Contact Information
 

Background:

The George's Creek Watershed is located in Allegany and Garrett Counties, Maryland. Headwaters for George's Creek begin in Frostburg, Maryland and George's Creek ends as it enters the North Branch of the Potomac River in Westernport, Maryland.

During the 1830's the George's Creek coal industry received a boost from the first Maryland Geological Survey that reported the area had coal of an extraordinary thickness. By 1881 all of George's Creek could be described as "one continuous street and town, twenty-four miles in length, inhabited by miners and their families" (MDE/BOM, 2003). Deep mining peaked in Western Maryland in the early 1900's with 4.5 million tons of coal being produced annually.

The deep mining that had once almost solely supported George's Creek communities is now the source of environmental problems throughout the area. Because of the mountainous topography of the George's Creek area, many of the deep mines were mined "up dip" from the bottom of the hill, allowing mine water to drain out. The water that now drains out from these mines is Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), which pollutes George's Creek and its tributaries. AMD has left portions of George's Creek and its tributaries fishless. This once flourishing trout fishery now struggles to reestablish.

The creation of the George's Creek Watershed Association (GCWA) began in 1995 as the Mill Run Watershed Association (MRWA). Robert Miller, a retired local area school principal, formed the MRWA to solve problems that negatively impact the Mill Run Watershed such as flooding and AMD. After expanding to combat the poor water quality issues affecting George's Creek and its tributaries, the MRWA was renamed George's Creek Watershed Association. The GCWA is a cooperative, inclusive, non-profit, grass roots organization comprised of residents dedicated to improving the quality of life for the people who live in the George's Creek watershed by being effective stewards to our natural environment. Since its inception in 1995, the GCWA has been committed to finding solutions to environmental problems in the watershed and assisting other agencies in their efforts to remediate these problems. The GCWA has been effective in relieving AMD and flooding issues in the George's Creek area. The OSM/VISTA works on building the capacity of the GCWA so that it can become a more efficient organization in carrying out the goals of its mission statement. Project tasks vary from writing grant proposals to organizing community volunteers for stream clean ups to AMD sampling.

 

Goals and Accomplishments:

OSM/VISTA, Adrian Uzunian, is on his way to continuing the impressive work that previous OSM/VISTA’s have started. Adrian has aided in writing a grant proposal for the Meadow Park tree planting project to occur in the Spring of 2010, assembled the summer and fall quarterly newsletters, organized the 2^nd annual GCWA 5k race and has met with various community leaders to discuss future project opportunities.  Additional projects to be undertaken this year include organizing a ‘backyard buffer program’ for Allegany county, ongoing water sampling to aid the design and installation of additional AMD remediation projects, and organizing an ARRI tree planting to cover over 40 acres in Allegany County. Work has also been done to reach out to community volunteers by presenting at area schools and organizations.

Cassandra McCrae was the GCWA OSM/VISTA for 2008. Cassie worked to ensure that projects started by the first three OSM/VISTAs were continued and focused on capacity building of the GCWA for the coming years. Additional projects developed in 2008 included construction of water quality databases, installation of additional rain gardens at area public schools, and ongoing water sampling which aided the design and installation of additional AMD remediation projects.

The first year OSM/VISTA, Amy McKenzie, applied for two grants for the GCWA. The Ni-Source Grant was awarded to aid GCWA in the Knapp’s Meadow Community Park Project. Amy also applied for a Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT) Grant to fund for trash receptacles for towns along George's Creek.

The second year OSM/VISTA, Melissa O'Neal, received a Kodak American Greenways Grant, and a Chesapeake Bay Trust/Fish America Foundation Grant to provide funding for the Knapp’s Meadow Stream Restoration and Park Project. Melissa has helped the GCWA receive a Watershed Cooperative Grant for the Brophytown Acid Mine Drainage and Stream Remediation Project. Melissa has also applied for and received a Watershed Cooperative Grant for the Getson Steel Slag Leached and Limestone Sand Application project.

Kelly Martin, third-year OSM/VISTA, began her work with the GCWA in July 2005. Kelly applied for and received a CBT Mini Grant Award, which helped to fund additional planting in the Westmar High School Rain Garden. Kelly also assisted in obtaining a Special Project Grant through Canaan Valley Institute (CVI), which funded cleaning and redesign of the Pulse Limestone Bed installed to address the major AMD seep in Mill Run. Kelly helped secure a Watershed Cooperative Grant and applied for a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation/CBT Small Watersheds grant for the construction of a success alkalinity producing system (SAPS) in the Railroad Street Mine Drainage Remediation Project.

In February of 2004 the GCWA received The Conservation Award from the United States Department of the Interior. The Conservation Award is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a non-profit organization by the Department of Interior. The GCWA received nomination by Dr. Watten for their involvement in the Mill Run Pulse Limestone Bed Project. Congratulations to the GCWA!!!

 

Partners and Contributors:

Allegany County Board of Education
Appalachian Coal Country Watershed Team
Appalachian Laboratory
Allegany Soil Conservation District
Braddock Run Watershed Association
Canaan Valley Institute
Chesapeake Bay Trust
Eastern Coal Regional Roundtable
FishAmerica Foundation
Highlands Action Program
Kodak American Greenways
Maryland Department of the Environment
Maryland Department of Juvenile Services
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Nemacolin Chapter, Trout Unlimited
NiSource Environmental Challenge Fund
Office of Surface Mining
Pitt Ohio Express
Rehrig Pacific Company
Ridge and Valley Streamkeepers
Queen City Striders
Savage River Watershed Association
Spisak Trucking Company
The Town of Barton
The Town of Lonaconing
The Town of Midland
The Town of Westernport
Western Maryland Business Resource Center
Western Maryland Resource Conservation & Development Council