At the end of January 2025, the Daily American posted a blasting notice for the town of Rockwood, PA. Some community members were surprised and concerned that a new quarry was being built so close to the Casselman River and the Great Allegheny Passage.
The Casselman is the largest tributary to the Youghiogheny River. It runs for 56.5 miles and drains an area of 565 square miles. The Casselman River rises in Garrett County atop the plateau of western Maryland as two branches, the south one east of Meadow Mountain, the north one farther west, between Meadow Mountain and Negro Mountain. The two branches flow northward, combining just southwest of Grantsville, Maryland. The river then continues north into Pennsylvania, following a great arc across the Laurel Highlands of Somerset County to the community of Confluence, where Laurel Hill Creek joins a few meters above the Youghiogheny River.
Historically (and currently) the Casselman faces pollution due to extensive mining and farming activities. Despite those problems, this waterway still remains popular for boaters, anglers, and cyclists riding along it on the Great Allegheny Passage trail.
Mountain Watershed Association is seeking ways to proactively engage Somerset leaders and elected officials on this issue, to show them how special the waters of the Casselman are. In the meantime, here are some facts on the Rockwood Quarry and some of its potential impacts.
Quick Facts:
- Where is it? The quarry is located off Markleton School Road, just south of the Great Allegheny Passage Rockwood Trailhead.
- Is it permitted? Yes. Mining Permit: 56190801 NPDES: PAM419001
- How much land is affected? 4 acres
- What waterway will be affected? The Casselman River
- Are there Species of Concern in the area? Yes. Acetaea podocarpa (Mountain Bugbane), Threatened. Catosomus catostomus (Longnose Sucker), Endangered. Myotis sodalis (Indiana Bat), Endangered. PA DCNR and PA Fish and Boat say that they do not anticipate impacts.
MWA’s Concerns:
- The Casselman River already suffers from sedimentation issues, due to runoff from farms upstream. Those sediment issues could get worse with extensive quarrying.
- The Casselman is also struggling from past and current mining along the waterway.
- The quarry could cause recreation impacts to cyclists, boaters, and anglers who use the river and GAP trail. Now that the boom times of logging and coal mining are behind us, recreation is a key part of Rockwood’s economy. Outdoor recreation areas like the river and trail should be protected from industrial impacts.
- According to the 2/11 Commissioners Meeting agenda, Somerset County approved a contract with an engineering firm for consultation on the Rockwood Trailhead Project.
- It’s unclear who will pay to move the water line.
- Lack of transparency for the community and stakeholders.
For now, we’re in contact with the Rockwood community and the DEP. Stay tuned for more ways to engage on this developing issue! To get involved, contact nate@mtwatershed.com!
Correction: A previous version of this post stated that Somerset County would be funding the GAP trail project (on the Rockwood Trailhead). We have clarified that phrasing above.