Sewickley creek watershed associations (scwa) mission is to protect and restore the quality of natural resourcesin the sewickley creek watershed

The Department of the Interior Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement awarded a $426,238 Cooperative Agreement to the Sewickley Creek Watershed Association (SCWA) under the Not-for-Profit, Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Reclamation - Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program (CFDA 15.253). The funding will support continued operation and maintenance of the Brinkerton Mine Drainage Treatment System, which was constructed in 2008 to remove iron from mine drainage and improve water quality in Sewickley Creek. Key activities include removing accumulated iron sludge, optimizing the system's oxidation and water flow, and managing vegetation around the site. These improvements will help sustain the treatment system's effectiveness and support expanded designated uses for Sewickley Creek, such as trout stocking. The project is scheduled for completion by June 30, 2024.

In order to do this, the association seeks out and cooperates with governmentagencies, interested organizations, businesses, and individuals in order to implement programs that improve waterquality and encourage proper land use. The watershed association also uses its resources to educate the citizensof the watershed on how to use or implement sound environmental practices. The watershed association is a non-profit 501(c) organization, and all contributions to this organization are taxdeductible. The brinkerton mine drainage treatment system was constructed in 2008. The system was installed using fundingfrom many sources including grants and private donations. The treatment system has worked effectively at removingthe iron from the mine drainage. The system is on property owned and operated by the scwa. The scwa has performedroutine operation and maintenance of the facility to the best of their abilities, however they have limitedresources. Part of passive mine drainage system maintenance is removal of the accumulated iron. Maintenance isneeded to help keep the system functioning properly since IT is being overburdened from the accumulation of iron. The holding capacity is being diminished from the iron deposits. In 2022, the system had its first iron removalin 17 years, additional iron removal is needed. This project, would consist of continuing to remove iron, increase water oxidation with the onsite blowers, and improve water flow and vegetation management. The goal ofthis would be to improve and sustain the effectiveness of the brinkerton mine passive treatment system. Themethods this project would use is to hire a contractor to remove the iron sludge, continue to operate themaelstrom oxidizer and monitor its effectiveness within the treatment system, continue to manage vegetation onthe embankments to ensure tree roots do not compromise the system, and hauling organic sludge from the site. Theimprovements to this system would have a lasting effect on sewickley creek s water quality. If the brinkertonmine drainage can be effectively treated, there is great opportunity to expand the designated uses of sewickleycreek including the continuation of trout stocking downstream from the system. The major partners involved inthis project with sewickley creek watershed association are pennsylvania department of environmental protection, westmoreland conservation district and mount pleasant township to help with the remediation efforts.