Watershed Conservation Program 1067 Philadelphia Street Indiana, PA 15701 Phone: (724) 471-7202 www.waterlandlife.org For more information about the Lower Mahoning Regional Watershed Conservation Plan, contact the Watershed Conservation Program Lower Mahoning Creek Regional Watershed Conservation Plan The Pennsylvania Rivers Conservation Program Lower Mahoning Creek Regional Watershed Conservation Plan Final June 2011 Prepared for: Little Mahoning Creek Watershed Association Pine Creek Sportsmen Club Prepared by: Watershed Conservation Program 1067 Philadelphia Street Indiana, PA 15701 This project was financed in part by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, Environmental Stewardship Fund, under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. i Lower Mahoning Creek Regional Watershed Conservation Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Title Page………………………………………………………………………………..………… i Introduction Materials................................................................................................................... ii Table of Contents ii Lit of Tables vii List of Figures ix Acknowledgements xi Acronyms xii Watershed Definition xiv Executive Summary......................................................................................................................... ES-1 Project Background ES-1 Chapter Summaries ES-2 Project Area Characteristics ES-2 Land Resources ES-3 Water Resources ES-3 Biological Resources ES-4 Cultural Resources ES-4 Issues and Concerns ES-4 Management Recommendations ES-5 Project Area Characteristics…………………………...………………………………………... 1-1 Project Area 1-1 Location and Size 1-1 Climate 1-1 Topography 1-1 Major Tributaries 1-2 Air Quality 1-2 Atmospheric Deposition 1-3 Critical Pollutants 1-3 Mercury 1-4 Impacts of Air Pollution 1-5 Socioeconomic Profile 1-5 Land-Use Planning and Regulation 1-5 Demographics and Population Patterns 1-7 Infrastrucutre 1-9 Transportation and Safety 1-11 Economy and Employment 1-13 Education 1-15 Land Resources................................................................................................................................. 2-1 Geology 2-1 Physiographic Provinces 2-1 ii Lower Mahoning Creek Regional Watershed Conservation Plan Ecoregions 2-1 Stratification 2-3 Soil Characteristics 2-3 Soil Associations 2-3 Prime Agricultural Soils 2-6 Farmland of Statewide Importance 2-6 Agricultural Land Preservation 2-6 Agricultural Security Areas 2-7 Clean and Green Program 2-8 Conservation Programs 2-8 Nutrient Management Program 2-9 Land Use 2-10 Forestry 2-10 Agriculture 2-11 Oil and Gas Exploration 2-12 Mining 2-15 Land Ownership 2-17 Oil and Gas Wells 2-18 Underground Mining 2-18 Critical Areas 2-19 Landslides 2-19 Subsidence Areas 2-19 Erosion and Sedimentation 2-20 Groundwater Recharge 2-20 Fish and Wildlife Habitat 2-21 Natural Resource Extraction 2-21 Hazardous Areas 2-22 Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act 2-22 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 2-22 Salvage Yards 2-23 Landfills 2-23 Illegal Dumpsites 2-24 Recycling 2-25 Brownfields 2-25 Water Resources.............................................................................................................................. 3-1 Location 3-1 Lower Mahoning Creek 3-1 Unnamed Tributary to Allegheny River 3-1 Pine Creek 3-2 Hays Run 3-2 Water Attributes 3-2 Groundwater and Surface Water 3-3 Wetlands 3-6 iii Lower Mahoning Creek Regional Watershed Conservation Plan Floodplains 3-7 Dams 3-8 Riparian Zones 3-9 Stormwater 3-11 Watershed Protection Laws 3-11 Clean Water Act 3-11 Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law 3-12 Pennsylvania Floodplain Management Act 166 3-13 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act 3-13 Water Quality 3-14 Classification of Water Pollution 3-14 Sources of Impairment 3-15 Water Quality Trading 3-24 Water Quantity 3-24 Pennsylvania State Water Plan 3-25 Water Use 3-25 Existing Studies and Water Quality Monitoring 3-27 Saving Little Mahoning Creek 3-27 Pine Run Watershed Implementation Plan 3-30 Biological Resources……………………………………………………………………..…….…. 4-1 Natural Settings 4-1 Ecosystem and Biodiversity 4-1 Ecoregion Characteristics 4-1 Natural Habitats 4-1 Wildlife 4-5 Mammals 4-6 Reptiles and Amphibians 4-6 Birds 4-7 Fish and Aquatic Invertebrates 4-7 Species of Concern 4-9 Invasive Species 4-10 Plants 4-11 Animals 4-21 Conservation Areas 4-22 Natural Heritage Inventories 4-22 Cultural Resources.......................................................................................................................... 5-1 History 5-1 Historical Overview 5-1 Historical Sites, Structures, and Districts 5-5 Recreation 5-6 Recreational Opportunities 5-6 Environmental Education 5-11 Local Attractions 5-11 iv Lower Mahoning Creek Regional Watershed Conservation Plan Dayton Fairgrounds 5-11 Marion Center Speedway 5-11 Thomas Marshall House 5-12 John Schmick Museum 5-12 Smicksburg Specialty Shops 5-12 Windgate Winery 5-12 Annual Events 5-12 Issues and Concerns....................................................................................................................... 6-1 Meeting Summaries 6-1 Initial Meetings 6-1 School Workshops 6-1 Focus Group 6-1 Issues and Concerns 6-2 Natural Resource Extraction 6-2 Infrastructure 6-2 Recreation 6-3 Illegal Dumping 6-3 Public Meeting Results 6-4 Project Area 6-4 Land Use 6-4 Water Resources 6-4 Biological Resources 6-5 Cultural Resources 6-5 Survey Results 6-5 Public Survey Results 6-6 Municipal Phone Survey Results 6-12 Interview Results 6-13 School Workshops 6-18 Management Recommendations.................................................................................................. 7-1 Project Area Characteristics Land Resources Water Resources Biological Resources Cultural Resources Education and Funding References...................................................................................................................................... 8-1 Appendices A. Glossary B. Planning Committees C. Agricultural Soils D. Mining Permits E. Illegal Dumpsites F. Integrated Waterbody Report v Lower Mahoning Creek Regional Watershed Conservation Plan G. Little Mahoning Creek Visual Assessment Form H. Species of Concern I. Fish and Wildlife Species J. Recreational Resources K. Survey and Interview Questions L. Native Plant Guide M. Fish Habitat Enhancement N. Potential Funding Sources O. Useful Websites P. Resource Guide Q. Summary of Hydraulic Fracturing Solutions R. Conservation Guidance for Landowners vi Lower Mahoning Creek Regional Watershed Conservation Plan LIST OF TABLES Chapter 1 Project Area Characteristics Page Table 1-1 Watershed Municipalities 1-1 Table 1-2 Land Use Regulations 1-6 Table 1-3 Population and Population Change 1-7 Table 1-4 Population by Sex and Age 1-8 Table 1-5 Municipal Populations 1-8 Table 1-6 Public Sewage Systems 1-10 Table 1-7 Public Water Suppliers 1-10 Table 1-8 Economic Comparison 1-13 Table 1-9 Breakdown of Employment by Industry 1-15 Table 1-10 School Enrollments 1-15 Chapter 2 Land Resources Page Table 2-1 Conservation Practices Identified in 2008 Farm Bill 2-8 Table 2-2 Land Use 2-10 Table 2-3 Agricultural and Forestry Statistics for Armstrong, Indiana, and 2-11 Jefferson Counties Table 2-4 Agricultural Lands and Value by County 2-12 Table 2-5 Wells Drilled Within the Municipalities of the Lower Mahoning Creek 2-13 Watershed Table 2-6 Oil and Gas Well Permits by County 2-13 Table 2-7 Active Coal Mining Permits 2-15 Table 2-8 Active Industrial Mining Permits 2-17 Table 2-9 Resource Conservation Recovery Act Sites 2-22 Chapter 3 Water Resources Page Table 3-1 Lower Mahoning Creek Tributaries 3-2 Table 3-2 Pine Creek Tributaries 3-2 Table 3-3 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permits 3-14 Table 3-4 Water Use 3-26 Chapter 4 Biological Resources Page Table 4-1 Aquatic Community Classification Designations 4-8 Table 4-2 Noxious Weeds of Pennsylvania 4-12 Table 4-3 Biological Diversity Areas 4-22 Chapter 5 Cultural Resources Page Table 5-1 Hunting Licenses Sold 5-9 vii Lower Mahoning Creek Regional Watershed Conservation Plan Chapter 6 Issues and Concerns Page Table 6-1 Locations Where Residential Survey Participants Reside 6-6 Table 6-2 Importance of Watershed Values 6-8 Table 6-3 Importance of Recreational Values 6-9 Table 6-4 Importance of Watershed Issues 6-11 viii Lower Mahoning Creek Regional Watershed Conservation Plan LIST OF FIGURES Chapter 1 Project Area Characteristics Figure 1-1 Mahoning Creek Watershed Figure 1-2 Pine Creek and Hays Run Watersheds Figure 1-3 Topography Figure 1-4 Land Use Ordinances Figure 1-5 Population by Census Block Group Figure 1-6 Population Change by Census Block Group Figure 1-7 Wastewater Treatment Figure 1-8 Public Water Supplies Figure 1-9 Transportation Figure 1-10 Method of Transportation Figure 1-11 Safety Features Figure 1-12 Work Locations Figure 1-13 Time Travel to Work Comparison Chapter 2 Land Resources Figure 2-1 Ecoregions Figure 2-2 Surface Geology Figure 2-3 Soil Associations Figure 2-4 Agricultural Lands Figure 2-5 Land Use percentages Figure 2-6 Land Use Figure 2-7 Mineral Exploration Figure 2-8 Public lands Figure 2-9 Critical and hazardous areas Chapter 3 Water Resources Figure 3-1 Major Tributaries Figure 3-2 Lower Mahoning Watershed Figure 3-3 Pine Creek and Hays Run watersheds Figure 3-4 Water Cycle Figure 3-5 Lakes, Ponds, Wetlands, and Hydric Soils Figure 3-6 Recommended Riparian Widths Figure 3-7 Impaired Waters, Impoundments,