In 2005, DMRM actively provided support for the following watershed projects:
DUCK CREEK
The Division, in conjunction with the Ohio University Institute for Local Government and Rural Development (ILGARD), completed a Phase 1 watershed characterization of the Ales Run tributary in order to assess project needs as part of Duck Creek's 319 grant.
HUFF RUN
Construction was completed on the Lindentree Reclamation Project, the first project of the group's $1 million OEPA 319 grant. Construction included reclamation of five pit impoundments and the use of open limestone channels and steel slag for acid mine drainage treatment. Total construction costs were $210,101. These costs were fully covered by the OEPA 319 grant sponsored by Crossroads RC&D.
The second project of the $1 million grant, the Lyons Reclamation Project was designed and bid for a total construction cost of $624,800 of which $340,000 were leveraged funds from the OEPA 319 grant. The project includes reclaiming portions of the exposed toxic mine spoils and coal refuse, establishing positive drainage and installing passing acid mine drainage treatment alternatives including open limestone channels and alkaline ponds using steel slag.
The Division initiated final designs of the remaining two 319 grant projects: Harsha North and Thomas.
LEADING CREEK
The Division began a sediment study of the Little Leading tributary to Leading Creek with Ohio University's Department of Civil Engineering. The study will look at the sediment transport of the stream as well as the effect of mine sediment on habitat potential. The Meigs County SWCD OEPA planning grant is providing funding for a portion of the study.
In addition DMRM continued to support the development of a Leading Creek AMDAT in cooperation with the local watershed coordinator, the Ohio University ILGARD. The completed AMDAT will identify the priority AMD sites that need to be reclaimed to restore Leading Creek from mining related impairments.
MONDAY CREEK
The Division contributed to construction funding of two watershed projects, Big 4 Hollow and Snake Hollow, with the US Forest Service within the Wayne National Forest. Both projects utilized open limestone channels for treatment of acid mine drainage. The Division contributed $400,000 to the total construction costs for both projects of $910,000.
Construction was completed on the Jobs Doser project, which includes a ‘tipping bucket’ doser that actively treats acid mine drainage with the use of pebble quick lime. The project was constructed for $318,747 of which $121,500 was leveraged with OSM Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative grant to Not-for-Profit organizations and OEPA 319 funds through Rural Action.
With the expertise of a consultant, the Division and the watershed group reviewed the feasibility of placing an active treatment doser at the Murray City Park project site as well as within the Brush Fork tributary or at the Essex deep mine discharge. The feasibility study led to the initiation of the final design of the Essex Doser project, which will be constructed using OEPA 319 funds.
Design was started on the Lost Run OEPA 319 grant. Funding for this project includes acid mine drainage treatment via open limestone channels, limestone leach beds and steel slag leach beds to neutralize approximately 13% of the total acid load to the waters of Monday Creek.
MOXAHALA CREEK
Construction is ongoing at the Misco West reclamation project which includes 30-acres of burning refuse and a high quality wildlife impoundment that seeps through the refuse and produces acid mine drainage into Bennett Run, a tributary of Moxahala Creek. The intent of the project is to extinguish the burning refuse and save the wildlife impoundment with the use of a slurry wall while cutting off seepage. The project was bid for a cost of $1,338,654. Of this amount, the Clay Foundation of Crooksville leveraged $110,000 from the OSM ACSI grant for not-for-project organizations. This project will be done in conjunction with the Division’s Abandoned Mine Lands program that deals with health and safety issues related to abandoned coalmines.
The Moxahala Creek AMDAT was completed in cooperation with the local watershed group and Ohio University ILGARD. The AMDAT identified approximately $20 million worth of priority projects that are needed to restore the watershed to a warm water habitat.
RACCOON CREEK
A final design was completed and construction bid for the Middleton Run project. This project will grade existing pit impoundments for positive drainage and cover toxic mine spoils that generate acid mine drainage in high flow events. Of the $695,443 construction costs, $337,067 has been leveraged by the Vinton County SWCD and the Buckeye Hills RC&D.
The Flint Run East reclamation project was bid for construction for $1,418,393. The purpose of the project is to hydrologically isolate a coal refuse fill area and to construct passive acid mine drainage treatment systems to add alkalinity to the Flint Run tributary. Of the total project costs, $754,289 has been leveraged from OEPA 319 and OSM ACSI funds.
The Mulga Run project, which includes wetland enhancement through the use of limestone berms and two steel slag leach beds, was completed for $628,405. The project was done in cooperation with the Vinton County SWCD and the Ohio Valley RC&D.
The construction of the Hope Clay Mine site was initiated with Ohio State University Extension Service and Hocking College. The work includes remediation of an eroding channel and spoils area within the Zaleski State Forest. An OSM ACSI grant awarded to OSU funds this project in its entirety. The large equipment construction class will do construction from Hocking College.
SUNDAY CREEK
The Division completed construction of the Congo Stream Capture project, a capture of a small tributary into an abandoned deep mine complex, using OSM ACSI funds in total of $35,523.
The watershed group started the design of the West Branch Headwaters project, the first from their $750,000 OEPA 319 grant that encompasses five projects within the headwaters of Sunday Creek. |