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BWCA The Buffalo Creek
Watershed Alliance is part of Acid Remediation Project Underway BCWA has been working for several years on reducing the high acid conditions in the upper reaches of the main branch of Buffalo Creek. The water quality in this segment of the stream historically supported a wild brook trout fishery, but over time the fish population diminished to zero in this area. The reduction in water quality and consequent fish loss was the result of the gradual deposition of acidic air pollutants: acid precipitation. As the acidity of the water in the stream increased over time it caused naturally present aluminum in the water change form and become toxic to fish. As the metal accumulates on the gills, it slows respiration and eventually suffocates the fish. The acidity of stream will be reduced by diverting some
of the water into two artificial wetlands. There the water will
filter through beds of compost and limestone, become less acidic (rise
in pH), and return to the creek. The introduction of this treated
water will raise the pH from its current low measurement to its natural
pre-acid rain levels. About six miles of the mountain stream should see
a gradual return of aquatic life. In late September construction began on Buffalo Flats near the headwaters of the main stem of Buffalo Creek. Under the direction of Dietz-Gourley Consulting, LLC crews from Earthmovers, Unlimited,Inc cleared trees for the access road, prepared the site for the creation of the two passive water treatment basins, and installed a small dam for the water intake. Work is now suspended until spring when the site will once again be accessible. Download a fuller description of this passive treatment system here.
Water Intake Dam Assessing Agricultural Runoff Dan Wagner, agricultural environmental specialist, at the Union County Conservation District continues to assess agricultural runoff in impaired segments of the Buffalo Creek watershed. His work is supported by the federal Clean Water Act § 319 grant program, for which BCWA was a co-applicant with the UCCD. Dan has started compiling data for establishing best management practices (BMPs) in a tributary to Buffalo Creek (just outside Mifflinburg). With guidance from DEP, he will create a model to predict future water quality for each sub-watershed as measurements are completed. Since thirty-four percent of the watershed is farmland, assessing the streams and working with farmers to limit agricultural runoff is vital to the future health of Buffalo Creek. This is the beginning of a very long-term project. Stream Monitoring Program Beginning this December BCWA initiated major changes in its monitoring program. The new goals of the monitoring will be (1) to track improvements from remediation projects, (2) to identify future remediation projects, (3) to provide data for the listing and delisting of segments as impaired by US EPA, and (4) to provide data for recommending changes in water quality ratings by DEP, while (5) continuing to accrue more baseline data.
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BCWA Mission The Buffalo Creek Watershed Alliance has as its central purpose to encourage ecologically responsible stewardship of Buffalo Creek, its tributaries, and the environment within its watershed. Sixth
Annual Canoe & Kayak Adventure Join us for a great spring afternoon floating down Buffalo Creek. The trip will be guided and outfitted by Canoe Susquehanna and will feature a demonstration by Matt McTammany, Bucknell professor of environmental biology. Matt will how BCWA volunteers test the quality of the creek's water each month. For more information and the required pre-registration click here: Kayak Adventure 2009 A scene from last year's float
You Are What You Drink; Reasons to Know and Protect the Buffalo Creek Watershed, A 20-minute video describing the creek and the activities of BCWA, is available
for loan at the Union County Public Library,the Laurelton Library, and
the Herr Library. DVD versions may be made available upon request. Your Concerns Let Us Know Your Concerns About
Buffalo Creek What You Can Do At Home T-shirts and Caps with BCWA Logo!
The BCWA logo can now be seen on baseball caps and tee shirts around the watershed. Caps are dark blue with buff lettering. Shirts are natural with blue type and also feature a drawing of and the BCWA mission statement on the back. Caps are $15, shirts are $12. To order yours, send an email to: buffalocreek@dejazzd.com or phone 570-524-0966. Volunteers needed! We are looking for people to take water sediment measurements during high water events. Bucknell geology professor, Craig Kochel, has the kits for these measurements and will teach volunteers how to use them. Write buffalocreek@dejazzd.com if interested. Acknowledgements
The design of this web site has been funded in part by the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fund through a Section 319 Federal Clean Water Act grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency administered by Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
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