WATER RESOURCES OF GREENE COUNTY
Department of Economic Development
Robbie Matesic, Executive Director of Economic Development 49 South Washington Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370
Phone: 724-852-5300 / Fax: 724-852-2944
Office Hours: 8:30 AM—4:30 PM, Monday—Friday
WATER RESOURCES:
Surface waters are defined in The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Code Title 25 Environmental Protection Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards as "Perennial and intermittent streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, wetlands, springs, natural seeps and estuaries, excluding water at facilities approved for wastewater treatment such as wastewater treatment impoundments, cooling water ponds, and constructed wetlands used as part of a wastewater treatment process" (Pennsylvania Code, 1971).
Under Section 303(d) of the 1972 Clean Water Act, states, territories, and authorized tribes are required to develop lists of impaired waters (USEPA 2004). The water quality standards identify the uses for each water body and the scientific criteria needed to support that use. Minimum goals set by the Clean Water Act require that all waters be "fishable" and "swimmable." This section requires that these jurisdictions establish priority rankings for waters on the lists and develop Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for these waters. A TMDL specifies the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive and still meet water quality standards, and allocates pollutant loadings among point and nonpoint pollutant sources.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) implementing regulations (40 CFR Part 130) require:
States to develop lists of impaired waters for which current pollution controls are not stringent enough to meet water quality standards (the list is used to determine which streams need TMDLs);
States to establish priority rankings for waters on the lists based on severity of pollution and the designated use of the water body; states must also identify those waters for which TMDLs will be developed and a schedule for development;
States to submit the list of waters to EPA every two years (April 1 of the even numbered years);
States to develop TMDLs, specifying a pollutant budget that meets state water quality standards and allocate pollutant loads among pollution sources in a watershed, e.g., point and nonpoint sources; and
The EPA to approve or disapprove state lists and TMDLs within 30 days of final submission.
Despite these requirements, states, territories, authorized tribes, and the EPA had not developed many TMDLs. Beginning in 1986, organizations in many states filed lawsuits against the EPA for failing to meet the TMDL requirements contained in the federal Clean Water Act and its implementing regulations. While the EPA has entered into consent agreements with the plaintiffs in several states, other lawsuits still are pending across the country.
In the cases that have been settled to date, the consent agreements require the EPA to backstop TMDL development, track TMDL development, review state monitoring programs, and fund studies on issues of concern (e.g., AMD, implementation of nonpoint source Best Management Practices (BMPs), etc.). These TMDLs were developed in partial fulfillment of the 1997 lawsuit settlement of American Littoral Society and Public Interest Group of Pennsylvania v. EPA.
The TMDL’s developed for Greene County are:
Dooley Run Watershed, EPA approved 4-7-07 located within the Dunkard Creek Watershed-pollutant-metals from AMD
Dunkard Creek Watershed-EPA approved 4-4-07-pollutant-metals, siltation, suspended solids
Whiteley Creek watershed-not approved as of Feb 2009-pollutant-Non Point Source Pollution-siltation
Pumpkin Run Watershed-not approved as of Feb 2009-pollutant-Non Point Source Pollution-Nutrients/Organic Enrichment/low dissolved oxygen
WATERSHEDS, RIVERS and STREAMS:
The PADEP protects waters within the state boundary under the following categories: aquatic life, water supply, recreation, special protection, and other. Under the "Special Protection" category, certain watercourses are given protection as High Quality Waters (HQ), meaning that the watercourse has excellent quality waters and environmental or other features that require special water quality protection (PADEP, 1999). To qualify as a Exceptional Value Water (EV), the water must be classified as HQ; the water is a surface water of exceptional ecological significance;
and at least one of the following:
The water is located in a National wildlife refuge or a State game propagation and protection area.
The water is located in a designated State park natural area or State forest natural area, National natural landmark, Federal or State wild river, Federal wilderness area or National recreational area.
The water is an outstanding National, State, regional or local resource water.
The water is a surface water of exceptional recreational significance.
The water achieves a score of at least 92% (or its equivalent) using the methods and procedures described in subsection (a)(2)(i)(A) or (B).
The water is designated as a "wilderness trout stream" by the Fish and Boat Commission following public notice and comment. Greene County is fortunate to have several streams that are designated as either HQ or EV.
Greene County is fortunate to have several streams that are designated as either HQ or EV. In addition, several streams and their tributaries have been designated as trout stocked fisheries (TSF) by the PADEP, which means these streams maintain stocked trout from mid-February to late-July and maintains and propagates fish species and additional flora and fauna which are indigenous to a warm water habitat.
The following table shows Greene County Streams and the streams are classified as HQ and/or TSF.
Name of Stream
Municipality
Drainage Area Square Miles
Chapter 93 Protected Water Use
Unnamed Tributaries to NORTH FORK, DUNKARD FORK WHEELING CREEK
Aleppo Township Richhill Township
Unknown
EV
Unnamed Tributary to OWENS RUN, ENLOW FORK
Morris Township Richhill Township
Unknown
EV, WWF
BROWNS CREEK (and its tributaries)
Franklin, Washington, Morris & Center Townships
45.7
HQWWF
CLEAR RUN
Center Township Franklin Township
1.47
HQWWF
LIGHTNER RUN
Center Township
1.70
HQWWF
PURSELY CREEK (and its tributaries)
Wayne, Center & Franklin Townships
13.2
HQWWF
RUSH RUN
Center Township
1.85
HQWWF
SOUTH FORK TEN MILE CREEK to mouth of BROWNS CREEK (and its tributaries)
Center Township Franklin Township
199.0
HQWWF
MONONGAHELA RIVER
All municipalities along the eastern border of the county
7,386
WWF
ENLOW FORK WHEELING CREEK (and its tributaries)
Morris Township Richhill Township
73.1
TSF
SOUTH FORK, DUNKARD FORK WHEELING CREEK (and its tributaries)
Jackson Township Richhill Township
28.0
TSF
WHITELEY CREEK (and its tributaries)
Whiteley, Greene, & Perry Townships
54.4
TSF
LAKE WILMA
Wayne Township
n/a
TSF
TEN MILE CREEK (source to South Fork Ten Mile Creek)
Morgan Township Jefferson Township
338.0
TSF
Acronym Key: EV - exceptional value; HQWWF - high quality warm water fishery; TSF - trout
stocked fishery (according to PADEP Chapter 93. Water Quality Standards
The major landscape feature for water resource studies is the watershed boundary. A watershed is defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) as the area of land that catches rain and snow and drains or seeps into a marsh, stream, river, lake, or groundwater (USEPA, 2004). Because watersheds are defined by natural hydrology, they represent the most logical basis for managing water resources.
The resource becomes the focal point, and managers are able to gain a more complete understanding of overall conditions in an area and the stressors, which affect those conditions. This entails a strategy that crosses municipal boundaries and requires a great deal of coordination, cooperation, and communication within and between municipalities sharing the same watershed.
Watersheds are delineated based on topography and ridgelines. Every river, stream, and tributary has an individual watershed, however, these individual watersheds are grouped together to form larger watersheds. All of Greene County is within the Ohio River watershed, which is Pennsylvania’s second largest river basin, covering 15,614 square miles of the state west of the Allegheny Mountains (PADEP, Pennsylvania’s Major River Basins, 2008). The Monongahela River watershed is a sub-watershed of the Ohio River watershed and, therefore, any watercourse that drains into the Monongahela River is not only part of the Monongahela River watershed, but it also part of the larger Ohio River watershed. The Monongahela River forms the eastern boundary of Greene County and is one of the two major rivers (the second being the Allegheny River) that converge in Pittsburgh to form the Ohio River.
Rivers, streams, and tributaries in the western portions of Greene County drain west directly into the Ohio River watershed; whereas, watercourses in the central and eastern portions of the county drain east into the Monongahela River sub-watershed. Enlow Fork of Wheeling Creek, Dunkard Fork of Wheeling Creek, and Pennsylvania Fork, of Fish Creek are the three main tributaries in Greene County that flow into the Ohio River Watershed; while Ten Mile Creek, South Fork Ten Mile Creek, Muddy Creek, Little Whitely Creek, Whitley Creek, and Dunkard Creek, Pumpkin Run, and Crooked Run are the eight main tributaries in Greene County that drain into the Monongahela River watershed.
Crooked Run — is a 3rd order stream that originates in Dunkard Township and flows east until it empties into the Monongahela River. The stream has a drainage area of 7.09 square miles, which is partially located in West Virginia. The PADEP has classified Muddy Creek under Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards as WWF. According to PADEP’s Internet website, no TMDLs have been approved for Muddy Creek watershed to date.
Dunkard Creek — is a 3rd order stream that has a total drainage area of 235 square miles. Pennsylvania Fork Dunkard Creek and West Virginia Fork Dunkard Creek converge to form Dunkard Creek along the Pennsylvania – West Virginia border near the town of Brave, Greene County. The stream flows east along the PA/WV for approximately 10 miles and then heads northeast into PA until it empties into the Monongahela River at Poland Mines. The PADEP has classified this stream under Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards as a WWF.
According to PADEP, TMDLs were approved in April of 2007 for Dooley Run, which drains into Dunkard Creek approximately a mile south of Mt. Morris. Dooley Run is impaired by metals specifically total iron, total manganese, and total aluminum from abandoned mine drainage (AMD) and resource extraction. A remediation plan will need to be developed for Dunkard Creek Watershed in order to meet the water quality objectives outlined in the report.
A Rivers Conservation Plan was completed in 2000 for the Dunkard Creek Watershed. Biological, physical, and social/cultural characteristics of the watershed were discussed in the report and several major concerns were identified with AMD labeled as the number one problem and first priority in the watershed. Other issues listed in descending order of priority by the Plan include: Solid waste/trash dumps, erosion/sedimentation, education, sewage, water quality, and recreation/heritage.
Since the publication of the Plan, a Pennsylvania based "Friends of Dunkard Creek" group was developed through the assistance of the Greene County Watershed Alliance and a partnership with Greene County Conservation District. The purpose of the development of this association was to unify the Dunkard Creek watershed.
Dunkard Fork of Wheeling Creek — is a 3rd order stream that has a drainage area of 76.2 square miles. North Fork Dunkard Fork and South Fork Dunkard Fork converge to form Dunkard Fork along the PA S.R. 21 near the town of Ryerson Station, PA.
The stream then goes on to flow northeast into West Virginia, where it eventually empties into Wheeling Creek. The PADEP has classified Dunkard Fork as a WWF and classified North Fork and South Fork as TSF. According to PADEP’s Internet website, no TMDLs have been approved for the streams. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) officially approved Dunkard Fork, North Fork, and South Fork as “approved trout waters.” Ryerson Station State Park is located within this Watershed.
Enlow Fork of Wheeling Creek — is a 3rd order stream that has a drainage area of 73.1 square miles. The stream begins in Morris Township, Greene County and drains west into WV, serving as the north western border between Washington and Greene Counties, and eventually emptying into the Ohio River. The PADEP has classified this stream as a Trout Stocked Fishery (TSF) from the source to PA-WV state border (PADEP, 2005). According to PADEP’s website, no Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) have been approved for Enlow Fork Wheeling Creek (PADEP, 2005). The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) has officially approved this stream as “approved trout waters”, indicating that it meets criteria qualifying the stream to be stocked with trout by the PFBC. These waters are closed for all fishing from March 1 to 8:00 a.m. on opening day of trout season.
The Wheeling Creek Watershed has an existing watershed association titled Wheeling Creek Watershed Conservancy. The organization focuses on “Educating and Evaluating the Watershed for Preservation Project” and partners with West Greene School District and Richhill Township Supervisors.
Fish Creek (Pennsylvania Fork) — is a 3rd order stream that has a drainage area of 36.6 square miles. The stream originates in Jackson Township along S.R. 18, near Nettle Hill, and flows southwest into WV where it converges with West Virginia Fork, Fish Creek to form Fish Creek. The PADEP has classified Pennsylvania Fork as a TSF. According to PADEP’s Internet website, no TMDLs have been approved for Pennsylvania Fork.
Little Whiteley Creek — is a 3rd order stream that originates in Cumberland Township and flows east, serving as the Cumberland / Greene Township border, until it empties into the Monongahela River. The stream has a drainage area of 9.03 square miles. The PADEP has classified this stream under Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards as a WWF. According to PADEP’s Internet website, no TMDLs have been approved for Little Whiteley Creek watershed to date. Little Whiteley Creek is not a tributary of Whiteley Creek.
Muddy Creek — is a 3rd order stream that has a total drainage area of 31.7 square miles. The stream originates in Jefferson Township and flows southeast to Baileys Crossroads, where South Branch enters, and then flows northeast until it empties into the Monongahela River. The PADEP has classified Muddy Creek under Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards as WWF. According to PADEP’s Internet website, no TMDLs have been approved for Muddy Creek watershed to date.
Pumpkin Run — is a 5th order stream that is a tributary of the Monongahela River. Pumpkin Run originates in Jefferson and Cumberland Townships, flows east across Greene County for approximately 2 miles, and then heads north for approximately 3 miles until emptying into the Monongahela River near the Borough of Rice Landing. The PADEP has classified Pumpkin Run under Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards as a WWF. A TMDL has been developed by the PADEP and is expected to be approved in the fall of 2008.
South Fork of Ten Mile Creek — is a 4th order stream that originates in Center Township, Greene County and flows northeast until it empties into Ten Mile Creek on the northeast boarder of Morgan Township. It has a drainage area of 199 square miles.
The PADEP has classified this stream under Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards as a High Quality WWF (HQ-WWF) from its source to Browns Run and the remaining length as a WWF. The HQ designation means that this stream has excellent quality waters and contains environmental or other features that require special water quality protection. No TMDLs have been identified for South Fork Ten mile Creek (PADEP, 2005). The following tributaries to South Fork Ten Mile Creek are designated HQ-WWF: Browns Creek, Pursley Creek, Clear Run, Rush Run, Lightner Run, and a few unnamed tributaries.
In April of 2004, PA Cleanways supported a "clean-up" of Browns Creek. Trash was removed from the channel and the riparian area. In addition, native vegetation was planted in the riparian zone to restore quality to the stream.
Ten Mile Creek — is a 3rd order stream that has a drainage area of 338 square miles. Ten Mile Creek begins in South Franklin Township, Washington County and drains east for approximately 12 miles, serving as the north eastern border between Washington and Greene County, and eventually empties into the Monongahela River at Millsboro.
The PADEP has classified this stream as a Trout Stocked Fishery (TSF) from the source to convergence with South Fork Ten Mile Creek and a Warm Water Fishery (WWF) from South Fork Ten mile Creek to the mouth. According to PADEP’s Internet website, no TMDLs have been approved for Ten mile Creek (PADEP, 2005).
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) has officially approved this stream (from S.R.18 downstream to S.R. 19) as “approved trout waters”, indicating that they meet criteria qualifying them to be stocked with trout by the PFBC. These waters are closed for all fishing from March 1 to 8:00 a.m. on opening day of trout season.
Ten Mile Creek watershed has an existing watershed association titled Ten Mile Creek Watershed Conservancy. The watershed association’s slogan is as follows: “A voice for the natural continuum of Ten Mile (Cusutha's) Creek and neighboring watersheds in Greene and Washington Counties, Pennsylvania “Caring about the places no one is saving.”
Whiteley Creek — is a 3rd order stream that has a total drainage area of 54.4 square miles. It originates in Whiteley Township and flows east to the Monongahela River. The PADEP has classified this stream under Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards as a TSF from the source to S.R. 2011 bridge and a WWF from the bridge to the mouth (the Monongahela River). According to PADEP’s Internet website, no TMDLs have been approved for Whiteley Creek watershed to date, although PADEP will have an approved plan at the end of 2008. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) has officially approved this stream (from the headwaters downstream to S.R. 0088) as “approved trout waters.”
A watershed mitigation plan for Whiteley Creek (Foundation for California University, 1999) was implemented in 1999 to mitigate impacts incurred by RAG Emerald Resources Corporation during coal mining operations. Mitigation measures included planting 110 acres of warm seasons grasses, construct 23 border edge cuts, and restore 7.2 miles of stream bank (7.2 miles of fencing, 5 acres of wetland restoration, construction of 7 cattle crossings, 5 ramps, 1 watering trough, 2 H-braces, 26 spring gates, and 4 wire gates) along Whiteley Creek. Implementation measures and monitoring is ongoing. In addition, the Greene County Conservation District implemented a best management practices (BMP) for the watershed.
The Monongahela River watershed, the largest of the sub-watersheds with a drainage area of 7,386 square miles, a 128-mile waterway that begins near Fairmont, WV and joins Allegheny River in Pittsburgh to form the Ohio River. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) has classified this river as a Warm Water Fishery (WWF), meaning that this type of stream maintains and propagates fish species and additional flora and fauna that are indigenous to a warm water habitat.
It also is protected under the Navigation (N) use, meaning that this type of stream is used for the commercial transfer and transport of persons, animals, and goods.
The Monongahela River has played a significant role in the history of the region. It has served as a transport avenue for runaway slaves who were heading north, a major transportation route for westward settlement during colonial times and later propelled the industries along its shores to worldwide importance and unequaled production. Along with its changing roles and functions, the Monongahela River itself has adapted. It has been transformed from a wide and shallow river to a slow- moving, deeply pooled, body of water.
The Monongahela River has approved TMDLs for two pollutants—chlordane and PCBs. Chlordane was used from 1948 until 1988 in the United States as a pesticide; it is a persistent chemical (>20 years) and bioaccumulates in the environment and tissues of animals. PCBs are manmade chemicals that were used in transformers, paints, adhesives, caulking compounds, some filters, and carbonless copy paper. PCBs enter the environment in air, water, and soil during the manufacturing process. The Monongahela River Conservation Plan (RCP) was completed in 1998 and contains management objectives to assist in the future planning of the watershed.
Three of our watersheds (Enlow Fork, Dunkard Fork of Wheeling Creek, and Fish Creek) flow into the Ohio River Basin, and it moves southwest through West Virginia and eventually flows into the Ohio River.
All of our little streams that flow from our hillsides feed our major streams in Greene County, and our major streams feed the rivers. As the Ohio River flows, it meets the Mississippi then onto the Gulf of Mexico. The waters and rivers of Greene County are part of a bigger process called the Hydrologic Cycle. So how Greene County treats our watersheds can have far reaching effects in other watersheds of the nation.
WETLANDS:
A wetland is defined by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as any land transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface or the land is covered by shallow water. For purposes of this classification wetlands must have one or more of the following three attributes: (1) at least periodically, the land supports predominantly hydrophytes; (2) the substrate is predominantly undrained hydric soil; and (3) the substrate is nonsoil and is saturated with water or covered by shallow water at some time during the growing season of the year (USFWS, 2004). The USFWS provides information on the characteristics, extent, and status of the Nation's wetlands and deepwater habitats and other wildlife habitats. The USFWS attributes causes of wetland losses to urban development, agriculture, silviculture and rural development.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has developed a National Wetland Inventory (NWI) as directed by the Emergency Wetland Resources Act of 1986. Mapping and additional information about Greene County’s wetlands can be accessed on the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wetland Inventory (NHI) website: www.fws.gov/wetlands.
FLOODPLAINS/FLOODWAYS:
According to 25 Pa. Code § 106, the definition of a floodplain is “the 100-year floodway and that maximum area of land that is likely to be flooded by a 100-year flood as shown on the floodplain maps approved or promulgated by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).” A floodway is defined as “the channel of the watercourse and those portions of the adjoining floodplains, which are reasonably required to carry and discharge the 100- year flood.” Floodplains are important to a community and its environment because they hold back storm flows and reduce destructive flooding downstream. In addition, they are very fertile habitat, providing for good cropland for agriculture as well as providing important shading for stream habitat. Also, floodplains provide an important linkage between aquatic and upland habitat.
The one hundred and five hundred-year floodplains are generally narrow and restricted by the steep slopes that border most of the corridor. Figure 4-5: Hydrology illustrates the floodplain locations within the project area. Flood management and insurance rates are coordinated through the National Flood Insurance Program. This program, which was established by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 and the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, was an effort to reduce the damage and hazards associated with flood events. To accomplish these goals, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conducts routine flood insurance studies, which investigate the severity and existence of flood hazards throughout the country. The results of these studies are then used to develop risk data that can be applied during land use planning and floodplain development.
In addition to the flood hazard data provided by FEMA, the National Weather Service (NWS) operates river forecast points at several locations along the Monongahela River. River stage information is available through recorded messages, the NWS Internet site
(www.nws.noaa.gov\er\pitt), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) also maintains copies of FEMA studies and related flood hazard investigations. This information as well as other flood hazard assistance is available through the ACOE, Pittsburgh District Office. According to the ACOE, Pittsburgh District Office, there are no federally maintained or owned flood control dams present in Greene County. PA-647 and PA-648 dry dams in the Enlow Fork watershed were constructed and are flood retarding structures for Wheeling, WV as well as a levee system that was built by the ACOE in New Freeport.
For general information, please contact the Information Services at 724-852-5399 / Toll Free: 1-888-852-5399. County Office Building, 93 E. High Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370
