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Membership Meetings

Minutes – 6/27/05 Board Mtg.
Fox Run Wetlands / Hickory Pa.

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In Attendance:

J. Mondok, P. Anthony, N. Loprire, R. Shuey, B. Hanselman, T. Jochman, and R. Natoli
Special Guest: Shawn Hedglin / Mercer County Conservation District
1. Opening Comments – Aaron Monroe
  • Aaron Monroe was absent / no comments
2. Minutes from Last Meeting – Dick Natoli
  • Skipped the reading
3. Treasurer’s Report – Jeff Kremis
  • No report
4. Committee Reports:
A. Watershed Coordinator – Special Report by Shawn Hedgelin
  • Shawn Hedglin took us to the Fox Run Wetland area to shows us the Phase I changes that were made to the mine runoff area to eliminate some of the Iron Disulfide runoff that was emptying into Fox Run where the stream crosses Route 62. The following are some of the highlights of the meeting:
    1. Shawn explained how the collection channel and settling pond work to capture most of the Iron Disulfide runoff (see the attached map). This Phase I project was completed in the fall of 2004.
    2. The 29-PPM contamination seeping out of the ground near the end of the deep coalmine shaft changes to 5 PPM after the water goes through the collection channel, over a small rock dam, and into the settling pond. The settling pond is 1/3 of an acre in size and it slows the water down so the Iron will precipitate out. Plans call for planting 5000 more aquatic plants in the settling pond. The water then goes over a rock covered exit area and into Fox Run stream.
    3. The orange discoloration at the stream bottom is visible to approximately 1800 feet upstream of the Route 62 Bridge. Pennsylvania coal has Iron Disulfide (fools gold) in it, which cause the orange discoloration, and kills all of the insect life at the bottom of the stream. Approximately one mile of the stream is affected.
    4. The stream flow where it starts at the coal mine is about 750 gal per min, and increases to 2000 gal per min at the Pine Run Swamp area.
    5. The water in Fox Run may be too warm to support Trout even though trees surround it. It empties into Yellow Creek, and Yellow Creek empties into Coolspring Creek.
  • The Phase II project calls for an additional $105,00 dollars and they currently have $80,00 available for use. The additional $25,000 will have to be raised.
  • Pete Anthony proposed donating $5000 from Neshannock Chapter with a matching Growing Greener Grant to total $10,000 of the required dollars (see the attachment from Pete originally proposed at our March 14th meeting).
  • Action on Pete’s motion will be tabled until the July 25th meeting.

B. Nursery – Pete Anthony

  • No Report

C. Cabin Fever - Dick Natoli

  • Tabled until November’s meeting

D. Banquet / Newsletter - Nick Loprire

  • Skipped

E. Membership – Tom Jochman

  • Skipped

E. Youth Coordinator – Dick Rickert

  • No report because Dick was absent
5. Old Business:
  • Polo Shirts – Tabled until the next meeting
  • Action on Pete’s Fox Run / Growing Greener motion – Tabled until the next meeting – Bob Shuey may be absent due to vacation and reported he wanted to vote Yes” in absentia on Pete’s motion.
6. New Business:
  • Joe Morris’s Wolf Creek Children’s Fishing Derby Photos – Joe sent the photos to Pete for editing, and Pete chose 11 photos to send to John Siebert for inclusion on our website.
  • DVD Presentation on Wolf Creek – Pete updated his DVD movie presentation on the Wolf Creek Project that may be used for presentation to various civic-minded groups. He gave a copy to Tom Jochman for review and comments.