Involving the Public: Watershed Assessments

Presenter:

Donna Carnahan
Water Pollution Biologist
Bureau of Watershed Management
PA Department of Environmental Protection

Abstract:

More AMD problems exist in PA than there are funding sources available to remediate them. In order to spend the existing money wisely, remediation sites must be chosen carefully. For this reason, it is essential to have a comprehensive restoration plan for your watershed. A watershed assessment is the first crucial step in the process of creating a restoration plan. An assessment allows a watershed group to identify the problems facing their watershed so that sites can be prioritized and action can begin. This presentation will explain the steps involved in completing a watershed assessment and how volunteers can be utilized in the process. Some of the topics include researching data from mining permits and other sources, stream reconnaissance, and the decision making process that goes into what, where, and how to sample.

Although this presentation will outline one method that can be used to complete an assessment, there may be others. Attendees are encouraged to share their experiences and ideas throughout the presentation.

Biography:

Donna Carnahan is currently a Water Pollution Biologist for PA DEP in the Section 319 Non Point Source Program. Before coming to work at DEP, she was a Watershed Specialist for the Clearfield County Conservation District. Clearfield County is no stranger to AMD issues. It leads the state in abandoned mine land sites (588), unreclaimed features (3,374) and total acres (23,715). In the past, Donna has worked with watershed groups in Clearfield County assessing various streams affected by AMD. Before her experience working with AMD, Donna worked as a seasonal Fisheries Biologist for the USDA Forest Service in Elkins, WV. Here she collected data for a stream classification project for the Monongahela National Forest. Donna holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology from University of Pittsburgh (Bradford) and a Master degree in Fisheries Biology from Clarion University.