2005
Phase II – Big Run #7 2004
Phase II – Big Run #7 2004
Phase II – Big Run #7
Phase 2 – Big Run #7Average Raw AMD:Flow = 800 gpmFe = 1 mg/LAl = 15 mg/LHot Acidity = 150 mg/L
Phase II – Big Run #7
Phase II – Big Run #7
Phase II – Big Run #7
Phase II – Big Run #7
Phase II – Big Run #7 & #8
• Final Report 2007
• Phase II Big Run #7 Constructed
• Phase III Big Run #8 Concept Design
Big Run #8 and Big Run #3
• 2004 Initial discussions - Norfolk Southern
• 2006 Meeting with Norfolk Southern
• Wetland and Stream Mitigation Needed
• $1,000,000 + Committed by NS
• 2008 Work commenced on #8 and #3
• 2009 Supplemental GG Grant Requested
Phase III - Big Run #8
Phase III – Big Run #8 Drainage Tunnel
Phase III – Big Run #8 Piping and Emergency Overflow
Phase III – Big Run #8 Piping and Emergency Overflow
Phase III – Big Run #8 Piping and Emergency Overflow
Phase III – Big Run #8
Phase III – Big Run #8
Phase III – Big Run #8 Valve
Phase III – Big Run #8 (#7A)
Phase III – Big Run #8
Phase III – Big Run #8
Phase III – Big Run #8
Phase III – Big Run #8
Phase IV - Big Run #3
• Big Run #3 discharge occurred and adverse property
• 4 acres of treatment area preserved for potential treatment of Big Run #3
• Phase IV – Big Run #3– Supplemental treatment of Phase II & III– Provides excess alkalinity for Big Run #3– Big Run #3 could be re-directed in future
Phase IV - Big Run #3
Phase IV - Big Run #3
Phase IV - Big Run #3
Phase IV - Big Run #3
Phase IV - Big Run #3
2014/2015
• $500,000 Act 13 Grant O&M
• Growing Greener Kolb Wetland Expansion
• Fish in Lower Blacklegs Creek
• Bugs in Lower Big Run
• Norfolk Southern received mitigation
• Work progressing on Whiskey Run
Partners
• Saltsburg Sportsman’s Club
• Norfolk Southern
• Consol Energy
• EASI – water sampling
• PA DEP
• Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
• Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team
Partners
• WPCAMR
• Growing Greener
• EPA 319
• OSM Clean Streams Initiative
• Foundation for PA Watersheds
• Blackleggs Creek Watershed Association
Trout Nursery Man of the Year
Watershed Hero
Mayfly Award Recipient
Always on the Job
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