Pennsylvania Environmental Council Three Rivers Conservation Plan – Final – January 2004 Acknowledgements The Pennsylvania Environmental Council would like to gratefully acknowledge the individuals and organizations who have provided valuable assistance in the development of the Three Rivers Conservation Plan: Joann Albert – Pittsburgh Voyager Allegheny County Planning Department Meg Balsamico – Penn Hills Township Joan Blaustein – Three Rivers Wet Weather Demonstration Project Tim Collins – 3 Rivers 2nd Nature Christine Davis – Christine Davis Consultants Hannah Ehrlich – City of Pittsburgh Stephen Farber – University of Pittsburgh Dave Fawcett – Allegheny County Council Clark Fisher – Environmental Information Services/Westsylvania Heritage Corporation J.D. Fogarty – Port of Pittsburgh Kathy Frankel – Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Sarah Miller – Riverlife Task Force Rob McCombie – Environmental Information Services/Westsylvania Heritage Corporation Beth O’Toole – Pittsburgh Voyager Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection – Pittsburgh Office Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation – Cambria, PA Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission Pittsburgh Voyager Kelly Rabenstein – Riverlife Task Force Mary Ellen Ramage – Borough of Etna Peter Ramage – Borough of Etna Riverlife Task Force Tracy Robinson – Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Tim Rogers – Shaler Township John Schombert – Three Rivers Wet Weather Demonstration Project Lisa Schroeder – Riverlife Task Force Dan Sentz – City of Pittsburgh, Planning Department Dan Smaroff – Maguire Group Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission John Stephen – Friends of the Riverfront Dennis Tubbs – Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission US Coast Guard – Pittsburgh Marine Safety Office Ed Warchol – Borough of Aspinwall Western Pennsylvania Conservancy This project was financed in part by a grant from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund under the administration of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. Matching funds were provided by the Vira I. Heinz Endowment, Richard King Mellon Foundation, and an Anonymous donor. Acknowledgements vi Pennsylvania Environmental Council Three Rivers Conservation Plan – Final – January 2004 ACRONYMS 3R2N – Three Rivers Second Nature ALCOSAN – Allegheny County Sanitary Authority AMD – Abandoned Mine Drainage BDA – Biological Diversity Area BMP – Best Management Practice CD – Conservation District CEP – Central Emsworth Pool CERCLA – Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act CSO – Combined Sewer Overflow CWA – Clean Water Act DCED – Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development DCNR – Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources DEP – Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection EAC – Environmental Advisory Council EFACTS – Environmental, Facility, Application, Compliance Tracking System EIS – Environmental Impact Statement EMPACT – Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking EPA – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency FEMA – Federal Emergency Management Agency GIS – Geographic Information System HOV – High Occupancy Vehicle L&D – Lock and Dam LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design MAGLEV – Magnetic Levitation Mon. – Monongahela River MS4s – Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System NPDES – National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System NPL – National Priority List NPS – Non-point source OHA – Other Heritage Area ORSANCO – Ohio River Valley Sanitation Commission PennDOT – Pennsylvania Department of Transportation PABS – Pennsylvania Biological Survey PAT – Port Authority Transit PEC – Pennsylvania Environmental Council PFBC – Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission PGC – Pennsylvania Game Commission PGH - Pittsburgh PH&LF – Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation PHMC – Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission PNDI – Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory Point – Confluence of Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers at Point State Park PRC – Pennsylvania Resources Council QCP – Quality Community Project RCRA – Resource Conservation and Recovery Act SEA – Sports and Exhibition Authority SPC – Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission SR – State Route Acronyms vii Pennsylvania Environmental Council Three Rivers Conservation Plan – Final – January 2004 SWAP – Source Water Assessment and Protection TEA-3 – Transportation Enhancement Act, 3rd Reauthorization TMDL – Total Maximum Daily Load USACE – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers USCG – U.S. Coast Guard USFWS – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service USGS – U.S. Geologic Survey WPC – Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Acronyms viii Railroads — while an important form of commercial transportation, they block The Three Rivers access to the rivers Chapter One Project Area Characteristics Mass Transportation — light rail Emsworth Lock and Dam Major Riverside Development — PNC Park and the North Shore Water Steps Pennsylvania Environmental Council Three Rivers Conservation Plan – Final – March 2004 A. Location and Size The Three Rivers Conservation Plan encompasses 29-miles of river corridor along the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers in the City of Pittsburgh and surrounding communities. The study area is a pivotal location as it contains the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, which forms the Ohio River – the largest contributor, by volume, of the Mississippi River. In fact, the watersheds of the Three Rivers form the headwaters of the Mississippi River. The Allegheny River is 325 miles in length, draining a watershed of 11,770 square miles. The Monongahela River is much smaller at 127 miles in length and a 7,375 square mile watershed. The Ohio River is 981 miles from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Cairo, Illinois, and its entire watershed is 204,000 square miles. The study area focuses on 29 miles of river within a corridor of approximately one mile on either side, translating to nearly 60 miles of riverfront. Municipalities within the Plan include: the City of Pittsburgh, Baldwin Borough, Reserve Township, Millvale Borough, Shaler Township, Etna Borough, Sharpsburg Borough, Aspinwall Borough, Fox Chapel Borough, O’Hara Township, Blawnox Borough, Harmar Township, Plum Borough, Oakmont Borough, Verona Borough, Penn Hills Township, Kennedy Township, McKees Rocks Borough, Stowe Township, Kilbuck Township, Bellevue Borough, Avalon Borough, Ben Avon Borough, Ben Avon Heights, Ross Township, and Neville Township. The entire study area is within Allegheny County. See Map 1. The corridor stretches on the Ohio River from the Emsworth Lock and Dam at river mile 6.2 to the Point at Pittsburgh (river mile 0.0); on the Allegheny River from the Point to Lock and Dam #3 at river mile 14.5; and on the Monongahela River from the Point to the Glenwood Bridge at river mile 6.0. The 1998 Rivers of Steel Monongahela River Conservation Plan covers the Monongahela River between the Glenwood Bridge and the Pennsylvania – West Virginia state line. B. Municipal Profiles 1. Locations and Descriptions Because this plan includes more than two dozen municipalities, a general description of each follows. To add to the location descriptions given to each municipality by the County, field notes were taken during site surveys of the riverfronts along the corridor. These general observations reflect the current status of the riverfronts and help develop action plans for municipalities. Chapter 1: Project Area Characteristics 1 Pennsylvania Environmental Council Three Rivers Conservation Plan – Final – March 2004 Table 1-1 Locations and Descriptions of Riverfront Municipalities Municipality Location* Field Notes** Aspinwall Borough 10 mi. NE of Pgh; 0.50 sq. mi.; flat; few The riverfront is mainly bordered by wooded areas; floodplains railroads, a small business district, and Aspinwall Marina. Avalon Borough 6 miles N of Pgh; 0.60 sq. mi.; hilly; Steep bluffs overlook the river, and there floodplains to Ohio River is no road access to the riverfront or public access to the bluffs. Rail lines run along the river. Baldwin Borough 7 mi. S of Pgh; 5.44 sq. mi.; some hills The small riverfront portion along the and woods; floodplains on Mon River Mon consists of the wooded slope area and Streets Run with Rt. 837 and railroads. Bellevue Borough 8 m. NNW of Pgh; 0.98 sq. mi.; hilly Steep bluffs overlook the river, and there and steep down to Ohio River; is no road access to the riverfront or floodplains on Ohio River public access to the bluffs. Rail lines run along the river. Ben Avon Borough 7 mi. NNW of Pgh; 1 sq. mi.; flat; steep Steep bluffs overlook the river, and there cliff to Ohio River; floodplain on Ohio is no road access to the riverfront or River and Lowries Run public access to the bluffs. Rail lines run along the river. Ben Avon Heights 8 mi. NNW of Pgh; 0.18 sq. mi.; This community has no riverfront Borough relatively flat and wooded; no property. floodplains Blawnox Borough 12 mi. NE of Pgh; 0.39 sq. mi.; relatively Riverfront property consists of homes and flat with some hills; no floodplains old industry, an emergency boat ramp to the Allegheny, and a new townhouse complex – The Cove at St. Charles. Etna Borough 5 mi. NE of Pgh; 0.81 sq. mi.; relatively The riverfront is crowded with industry flat; few wooded areas; floodplains and railroads. Fox Chapel Borough 12 mi. NE of Pgh; 8.5 sq. mi.; small hills The riverfront consists of homes, small and wooded floodplains