Cameron County Conservation District

Great news for our watershed! 

Two projects were funded in Cameron County County and both compliment existing projects.

GRANTS AWARDED FOR SINNEMAHONING PROJECTS

HARRISBURG, Pa. (January 18) – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) today announced nearly $550,000 in grants to develop and implement projects that benefit fishing, boating and aquatic resources within Cameron, Elk, Potter and McKean counties.

The funding is available through a 2007 settlement agreement with Norfolk Southern as restitution for environmental damages from a June 30, 2006 train derailment in rural Norwich Township, McKean County. Under the settlement, Norfolk Southern agreed to pay the Commonwealth $7.35 million as restitution for environmental damages. The PFBC received $3.675 million of the settlement.

The funds received through this damage settlement have been used to improve public fishing and boating access, fish habitat, water quality and stream health and to restore stream connectivity through the removal of barriers to fish movement such as dams and culverts.

The external projects funded today total approximately $550,000 and include:

Cameron County Conservation District, $99,720 – “May Hollow 49 AMD Discharge Passive Treatment System Expansion.” As part of the effort to restore the historic wild Brook Trout fishery within the Sterling Run watershed, expansion of this passive water treatment facility will remediate increased acid mine discharge flows from an abandoned coal mine to May Hollow Run, which is a major tributary to Sterling Run.

Cameron County Conservation District, $200,000 – “Restoration of the Upper Jerry Run Watershed to Benefit Native Eastern Brook Trout.” Upper Jerry Run is a tributary to the main stem of Sinnemahoning Creek. The objectives of the project are as follows: 1.) Eliminate significant erosion & sedimentation from adversely impacting the stream along six miles of dirt & gravel roadway through paving with Driving Surface Aggregate (DSA); 2) Elevate pH of the stream using DSA road paving consisting of sand-sized, compacted limestone; 3) Reconnect 1.25 miles of stream habitat by replacing a perched culvert to restore fish passage for naturally reproducing Brook and Brown Trout; 4) Stabilize eroding streambanks at three locations; 5) Improve in-stream habitat through the addition of large woody debris; 6) Work with the PA Department of Environmental Protection to upgrade the watershed to Exceptional Value for added protection; 7) Promote as a demonstration project by providing signage, publicity and training outreach.

With the addition of the current grant announcements, the PFBC has awarded over $3 million in grants to external partners from the Sinnemahoning Creek watershed settlement fund since the start of the grant program in 2008.

For more information visit the Sinnemahoning Creek Watershed Restoration Grant Program page
https://www.fishandboat.com/Transact/Grants/Pages/SinnemahoningCreekWatershedRestorationGrantProgram.aspx at www.fishandboat.com.