West Branch - Implications of Key Pieces of Data from Monitoring Projects

The West Branch Susquehanna watershed drains an area of approximately 4,466 million acres ranging from Carroltown in Cambria County to its confluence with North Branch in Northumberland County. In the last 10 years, three DCNR sponsored river conservation plans have been written, the SRBC (Susquehanna River Basin Commission) has published a sub-basin survey (2003) and most recently (2005) a “State of the Watershed Report” has been summarized by the West Branch Susquehanna River Task Force. In addition, numerous watershed groups, conservancies and college/university partners have contributed data and insight into the river. Bottom line is that 57% of the West Branch Watershed is Acid Mine Drainage impaired (over 1,000 miles, especially in the upper 2/3 of watershed), 24% shows non-point source impact by Agriculture and the remaining 19% impairment is from point source, habitat alteration or other categories. As of August 2006 the Lycoming College Clean Water Institute with partners from SRHCES (Susquehanna River Heartland for Environmental Studies) has collected and entered 6,464 data points (including nitrogen, phosphorous and coliform bacteria) for 16 watersheds in the lower West Branch. A discussion of these data and role of combined sewer overflows (especially in the lower West Branch between Lock Haven and Sunbury) on the water quality of the river and influence on the Chesapeake Bay will be given