OSM/VISTA Volunteer: Kelly Richardson Supervisor: Bernie Hoffnar Location: Six Mile Run Area Watershed Committee Address: 3238 hickory Hollow Rd. Six Mile Run, PA 16679 Phone: 814-928-5253 E-Mail: btsewage@nb.net Congressional District: 9 County: Bedford

Abandoned mine drainage (AMD) has left the watersheds polluted with metals (iron, aluminum, and manganese). AMD often flows directly into the streams; a pH as low as three can be found in many streams. Spoil piles, mine entries, and abandoned mine structures are some of the evidence left behind from prior mining activities. Environmental concerns also include illegal dumping of solid waste in the watershed area. Raw sewage discharging into streams has not been an uncommon occurrence due to inadequate sewage disposal systems. In 1981 a Watershed Study was conducted marking the beginnings of reclamation efforts. The study identified AMD, sewage, and garbage as threats to the local water resources. In 1990 local volunteers organized the Six Mile Run Area Watershed Committee (SMRAWC), which addressed sewage issues. In 1995 SMRAWC organized a Joint Municipal Sewage Facilities Plan. Five Sewage Treatment Facilities have been constructed and are in operation along with several smaller treatment systems. SMRAWC has worked to organize a trash collection program to ensure opereration of an existing landfill. Citizens in the area purchase orange garbage bags for a dollar per bag, designated for trash disposal. Bulk Waste Days have been organized as well. Yearly Highway Clean Ups have also been coordinated by SMRAWC. SMRAWC is now working to address AMD problems. In 2001 an AMD Assessment and Remediation plan was carried out.

Goals and Accomplishments of the OSM/VISTA

- SMRAWC would eventually like to see the streams clean enough to support fish.
- Increased awareness through out the area, of activities that affect streams, is a priority in the area.
- SMRAWC hopes to increase involvement of residents in efforts to clean up the watershed.
- Sources of funding will be sought out to help remediate problems associated with the watershed.

Goal 1: Watershed Education

- Contact and identify the needs of local schools
- Work with Tussey Mt. School district to meet Environmental Ecology standards.
- Develop presentations on care of the watershed Goal 2: Update Stream Restoration Plans - Collect stream samples and publish results
- Act as a contact and educate stream owners of property care
- Identify streams needing attention and coordinate clean ups
- Recruit volunteersGoal 3: Community Outreach
- Organize Watershed Festival
- Coordinate Annual Community Workshop
- Host seminars for the community and SMRAWC
- Create articles, brochures, fliers
- Educate residents of the environmental impacts of prior coal miningGoal 4: Fundraising - Apply for grants
- Contact local businesses
Sell T-Shirts, bumper stickers, etc.

Community Support and Grants

Period	Volunteers	Hours	In-Kind	Grants & donations
Unknown	0	0	$0	$0

Bedford County Conservation District: Guy Stottlemyer a Watershed Specialist has helped us in our efforts to hold a watershed festival this year. He has provided books for SMRAWC to utilize. He also has equipment that can be borrowed. Guy Stottlemyer has suggested grants to apply to. Additionally Lorelle Steech has been helping out with the adaptation of environmental ecology standards in the high school. She is helping SMRAWC in finding resources to help educate the students.

Broad Top Township: Jack Decker is the township chairman who is overseeing the efforts of the Broad Top Township. Ernest Fuller is the township secretary who also manages the day-to-day operations. The Broad Top Township formed the SMRAWC in the early 1990's in an effort to address the problem of pollution entering the local watersheds. The Six Mile Run Area Watershed Committee serves as advisors to the township. The township works along with the SMRAWC to implement watershed and sewage programs.

Canaan Valley Institute: Janie French, Haley Sankey, and Vicki Fenwick have been very eager to work with the Tussey Mountain School District and the SMRAWC. They are helping with identifying resources that can be used to teach the environmental standards in the classroom.

Juniata Clean Water Partnership: Mike Makufka has been very helpful. He is working on getting a data base together that identifies all of the different resources available to watershed organizations. He has identified grants that our SMRAWC can apply for. He has books, equipment, and models that he could loan out to our organization.

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection: Scott Alexander of the Environmental Analysis and Support Division has been conducting test in the streams. He has recorded flow, pH, conductivity, and a measure of macroinvertebrate in the local watershed. He is also engaged in shocking the streams to determine if there are fish present. The data he has collected on our watershed will provide us with an idea of the water quality and also see the effectiveness of treatment systems that are in place. Jane Earl of the Watershed Management Division has worked on updating our stream assessment plan. This will allow us to use grant money provided to the SMRAWC to clean up the watershed. Joe Allison from the Cambria Division will also be working with SMRAWC to ensure the assessment is updated.

Tussey Mountain School District: Both Ted Mellott and Kim Bowser science teachers in the district have met with members of the SMRAWC to ensure an Environmental Ecology program is adopted into the curriculum. SMRAWC will help in locating resources and also providing presentations on care of our watershed for the local schools.

Western Pennsylvania Coalition for the Abandoned Mine Reclamation (WPCAMR): Bruce Golden from WPCAMR has a lot of resources that watershed organizations can utilize. Books, models, pamphlets, training, and educational programs are just a few of the resources they have to offer. They can also provide assistance with grant writing.

Western Pennsylvania Conservancy: Ben Wright will be working with the Six Mile Run Area Watershed Committee (SMRAWC) and assisting our committee in finding resources and identifying grants we may qualify for. He will be visiting the Township area this month just to speak on what the Conservancy has to offer our local watershed.

The Western Pennsylvania Watershed Program: John Dawes provided the $5000 funding to support the OSM/VISTA (See attachment M). The program helps watersheds define their mission, find funding for projects, helps with board development, and provides various other resources.