 History & Geography of the Watershed
The Youghiogheny River, commonly referred to as the Crown Jewel of the Laurel Highlands, originates in Preston County, WV, and flows through Garrett County, MD before entering Pennsylvania near the border of Somerset and Fayette Counties. The river is roughly 132 miles long, and drains approximately 1,715 square miles. It flows into the Monongahela River near McKeesport, PA. The name 'Youghiogheny' comes from a Native American word meaning 'in a roundabout course' or 'stream flowing back upon itself.'
Major tributaries of the Yough are the Little Youghiogheny River, Deep Creek, the Casselman River and Laurel Hill Creek, Indian Creek, Dunbar Creek, Jacobs Creek and Sewickley Creek.
Environmental pressures include abandoned mine drainage, sewage effluent, pollution from commercial and agricultural development, water withdrawal for potable water supplies and gas drilling, increases in impermeable surfaces; active mining; and unauthorized trash dumps.
The Mountain Watershed Association became home of the Youghiogheny Riverkeeper in 2003 through a partnership with the international Waterkeeper Alliance. The Yough Riverkeeper advocates on behalf of, defends and enforces the protection and restoration of ground and surface waters in the Yough River Basin. We believe that a healthy environment produces and sustains healthy communities.
The Youghiogheny Riverkeeper program operates a patrol to assist us in identifying issues and problems in the watershed. To learn more, please contact us.
Proposed Curry Mine
The Fayette County Zoning Hearing Board recently denied a petition for special exception by Amerikohl Mining for a surface mine in Dunbar Township,Fayette County. This mine would have been called the Curry mine, and was to be located approximately 7 miles downstream from Ohiopyle and across from Camp Carmel in the Morgan Run, Johnson Run, and Youghiogheny River watersheds (all designated High Quality by the state of Pennsylvania). The mine would have been located approximately 5 miles upstream from two public water supply intakes, and would have been approximately 1000' from the Great Allegheny Passage, a rails-to-trails that is a major recreational resource and economic development engine in Fayette County.
30 September 2009 Update: We have learned that Amerikohl has appealed the Fayette County Zoning Hearing Board's decision in the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas. You can read the appeal (in .pdf format), submitted on 26 September 2009.
12 October 2009 Update & Action Item: Amerikohl has applied to the Pennsyvlania Department of Environmental Protection for a permit to mine the Curry property. This is a step separate from the Zoning Process. In order to mine the Curry property, Amerikohl must have both the special exception and the surface mining permit. Please consider submitting a request for a "public hearing" to PA DEP. Their address is: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of District Mining Operations, 8205 Rt. 819, Greensburg, PA, 15601-8739. In your letter, provide a short summary of your concerns regarding this proposal. Contact our office for more information or for assistance!
We continue to accept donations to our Yough Defense Fund, which will help us to continue to fund our legal efforts associated with challenging the proposed Curry Mine. Please consider making a contribution today. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Update
21 January 2009 DEP has scheduled a public hearing on the proposed Curry Mine. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at 1 PM at the Morrell Volunteer Fire Department on Morrell Road in Dunbar, PA. Please consider attending and offering testimony. We also have available DEP's announcement of the hearing in .pdf format. Check back for talking points to assist in writing testimony. |
