Crooked Creek Watershed Association
c/o Indiana County Conservation District

Background and Environmental Issues

The Crooked Creek watershed is located in Indiana and Armstrong counties in western Pennsylvania.  Crooked Creek flows from its headwaters near the town of Indiana to its mouth on the Allegheny River in Ford City. Like so many other watersheds in the Appalachian region, Crooked Creek is impacted by Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD).  Furthermore, it is impacted heavily by agriculture and more recently by over-development.  Despite these impairments, the watershed remains a recreation hot spot for both Indiana and Armstrong Counties. 

The Crooked Creek Environmental Learning Center (ELC) and the Crooked Creek Park offers camping, hiking, swimming, fishing, and boating opportunities, educational facilities, and much more.  Historical sites such as the four covered bridges, Blue Spruce Park, the Nelly Bly Homestead, and the Edward Abby Memorial also offer travel destinations. 

Established in 1981, the Crooked Creek Watershed Association (CrCWA) has been working to improve the water quality of Crooked Creek and its tributaries, preserve and enhance natural habitats in the watershed, and increase public awareness and education.

Since its inception, CrCWA has completed a Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources "Watershed Conservation Plan" and is currently completing a "Non-Point Source Pollution Assessment" for Crooked Creek. CrCWA worked with the US Army Corps of Engineers on an embayment project at the outflow of the Crooked Creek Dam to create parking, picnic areas, rest rooms, and a handicap accessible fishing pier. CrCWA has constructed numerous stream bank stabilization and fish habitat improvement projects along Plum Creek, Cherry Run, Campbell’s Run, Falcon Park, and Crooked Creek Lake. The association participates in the annual Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission "River Sweep" trash clean-up project, and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) “Adopt-A-Lake” program, building a variety of fish habitat structures in Keystone Lake.  In cooperation with PFBC, CrCWA constructed the Rosston Public Boat Launch, the only public launch in Pool #6 of the Allegheny River.

CrCWA has constructed numerous passive wetland AMD treatment systems including: Tanoma Bore Hole, Fort Armstrong Horseman's Association facility, Myers/Runninger Flats, and Keystone Lake Wetlands. Beginning in 1985, CrCWA has hosted an Annual Fish Fry and Picnic for its members, friends, and the community. CrCWA also actively supports the ELC and the High School National Envirothon Competition. In December 2008, CrCWA began working with the Office of Surface Mining/Americorps Volunteers in Service to America (OSM/VISTA) to sponsor a Watershed Development Coordinator position.

  

Goals and Objectives of the OSM/VISTA

 Major goals and objectives of the OSM/VISTA:

 

• Assist in maintaining long-term stability and success of projects through organizational capacity building
  • Coordinate hikes, trash pick-ups, and public meetings for CrCWA and ELC
  • Assist with volunteer recruitment for existing events including the annual River Sweep and the Crooked Creek Lake Cleanup
  • Publish outreach materials such as brochures, flyers for events, press releases, and bulletin boards
  • Coordinate fundraising activities with community and volunteers
• Assist in conducting watershed research and water quality monitoring to secure future funding and assist with project development and implementation
  • Collect continual data on AMD discharges to work with the existing Crooked Creek Watershed Non-Point Source Pollution Assessment
  • Prepare the South Branch of Plum Creek Watershed Implementation Plan
  • Assist in submitting grant proposals including Western Pennsylvania Conservancy/Dominion Watershed Mini Grant, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Growing Greener, Environment Protection Agency’s 319 Program, and Armstrong County Community Foundation
• Assist in enhancing community awareness and involvement through education and outreach
  • Publish fact sheets and pamphlets for the South Branch of Plum Creek Watershed Implementation Plan
  • Prepare a display for CrCWA to be presented at the Annual Ohio River Boat Cruise
  • Prepare displays for the bulletin boards at the ELC
  • Assist the ELC personnel in spring fieldtrip days for area schools, summer camps, and public meetings
  • Advertise all events through local newspapers, websites, and with local community groups such as school districts, adjacent watershed organizations, universities, and conservation districts
• Assist in community revitalization through projects that increase awareness and local history and connect to larger regional and national watershed organizations and initiatives    
  • Attempt to form a partnership with notable historical estates within the watershed including Edward Abbey and Nellie Bly
  • Attempt to form a partnership with the local Trout Unlimited and Senior Center
• Work with CrCWA in the professional development the OSM/VISTA, enhancing opportunities for future employment, and the ability to address watershed and community development issues.
  • Attend regional or larger scale meetings and conferences and bringing information and skills back to CrCWA  
  • Present the work of the project to at a professional conference
  • Build a professional network through regional activities and partnerships

 Major accomplishments of the OSM/VISTA:

• Organized the Martin Luther King Day of Service Food Drive
  • Recruited community volunteers
  • Established partnerships with the Armstrong Community Action Agency, Shop ‘n Save, and Foodland grocery stores
  • Collected over 430 food items for food banks in Armstrong County
• Assisted in submitting the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy/Dominion Mini Grant application
  • Received $2000 for construction materials for a stream bank stabilization workshop for township supervisors

 Community Support and Grants

 CrCWA Partnerships: 

• Office of Surface Mining
• Appalachian Coal Country Watershed Team
• Indiana County Conservation District
• Armstrong County Conservation District
• Crooked Creek Environmental Learning Center
• Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
• Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
• US Army Corps of Engineers
• Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
• Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
• Pennsylvania Senior Environmental Corps
• Armstrong County Community Action Agency
• Foodland grocery store
• Shop ‘n Save grocery store

 Grants Received: 

• Western Pennsylvania Conservancy/Dominion Watershed Mini Grant
• Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Growing Greener
• Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds
• Various local foundations