Addressing water quality issues may seem like a daunting task, but when water quality impairments are identified and prioritized, clean water initiatives become more manageable. In May of this year, PAN’s Wolf Creek Watershed Based Plan was approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region III.

Having a watershed-based (WBP) plan approved is a major milestone for any watershed organization and a key component to managing water resourcesThe document outlines all the water quality impairments within the watershed and the management strategies to remediate these impacts. The watershed-based plan covers the entire Wolf Creek watershed in Fayette County from the headwaters near Oak Hill to its confluence with the New River near Fayette Station Bridge. Streams within the Wolf Creek watershed are impaired by high levels of iron, aluminum, low pH, and fecal coliform bacteria. In addition, biological impairments are caused by organic enrichment and sedimentation. Every year West Virginia is allocated millions of dollars (around 4 million this year) of federal funds for the Clean Water Act, section 319 program. Section 319 grants are for non-point source pollution management. Approval of a WBP allows organizations to seek federal monies, specifically, grant programs like section 319. This year we submitted a 319 proposal for Phase II (roughly $100,000) at the Summerlee Site (Abandoned Mine Land). The proposal was written to acquire funds for the design and implementation of a passive treatment system. The passive treatment system will be designed to facilitate heavy metal precipitation occurring from major seeps at the Summerlee Site.

Wolf Creek Watershed Based Plan