April 1998

THE CATALYST

Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition Monthly Activities Update

Next meeting: Thursday, 4/9/98, 7:00 PM, SRU Vincent Science Hall (Rm. 105). Topics: "Get-Together;" 1998 WV AMD Conference; 1998 SRWC Symposium; and Girl Scout Eco-Action Day. Prior meeting: 3/12/98, Rm. 105, SRU Vincent Science Hall. Attendees: S. Smith, J. Belgredan, D. Hockenberry, C. Cooper, F. Brenner, T. Danehy, M. Dunn, T. VanDyke, T. Gillen.

SRWC PRESENTATION WELL-RECEIVED BY GROVE CITY ROTARY CLUB

Dr. Fred Brenner, Grove City College, introduced Margaret Dunn as the luncheon speaker at the 3/24/98 meeting of the Grove City Rotary Club. Margaret's presentation which included several hand-outs and a poster displaying the activities of the Coalition was well-received by the group of about 40 Rotarians. Their interest was obvious through the insightful questions during the presentation and the positive discussions after the meeting. Thanks to the Knox District Mining Office and Tim Danehy for providing the data, resources, and talent needed for the poster!!!

APRIL IS EVENT MONTH!!!!

April 7 & 8: West Virginia Surface Mine Drainage Task Force Symposium

Participants in the Coalition have spent numerous hours updating the posters and hand-outs which depict our efforts in the headwaters and at the Jennings Environmental Education Center. The attendance at the WV Symposium to be held in Morgantown is expected to exceed 300!! A special thanks to the WV Surface Mine Drainage Task Force and the WV Mining and Reclamation Association for providing this wonderful opportunity to discuss our findings and the issues with the regional community!!!

April 13: Girl Scout Eco-Action

About 24 Girl Scouts, from Cadettes to Seniors (ages 11 to 17) are expected to attend the event to be held at the Jennings Environmental Education Center. Charles Cooper is to conduct the morning tour of the coal mine drainage abatement site, where local Girl Scouts along with Grove City College students, Slippery Rock University students, and PA Dept. of Environmental Protection personnel, and others are participating in a cooperative effort to initiate, construct, and monitor full- and pilot-scale passive treatment systems. The afternoon work project is to consist of permanent seeding of the disturbed area of the newly constructed Vertical-Flow System with warm season grasses, followed by hay mulching. This is an innovative program and a unique opportunity for teamwork and practical application!!!

April 15: SRWC Get-Together

The Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition will hold an "open house" at the Epiphany Catholic

Church, Boyers, PA between 6:00 and 8:00 PM. This will be very informal. Janice Belgredan and Steve Smith will be welcoming the community to our "indoor picnic." Ball caps, magnets, and mugs will be distributed. Posters, as well as informational hand-outs, will help to explain the Coalition's activities. This event promises to be a "fun time" and an opportunity to entertain new ideas and answer questions about the efforts and goals of the Coalition. The "indoor picnic" is being catered by the community grocery, Thompson's Market, which is located near the headwaters in Eau Claire, PA. There will be no charge to the attendees for the meal/event. All are invited...bring the family!!!!

April 17: 1998 SRWC Symposium

The third annual Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition Symposium is being held at Jennings Environmental Education Center on Friday, April 17, 1998 from 8:15 AM to 3:30 PM.

The response has been overwhelming!!! Over 100 high school students from Slippery Rock and Lincoln High Schools are planning to attend!!!! A special tour and program will be provided by Bob Hedin and the staff of Jennings Environmental Education Center.

In the morning, after coffee and donuts, there will be a very brief and understandable explanation of passive treatment technology and the goals of the Coalition followed by presentations from Slippery Rock University, Grove City College, and Allegheny College students relating to their research in the watershed. The Girl Scouts participating in the applied program at Jennings will also give a brief overview of their efforts. The moderators will be Janice Belgredan and Steve Smith, who have graciously changed their plans in order to help with this event. Robert Zick will present the 1998 SRWC Appreciation Award. Posters and videos will be available for inspection during breaks throughout the event.

Following lunch, the cost of which has been generously covered by private donations, there will be a field tour of some of the completed and in-process restoration efforts in the watershed. Sites will include: the Sunbeam Tipple; the Chernicky Landowner Reclamation Site; and the Ferris Treatment Complex. Transportation will be provided by Slippery Rock University. Presentations will be given in the field by individuals directly involved in the projects.

We are very pleased that Robert C. Dolence, Deputy Secretary for Mineral Resource Management, PA Dept. of Environmental Protection will be our Guest Speaker (time to be announced) this year. Mr. Dolence has provided valued and continued encouragement for watershed restoration efforts throughout the coalfields of Pennsylvania!!!

NEXT NEWSLETTER

MUCH more has and is happening...

-- magazine article written about Jennings passive treatment complex

-- Jennings Environmental Education Center finalist for Three Rivers Environmental Award

-- C D S Associates, Inc. finalist for Three Rivers Environmental Award

_{April 1998 newsletter distribution: 133 copies}