 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 proposal, called the Curry Mine, is to be 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). This area is approximately 5 miles upstream from two public water supply intakes and approximately 1000' from the Great Allegheny Passage, a rails-to-trails that is a major recreational resource and economic development engine in Fayette County.
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.
July 29. 2010 Update: The Department of Environmental Protection is currently considering the permit application for the proposed Curry Mine, even as the zoning appeal is still pending, and we've learned that issuance of the permit may be imminent. Issuance of the DEP permit will strengthen Amerikohl's position in the appeals process. We are encouraging concerned citizens to contact Secretary John Hanger and Mr. Michael Gardner of the Pennsylvania DEP as well as their legislators to express concerns with the proposed Curry Mine.
Contact Information:
Secretary John Hanger
PA Department of Environmental Protection
(717) 783-3004
jhanger@state.pa.us
Mr. Michael Gardner
PA Department of Environmental Protection
(724) 925-5500
mgardner@state.pa.us
Click to download a MS Word document: General talking points
More information on our Facebook page.
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! |
