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In northern Lebanon County
deep within State Game Lands #211 there is a movement afoot to combat the acidic effects
of abandoned mine drainage into Rausch Creek, a major tributary of Stony Creek. The
movement referred to is what is known technically as a Mover Diversion Well, the first of
its kind to be built in the United States. Patterned after a Swedish design, the original
diversion well was constructed in 1987 as a joint project of Pennsylvania State
University and the Dauphin Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
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Ironically, the Mover
Diversion Well contains no moving parts. Instead, it's the movement of stream water
diverted by an upstream dam through a pipeline leading into a chamber containing crushed
limestone. Water under hydraulic pressure enters the chamber through a nozzle which
directs the flow against the limestone, causing the rock to be ground into powder before
re-entering Rausch Creek. |
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Treating the acidic water of Rausch Creek results in a pH increase (the higher the
number, the less acidity) from an average of about 4.0 above the well to over 6.0 several
hundred yards below the outflow. Although the appearance of the clear water tumbling over
rocks upstream of the well would lead the casual observer to conclude that the stream is
of high quality, no fish life is present there. Downstream less than a hundred yards,
healthy brook trout can sometimes be observed from the old stone arch bridge on the Stony
Creek Trail. |
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Since Rausch Creek is the largest tributary to Stony Creek, the treated water has a
profound effect on the main stem for a significant number of miles. Routine measurements
of the pH near Allendale Forge some fifteen or so miles downstream reveal readings
averaging over 6.0, adequate to support a year-round population of both brook and brown
trout. Although other factors such as a stream's metals content also must be weighed,
research has shown that a minimum pH threshold of 5.0 will support a healthy trout
population of all age classes. Prior to the diversion well installation in 1987, trout
stocked in Stony Creek by the PA Fish & Boat Commission survived for relatively short
periods due to the higher acidity levels. |
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Since 1987, the diversion well has been faithfully maintained by
members of Doc Fritchey TU. Founded in 1971 as the Dauphin Chapter, the local chapter
was later renamed in honor of Dr. John A. "Doc" Fritchey, Jr. who
mounted a major campaign to save Stony Valley from planned commercial
exploitation during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Weekly maintenance of the
well has depended upon volunteer labor to transport by wheelbarrow approximately
2 tons of crushed limestone and shovel it into the treatment chamber,
year-round. |
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Over the years it was observed during periods of higher than normal flow that pH levels
downstream from the well would temporarily drop to as low as 5.3, seriously threatening
the integrity of the fish population. Since the original plan developed by Dr. Dean E.
Arnold of the PA Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit suggested a supplementary
well to handle high stream flow conditions, Doc Fritchey TU personnel decided in
2000 to add a second well in tandem with the original installation. |
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Chapter volunteers went to work in August 2000
constructing the supplementary well. The original diversion dam was restructured,
approximately 100 yards of trenching was dug and pipe laid, and the new concrete well
chamber was installed. Although significant manual labor was involved, donation of
earth-moving equipment by local Caterpillar dealer Cleveland Brothers greatly reduced
the man-hours and the physical effort required. Funds for purchasing project materials
were provided under grants from national TU's Embrace-A-Stream Program and the Eastern PA
Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR). Since additional tonnage is required to
charge the second well, the limestone supply was moved down the hill adjacent to the
wells, now allowing volunteers to shovel stone directly from the stockpile into both chambers. |
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Doc Fritchey TU is thankful for all of the volunteer support over the years,
and particularly appreciates the ongoing donation of limestone from Pennsy
Supply's Annville quarry and the transportation of limestone to the site by
Reigel Brothers Trucking. |
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Anyone who is interested in helping with weekly maintenance is welcome to
show up at the Stony Creek Trail northern gate on State Game Lands 211, just
west of Gold Mine Road at the base of Second Mountain.
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