Brownsville Watershed Project

Background and Environmental Issues

Brownsville, Pennsylvania was established in 1814 and has had two “hey-days”.  The first was during the National Road Era in the early 19^th century.  The National Road was the first road ever commissioned by the federal government.  Brownsville was a center for boat building during this era and produced the first steamboat to ever make a round trip to New Orleans.  It was called the “Enterprise”.  The second “hey-day” was in the late 19^th to mid-20^th century ‘Industrial Era”, as coal production began for the steel industry.  The decline that began in the mid 20^th century exists today.

Brownsville is located in Southwestern Pennsylvania, approximately 40 miles south of Pittsburgh, 25 miles east of Washington, and 12 miles west of Uniontown (Fayette county seat), at the intersection of the National Road (Rte/ 40) and the Monongahela River.  It is part of two designated “heritage areas,” the National Road Heritage Corridor and the Rivers of Steel Heritage Area.  The area along the river is referred to locally as the Mon Valley.  The Brownsville Watershed Project focuses on the area from just south of Brownsville, in Greene/Fayette County to Southern Allegheny County.  California University of PA is across the river in Washington County, approximately 5 miles away.  Another university—Penn State Fayette—is approximately 12 miles away in the Fayette County seat of Uniontown.  The 460 acre Patsy Hillman Park lies in Luzerne Township, adjacent to Brownsville Borough.

The Monongahela River is a hard-working, commercially important, industrialized river.  It has 9 locks and dams to facilitate navigation.  The river and its tributaries run through a part of Pennsylvania historically rich in bituminous coal.  Most of that coal was removed prior to environmental regulation of mining.  Consequently, many abandoned coal mines drain contaminated waters into creeks and streams throughout the watershed.  The Brownville project focuses on the middle part of the main stem and the small tributaries and communities along that length.  Thanks to environmental laws enacted in the 1970s, the Monongahela River is much cleaner than it was 30 years ago, but the same cannot be said for all of it tributaries.  The water infrastructure system in the watershed is aging and some communities, particularly former coal camps, still utilize straight pipes to deal with their sewage, often dumping into the local creek.  Several of the small creeks run bright orange, while in other places mine drainage can be seen seeping from the hillside.  Illegal dumping and littering are commonplace. Many main stem municipal systems still have combined sewage overflows to deal with excess storm water, which causes raw sewage to flow into the river every time it rains.  This presents a public health problem during times of heavy rainfall, which happens frequently in our wet climate.  The Mon River also serves as the source of drinking water for much of the Mid Mon Valley, making it important for citizens to be aware of what is in the water.  Although it is treated before use, not everything can be removed.  As the water quality in the main stem improves, more and more people will use the river for recreation.  This could be a boon to the distressed economies of the communities along the river.  Citizens must organize and begin to deal with these issues proactively.  The Brownsville Watershed Project is just one way we can help that process.

Brownsville Area Revitalization Corporation was founded in 1989.  They are the host for the Brownsville Watershed Project, which began in early 2008.  Their first VISTA began in May 2008. The project began as the idea of their VISTA during her first term with another organization.  There were no current watershed groups working on the main stem in this part of the watershed and only one tributary group.  Information was scattered and hard to find.  After making contact with BARC, the decision was made to sponsor a VISTA position to help form a watershed group. 

 

Goals and Objectives of the OSM/VISTA

·         Goals and objectives of the three-year OSM/VISTA program at site.  To begin, the VISTA is working to build BARC’s capacity and on two watersheds related projects.  These projects include a water trail map for recreational users and an environmental education program for the school district.  The water trail map will serve as the vehicle for creating the watershed group that will focus on conservation issues within the watershed.  The environmental education program will teach watershed awareness and includes an AMD component.

·         Information about how the OSM/VISTA program fits within the goals and objectives of your organization.  The mission of the Brownsville Area Revitalization Corporation is to achieve economic development through historic preservation, heritage tourism, outdoor recreation, community stewardship, education, youth advancement and the arts.  The OSM/VISTA helps us to reach our goals by making the watershed a better place to live and by working to develop our recreational opportunities.  It also assists us to build our capacity to continue to do work in the region.

·         Major accomplishments of the OSM/VISTA.  Initiated partnerships and began building water trail steering committee.  Built on existing partnerships for environmental education, submitted numerous grants, initiated new partnership with neighboring watershed organization, and wrote two funded grants to support community development initiatives. 

·         Past, present, and future projects the OSM/VISTA is conducting.  Water trail Map Development, Environmental Education Program Development, Sojourn on the Mon (canoe trip), and Enhanced Music on the Mon activities including enlarged final festival and with river recreation events, rubber duck race, development of a Fundraising Plan.