The Pennsylvania Rivers Conservation Program Shenango River Watershed Conservation Plan July 2005 Prepared for: Shenango River Watershed Community Prepared by: Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Watershed Assistance Center 246 South Walnut Street Blairsville, PA 15717 This project was financed in part by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnership Program under the administration of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. Shenango River Watershed Conservation Plan ii Shenango River Watershed Conservation Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Title Page……………………………………………………………………. i Letter from Nick Pinizzotto, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy ii Preface………………………………………………………………………. iii Table of Contents iv List of Tables vii List of Figures ix Acknowledgements xi Acronyms xii Watershed Definition xiv Executive Summary………………………………………………………… ES-1 Project Background ES -1 Purpose ES-1 Planning Process ES-2 Implementation ES-2 Chapter Summaries ES-4 Project Area Characteristics ES-4 Land Resources ES-4 Water Resources ES-5 Biological Resources ES-6 Cultural Resources ES-7 Issues and Concerns ES-8 Management Recommendations ES-8 Project Area Characteristics………………………………………………. 1-1 Project Area 1-1 Location 1-1 Size 1-1 Climate 1-9 Topography 1-9 Major Tributaries 1-11 Air Quality 1-11 Atmospheric Deposition 1-12 Critical Pollutants 1-12 Mercury 1-13 Impacts of Air Pollution 1-14 Socio-economic Profile 1-14 Land-Use Planning and Regulation 1-14 Demographics and Population Patterns 1-18 Infrastructure 1-18 Transportation 1-21 Economy and Major Sources of Employment 1-26 Education 1-28 iii Shenango River Watershed Conservation Plan Page Management Recommendations 1-29 Land Resources…………………………………………………………….. 2-1 Geology 2-1 Soil Characteristics 2-3 Soil Associations 2-3 Prime Agricultural Soils 2-9 Agricultural Land Preservation Program 2-9 Agricultural Security Areas 2-10 Land Use 2-10 Forestry 2-15 Active Mines 2-20 Agriculture 2-21 Industrial/Commercial 2-21 Waste Disposal 2-21 Ownership 2-22 Critical Areas 2-22 Landslides 2-22 Erosion and Sedimentation 2-22 Floodplains 2-22 Wetlands 2-24 Fish and Wildlife Habitat 2-24 Hazardous Areas 2-24 Illegal Dumpsites 2-24 Waste Sites 2-24 Brownfields 2-26 Subsidence Areas 2-27 Earthquakes 2-27 Management Recommendations 2-28 Water Resources……………………………………….…………………… 3-1 Major Tributaries 3-2 Wetlands 3-4 Wetland Loss 3-9 Floodplains 3-14 Riparian Buffers 3-15 Lakes and Ponds 3-18 Water Quality 3-19 Point and Non-Point Source Pollution 3-22 Pennsylvania's Impaired Waters 3-23 Ohio’s Impaired Waters 3-27 Stormwater Runoff 3-27 Erosion and Sedimentation 3-32 Sewage 3-34 iv Shenango River Watershed Conservation Plan Page Abandoned Mine Drainage 3-38 Agriculture 3-39 Monitoring 3-40 Water Quality Studies 3-41 Drinking Water 3-47 Water Resource Legislation 3-48 Water Resources Plan 3-48 Water Quality Trading 3-49 Management Recommendations 3-50 Biological Resources……….…………………………….………………… 4-1 Biodiversity 4-1 Natural Communities 4-1 Wetlands 4-2 Plants 4-4 Animals 4-4 Invasive Species 4-9 Subwatershed Characteristics 4-10 Upper Shenango River Subwatershed 4-10 Middle Shenango River Subwatershed 4-12 Lower Shenango River Subwatershed 4-13 Neshannock Creek/Big Run Subwatershed 4-15 Areas of Conservation Concern 4-16 Natural Heritage Areas 4-16 Important Bird Areas 4-28 Important Mammal Areas 4-30 Species of Special Concern 4-31 Upper Shenango River Subwatershed 4-32 Middle Shenango River Subwatershed 4-33 Lower Shenango River Subwatershed 4-35 Neshannock Creek/Big Run Subwatershed 4-35 Management Recommendations 4-37 Cultural Resources………………………………………………………… 5-1 Recreation 5-1 Recreation Facilities 5-1 Recreational Opportunities 5-7 Environmental Education 5-12 Archaeological and Historical Resources 5-14 Historical Overview 5-14 Historical Notes, Sites, Structures, and Districts 5-18 Management Recommendations 5-20 Issues and Concerns……………………………………………………….. 6-1 Meeting Summaries 6-1 Issues and Concerns 6-1 v Shenango River Watershed Conservation Plan Page Water Quality 6-1 Water Quantity 6-2 Erosion and Sedimentation 6-3 Waste Cleanup 6-3 Public Awareness and Education 6-4 Recreation 6-4 Historic Preservation 6-5 Smart Growth and Planning 6-5 Protecting Biodiversity 6-5 Horsepower Limitations 6-5 Survey Results 6-6 Interview Results 6-14 Management Recommendations…………….……………………………. 7-1 Project Area Characteristics 7-2 Land Resources 7-5 Water Resources 7-9 Biological Resources 7-17 Cultural Resources 7-22 References………………………………………………………………….. 8-1 Appendices Appendix A Glossary Appendix B Planning Committees Appendix C Prime Agricultural Soils by County Appendix D Mining Permits Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation Liability Act Appendix E Waste Sites Appendix F Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Appendix G National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permits Appendix H Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species (PNDI) Appendix I Wildlife Listing Appendix J Recreational Parks Appendix K National Register of Historical Sites Appendix L Surveys and Interviews Appendix M Funding Sources Appendix N Helpful Websites Appendix O EFP2 Stakeholder Comments Summarized Appendix P Public Comments vi Shenango River Watershed Conservation Plan LIST OF TABLES Chapter 1 Project Area Characteristics Page Table 1-1 Pennsylvania Municipalities 1-4 Table 1-2 Types of Glacial Deposits 1-9 Table 1-3 Fish Consumption Advisories 1-14 Table 1-4 Land-Use Controls 1-15 Table 1-5 Watershed Population by County 1-18 Breakdown of Employment in Crawford, Lawrence, and Mercer Counties by Table 1-6 1-27 Industry Table 1-7 Major Employers 1-27 Table 1-8 School Districts and Colleges 1-28 Chapter 2 Land Resources Page Table 2-1 Brief Soil Associations Descriptions 2-8 Table 2-2 Municipalities with Agricultural Security Areas 2-15 Table 2-3 Land Use 2-20 Table 2-4 Brownfield Sites 2-26 Chapter 3 Water Resources Page Table 3-1 Major Tributaries 3-3 Table 3-2 Municipalities Participating in the National Flood Program 3-15 Table 3-3 Shenango River and Tributaries Water Use Protections 3-20 Table 3-4 Impaired Streams and Lakes Requiring TMDLs 3-23 Table 3-5 Streams and Lakes Impaired by Pollution not Requiring a TMDL 3-25 Table 3-6 Unassessed Streams and Lakes 3-26 Table 3-7 Ohio EPA 2004 Integrated Report on Impaired Waterways 3-27 Table 3-8 Act 537 Municipal Sewage Plan Aging 3-35 Table 3-9 Wastewater Projects within the Shenango River Watershed 3-37 Chapter 4 Biological Resources Page Table 4-1 Exemplary Communities 4-2 Table 4-2 Bird Species of Highest Conservation Concern 4-6 Table 4-3 Historic Mussel Species of the Shenango River System 4-8 Table 4-4 Common Invasive Plants of Northwestern Pennsylvania 4-9 Table 4-5 Significance Rankings for BDAs 4-17 Table 4-6 IBA Criteria Met by Pymatuning/Hartstown IBA 4-29 Table 4-7 IBA Criteria Met by Shenango Reservoir IBA 4-30 Table 4-8 Criteria met by Pennsy, Celery, and Black Swamp IBA 4-31 Table 4-9 Threatened and Endangered Species in the Upper Shenango River Subwatershed 4-32 Table 4-10 Threatened and Endangered Species in the Middle Shenango River Subwatershed 4-34 Table 4-11 Threatened and Endangered Species in the Lower Shenango River Subwatershed 4-35 Threatened and Endangered Species in the Neshannock Creek/Big Run Table 4-12 4-35 Subwatershed vii Shenango River Watershed Conservation Plan Chapter 5 Cultural Resources Page Table 5-1 Shenango River Lake Recreational Opportunities Operated by USACE 5-6 Table 5-2 Recreational Trails 5-7 Table 5-3 State Game Lands and Wildlife Areas 5-9 Table 5-4 Camping Facilities 5-10 Table 5-5 Golf Courses 5-11 Table 5-6 Watershed Education Programs Offered by PA DCNR 5-14 Table 5-7 National Register of Listed Properties 5-19 Chapter 6 Issues and Concerns Page Table 6-1 Value of Importance 6-7 Table 6-2 Recreational Opportunities of Importance 6-7 viii Shenango River Watershed Conservation Plan LIST OF FIGURES Executive Summary Page Figure ES-1 Shenango River Watershed ES-3 Figure ES-2 Land Use ES-5 Chapter 1 Project Area Characteristics Figure 1-1 Shenango River Watershed (map) 1-2 Figure 1-2 Municipalities (map) 1-3 Figure 1-3 Upper Shenango River Subwatershed (map) 1-5 Figure 1-4 Middle Shenango River Subwatershed (map) 1-6 Figure 1-5 Lower Shenango River Subwatershed (map) 1-7 Figure 1-6 Neshannock Creek/Big Run Subwatershed (map) 1-8 Figure 1-7 Topography (map) 1-10 Figure 1-8 Municipalities Utilizing Land-Use Controls 1-15 Figure 1-9 Municipalities with Comprehensive Plans and Zoning (map) 1-17 Figure 1-10 2000 Population by Census Block Group 1-19 Figure 1-11 Percent Population Change 1990-2000 by Census Block Group (map) 1-20 Major Roads, Airports, and Railroads in the Upper Shenango River Figure 1-12 1-22 Subwatershed (map) Major Roads, Airports, and Railroads in the Middle Shenango River Figure 1-13 1-23 Subwatershed (map) Major Roads, Airports, and Railroads in the Lower Shenango River Figure 1-14 1-24 Subwatershed (map) Major Roads, Airports, and Railroads in the Neshannock Creek/Big Run Figure 1-15 1-25 Subwatershed (map) Figure 1-16 Employment by Industry in Pennsylvania 1-26 Chapter 2 Land Resources Figure 2-1 Surface Geology (map) 2-2 Figure 2-2 Primary Layers of a Soil Profile 2-7 Figure 2-3 Prime Agricultural Soils in the Upper Shenango River Subwatershed (map) 2-11 Figure 2-4 Prime Agricultural Soils in the Middle Shenango River Subwatershed (map) 2-12 Prime Agricultural Soils and Agricultural Security Areas in the Lower Figure 2-5 2-13 Shenango River Subwatershed