PROJECTS
THE WOMEN IN MINING GRANT
The Yellow Creek Watershed Restoration Committee, working with local and state groups, received a grant from the Women in Mining to purchase 2,100 PT inoculated trees. The trees were planted on a gob pile on Wolf Run near East Springfield at the old Jensie Mine. A gob pile is where the slate, stone and other debris removed from the coal was dumped in a big pile, usually near the mine's cleaning plant. A gob pile is mostly stone, slate and coal, which under normal circumstances, is a very hostile environment for anything to grow and flourish. Green grass never covers a gob pile. Gob piles are easily recognized, because nothing grows there and the area is usually seriously eroded.
That is where the specially engineered trees come in. The white pine seedlings have been engineered and inoculated with special chemicals that allow the trees to take root in gob piles and hinder erosion. Members of the Yellow Creek Watershed Restoration Committee were teamed up with students from the Edison High School FFA chapter to plant the trees.
LOGO CONTEST
The Yellow Creek Watershed Restoration Committee held a logo contest that was open to residents in the watershed. There were 2 categories, youth and adult. The entries had to reflect our mission: "To improve and protect the environment in the Yellow Creek Watershed." Numerous entries were submitted and a winner was chosen for each category. The adult winner was Marlene Harsha of Mineral City and the youth winner was Joey Martin of Steubenville. Joey's logo was selected as the winner overall. Joey is 14 and a student at Indian Creek High School. He hopes to pursue a career in art. The winners each received a trophy and a shirt reflecting the winning logo. The logo can now be incorporated in to all of the committee's correspondence and advertising.
ACCESSING WATER QUALITY
In order to identify and characterize areas contributing to non-point source pollution to the Yellow Creek Watershed, the Yellow Creek Watershed Restoration Committee and several local and state agencies have developed a network of water quality monitoring sites. The first sample screenings will help to identify areas that may be contributing acid mine drainage (AMD) to Yellow Creek and its tributaries. AMD has had a large impact on aquatic life throughout the coal producing regions of Ohio. Discharge associated with mining practices result in acidic and heavy metal laden waters, all of which can result in declines in biodiversity and pose health risks to human health.
One site has involved testing by Mrs. Maryanne O'Donnell and Mrs. Connie Sergakis, two teachers from the Edison High School along with students from their advanced science classes. The site is located off of County Road 75 in Jefferson County on the former Jensie Mine property. The experience enhances the students' understanding of their environment and how it is affected by different pollutants.
If you need more information on the Yellow Creek water monitoring program, or know of any sites that you feel should be monitored, please contact us.
WATER FESTIVAL
The Yellow Creek Watershed Restoration Committee held a Water Festival at the Elkhorn Valley Christian Camp located in Bergholz, Ohio. The festival involved fun and educational activities for both adults and children. Activities included face painting, a dunk tank, water games, prizes and food. Demonstrations were given on Fly Fishing, Bubble-ology, Rockets Away, a Streamulator, Stream Monitoring including kick seining and an Enviroscape. Participants in displays included Yellow Creek Watershed Restoration Committee, Jefferson Soil & Water Conservation, Carroll Soil & Water Conservations, Trout Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, OSU Extension, Division of Wildlife, Jefferson Co. Water & Sewer and the Jefferson County Farm Bureau.
The Enviroscape is an interactive educational model of a watershed that demonstrates how everyday living can affect the watershed. The Enviroscape can be tailored for any age group and demonstrations are available. If you would like to have the Enviroscape demonstrated free of charge to a group of people or students, please contact the Yellow Creek Watershed Restoration Committee.
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