In August, a strong group of volunteers joined our conservation team to help out with some maintenance and light landscaping at the Melcroft Treatment System. The crew replaced some broken split-rail fences, cut away invasive plants, and removed Styrofoam baffles that were accidentally blocking one of the pipes.
The Melcroft Treatment System is here to treat water running out of abandoned underground coal mines in this area. These mines operated from the mid-19th century to the late 1960s. Years of coal extraction exposed mineral-rich rock layers that, when exposed to water and air, dissolved and created a chemical reaction, sometimes coloring the water reddish orange. We call this Abandoned/Acid Mine Drainage (AMD).
AMD is a significant threat to water quality, because it contains highly acidic water full of heavy metals and other toxic substances. The Indian Creek Valley has hundreds of mine voids that have resulted in AMD flowing into Indian Creek. To mitigate this harm and restore the creek, MWA has built several AMD treatment systems along the creek. Unfortunately, AMD never goes away, and our treatment systems must be maintained indefinitely. Without these systems, Indian Creek would be colored orange and devoid of aquatic life.
Throughout the years, MWA has kept track of the critters living in and around Indian Creek to make sure our efforts are working. We’ve seen macroinvertebrates (aquatic bugs) and fish populations rebound, as well as the other animals that rely on them for food. Everyone loves to see trout thriving in the creek, but most people don’t see the life that thrives in the habitat around the treatment systems!
While surveying and maintaining the Melcroft Treatment System, MWA staff often spot native plants, signs of wildlife, and critters roaming around the ponds. Check out some of the species they’ve seen!
- Muskrat
- Canada Goose
- adults, nests, eggs, goslings
- Tree Swallow
- Red-Winged Blackbird
- Nests
- Green Heron
- Blue Heron
- Bittern
- Hummingbird
- nests
- Black Milk Snake
- Green Frog
- Eastern Newt
- Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)
- Butterfly Weed
- Coneflower (Echinacea spp.)
- Joe-Pye-Weed
- Jewelweed
- and more!
The following animal signs have been spotted:
- Bobcat tracks
- Snapping turtle nest, and egg shells!
You can check out this habitat for yourself! In addition to treating the mine discharge, the Melcroft Treatment System features a half-mile recreational walking path around the treatment system. The parking area is located across the road from the Melcroft Market in Melcroft, PA. Enjoy at your leisure, and let us know if you spot anything cool!