Washington County Conservation District Watersheds DivisionA Watershed is an area of land in which all water sources flow into a common body of water. The boundary of a watershed is formed by the topography of an area, and they’re usually divided by hills and ridges. Small watersheds are part of larger watersheds, which in turn are part of even larger watersheds. Washington County’s watersheds are part of the Ohio River watershed, which is part of the Mississippi River watershed, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. What happens in one watershed effects water quality on a much larger scale. Washington County has fifteen main watersheds, some of which are shared with neighboring counties and West Virginia.
The Conservation District supports the Washington County Watershed Alliance and its individual watershed association members through the assistance of the District Manager and the Watershed Specialist. Alliance member associations are the Buffalo Creek Watershed Association, the Chartiers Creek Watershed Association, the Cross Creek Watershed Association, the Peters Creek Watershed Association, the Pike Run Watershed Association, the Raccoon Creek Watershed Association, Ten Mile Creek Watershed Association, and Upper Wheeling Creek Watershed Association. 
Do you have eroding stream banks or want to plant trees and shrubs next to your stream?The Department of Conservation and Natural Resource (DCNR) can help. Follow this link to fill out an application for customized assistance regarding planting a streamside buffer on your property.
Getting to Know Your WatershedsWashington County Watershed Alliance
The Watershed Alliance is an umbrella organization which serves as the fiscal agent for grants and coordinates the county-wide efforts of its member watershed associations. It is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, and is registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations.
The Conservation District holds active membership in the Alliance. Our Watershed Specialist currently serves as the Alliance Treasurer. |
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Meetings are held the First Tuesday of each month, 7:00pm
Washington County Watershed Alliance meetings are open to the public and are held at the Conservation District Office.
Contact us at 724-705-7098 or go to wcwalliance.org for more information
Washington County Watershed Alliance meetings are open to the public and are held at the Conservation District Office.
Contact us at 724-705-7098 or go to wcwalliance.org for more information
Buffalo Creek Watershed Association
The Buffalo Creek Watershed has been designated a High Quality Watershed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The watershed contains a variety of valuable natural, man-made, and historical assets, making it a great location for various outdoor activities.
The association is still working to secure funds to improve the recreational aspects of Dutch Fork Lake, if you would like to help, please contact them (see phone number and address below).
Contact:
www.buffalocreekwatershed.org
724-228-0754
buffalocreekwa@gmail.com
P.O. Box 408
Claysville, PA 15323
Meetings are the second Thursday of each month, 7:00 PM at the Buffalo Township Building.
www.buffalocreekwatershed.org
724-228-0754
buffalocreekwa@gmail.com
P.O. Box 408
Claysville, PA 15323
Meetings are the second Thursday of each month, 7:00 PM at the Buffalo Township Building.
Chartiers Creek Watershed Association
The association is very active in water quality monitoring, educational programs, various projects, and they continue to publish a quarterly newsletter. For more information, visit their website.
Contact:
724-941-5613
Mail to:
50 Old Hickory Ridge Road, Suite 1
Washington, PA 15301
Meetings are the second Wednesday of each month, 7:00 PM at the Conservation District Office.
724-941-5613
Mail to:
50 Old Hickory Ridge Road, Suite 1
Washington, PA 15301
Meetings are the second Wednesday of each month, 7:00 PM at the Conservation District Office.
Canonsburg Lake
Canonsburg Lake is a man-made lake created by a dam on Little Chartiers Creek. Over the years a great deal of sediment has been building up in the lake to the point where depths in much of the lake are less than two feet. A Canonsburg Lake Restoration and Enhancement Committee has been created to help find funding and to get projects underway.
Recreational improvements around the lake continue to advance. Click here to view the Master Site Plan on the Chartiers Creek Watershed Association website. In 2008 two informational kiosks were built and placed near the parking lots at the lake, and a small footbridge was built to connect two portions of the walking trail around the lake.
Recreational improvements around the lake continue to advance. Click here to view the Master Site Plan on the Chartiers Creek Watershed Association website. In 2008 two informational kiosks were built and placed near the parking lots at the lake, and a small footbridge was built to connect two portions of the walking trail around the lake.
The committee has raised funds for the ecological restoration of the lake. The committee decided to proceed in the design phase and hired Michael Baker Corporation after an extensive interview process.
The committee continues to research funding sources for the ecological restoration. Interested in helping with work or fundraising? Click the image below to find out more.
The committee continues to research funding sources for the ecological restoration. Interested in helping with work or fundraising? Click the image below to find out more.
Contact:
savecanonsburglake@gmail.com
412-463-6792
1534 Grandin Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15216
www.savecanonsburglake.org
savecanonsburglake@gmail.com
412-463-6792
1534 Grandin Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15216
www.savecanonsburglake.org
Cross Creek Watershed Association
The most recently completed project is a stream stabilization project on Cross Creek at the site of the Meadowcroft Rockshelter. A cross rock vane was installed to direct the flow of water in order to prevent bank erosion. Historically native species of trees were also planted on the bank and surrounding areas.
Pike Run Watershed Association
The Pike Run Watershed Association is largely run by professors and students from California University of PA, but there is currently an effort to establish a more community-based group. Recently, a water quality assessment was performed on a portion of Pike Run.
Peters Creek Watershed Association
The PCWA remains very actively involved in educational projects, stream restoration and cleanups, public awareness, and a variety of other projects. For more information, visit their website by clicking the link on the right.
Contact:
412-233-6628
peterscreekwsa@verizon.net
P.O. Box 18007
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
Meetings are the second Monday of each month, 8:30 PM at the Clairton American Legion.
412-233-6628
peterscreekwsa@verizon.net
P.O. Box 18007
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
Meetings are the second Monday of each month, 8:30 PM at the Clairton American Legion.
Raccoon Creek Watershed Association
The RCWA is involved in the creation and maintenance of multiple Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) treatment systems in the watershed, as well as educational programs, macroinvertebrate collection, cleanups, and encouraging public participation and awareness.
For more information, visit their website by clicking the image on the right.
For more information, visit their website by clicking the image on the right.
For details on the multiple AMD treatment projects in the watershed, visit the Datashed project page.
JB#2 AMD Treatment System Redesign Complete:
The treatment system, located in the Raccoon Creek watershed in Smith Township, has been redesigned to more efficiently remove iron, aluminum, and manganese from an abandoned mine discharge which previously flowed directly into a tributary of Raccoon Creek. The upper treatment pond has been extended and a new drainage system installed. For more information on JB#2 and other AMD systems, visit the datashed.org project page.
The project was funded by a DEP Growing Greener grant, and work was completed by BKG Industries. Thanks also to Independence Conservancy, Moran Excavating, and the Raccoon Creek Watershed Association.
JB#2 AMD Treatment System Redesign Complete:
The treatment system, located in the Raccoon Creek watershed in Smith Township, has been redesigned to more efficiently remove iron, aluminum, and manganese from an abandoned mine discharge which previously flowed directly into a tributary of Raccoon Creek. The upper treatment pond has been extended and a new drainage system installed. For more information on JB#2 and other AMD systems, visit the datashed.org project page.
The project was funded by a DEP Growing Greener grant, and work was completed by BKG Industries. Thanks also to Independence Conservancy, Moran Excavating, and the Raccoon Creek Watershed Association.
Ten Mile Creek Watershed Association
The Ten Mile Creek Watershed Association was officially formed in May of 2011. This group is newly started and would love to have new members. They are interested in the entire Ten Mile Watershed, spanning both Washington and Greene Counties. If you are interested in attending at meeting they are held on the first Monday of each month.
Meetings are quarterly on the first Monday of April, July and October, 9:00am, at Log Cabin Fence meeting room (Amity, PA)
Meetings are quarterly on the first Monday of April, July and October, 9:00am, at Log Cabin Fence meeting room (Amity, PA)
For more Information call Jennifer Dann: 724-705-7098.
Upper Wheeling Creek Watershed Association
The Upper Wheeling Creek Watershed Association was officially formed in January of 2011. The group is working to maintain, improve, and monitor the water quality of the Wheeling Creek Watershed that lies within Washington County.
For more information, visit their website by clicking the image on the left.
For more information, visit their website by clicking the image on the left.
If you are interested in joining or just attending a meeting to see what projects the group is working on please meet at the East Finley Township Municipal Building, 10:00 am on the first Wednesday of January, April, July, and October.
For more information please call Jennifer Dann at 724-705-7098.
For more information please call Jennifer Dann at 724-705-7098.
