In the late 1990’s, a watershed assessment was completed for Blacklegs Creek and its Big Run tributary, which was the first step to development of a restoration plan. Design and construction activities were initiated around 2000. A four phase approach was developed to address the significant acidic pollution contributors in the watershed. Phase 1 consisted of treating “Big Run #2,” aka. the Sporanza discharge. The water was piped about ½ mile under Blacklegs Creek and treated using an open limestone based system. Phase 2 consisted of treating “Big Run #7” also using a limestone based system. Phase 3 was the biggest challenge due to the discharge location, water quality, water flow, and available space. To combat these challenges, a mine seal constructed in a drainage tunnel that effectively raised the water head approximately 30 feet to a location where some space was available. Partial treatment was accomplished using limestone which required frequent mixing to prevent clogging. Phase 4 was constructed to address “Big Run #3” (emanating from a location without property owner coordination) as well as providing for seasonal and supplemental treatment of Big Run #7 and #8. Through numerous grants of all types and 15 years or so of hard work, bugs and fish returned to lower Big Run and Blacklegs Creek below the confluence.

1. BIG RUN RESTORATION:
A SUCCESS STORY
Terry W. Schmidt
• Presented at Pennsylvania Abandoned Mine
Reclamation Conference, June 26, 2015.
• Terry W. Schmidt, P.E., Vice President,
Engineering, Skelly And Loy, Inc., 2601 North
Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110.

2. BIG RUN RESTORATION: A
SUCCESS STORY
• Watershed Assessment and
Characterization
• Blacklegs Creek Headwaters Project –
Kolb Discharge
• Big Run Restoration – 4 Phase Project

3. Pennsylvania Coal Fields
Source: USGS

4. Indiana County, PA

5. Young Township, Indiana Co.

6. Kolb Site
• Abandoned underground mine discharge
• High flow (approximately 1,000 gallons per
minute)
• Selected as first major project in Blacklegs
Creek watershed
• Demonstrated ability to manage grant and
complete successful project

8. Blacklegs Creek Kolb
Indiana County

9. Kolb Site components
• Mine seal
• 18-inch fused, watertight pipe
• Gate valve to control water flow and
allow for emergency discharge
• Pipe crossed a stream, shared a trench
with a gas line, crossed a driveway, and
crossed a railroad prior to entering the
treatment site

10. Riser And Screen Assembly
At The Kolb Discharge

11. Big Run Flow Data 2000
• Big Run #2 – 4,700 GPM
• Big Run #3 – 350 GPM
• Big Run #7 – 1,200 GPM
• Big Run #8 – 1,400 GPM
• Main Discharges - > 1/3 of flow
• Main Stem – 20,000 GPM

13. Big Run & Blacklegs Creek

15. Phase I – Big Run #2
• 2001 Growing Greener Grant
• Design 2001/2002
• Construction 2002/2003
• Final Report 2004

16. Phase I – Big Run #2

17. Phase I - Big Run #2 2003

18. Phase I - Big Run #2 2003

19. Phase I - Big Run #2 2003

20. Phase I - Big Run #2 2003

22. Phase I – Big Run #2
Flow Distribution/Aeration

23. Phase I – Big Run #2

24. Phase I – Big Run #2

25. Phase I – Big Run #2 O&M

26. Phase I – Big Run #2

27. Phase I – Big Run #2

28. Phase II – Big Run #7
• Big Run #7 2003 Growing Greener Grant
• Grant for #7 Design and #8 Investigation
• Design 2003/2004
• Construction 2004/2005

29. Phase II – Big Run #7 2004

30. Phase II – Big Run #7 2004

31. Phase II – Big Run #7

32. Phase 2 – Big Run #7
Average Raw AMD:
Flow = 800 gpm
Fe = 1 mg/L
Al = 15 mg/L
Hot Acidity = 150 mg/L

33. Phase II – Big Run #7

34. Phase II – Big Run #7

35. Phase II – Big Run #7

36. Phase II – Big Run #7

37. Phase II – Big Run #7 & #8
• Final Report 2007
• Phase II Big Run #7 Constructed
• Phase III Big Run #8 Concept Design

38. Big Run #8 and Big Run #3
• 2004 Initial discussions - Norfolk Southern
• 2006 Meeting with Norfolk Southern
• Wetland and Stream Mitigation Needed
• $1,000,000 + Committed by NS
• 2008 Work commenced on #8 and #3
• 2009 Supplemental GG Grant Requested

39. Phase III - Big Run #8

40. Phase III – Big Run #8 Drainage Tunnel

41. Phase III – Big Run #8 Piping
and Emergency Overflow

42. Phase III – Big Run #8 Piping
and Emergency Overflow

43. Phase III – Big Run #8 Piping
and Emergency Overflow

44. Phase III – Big Run #8

45. Phase III – Big Run #8

46. Phase III – Big Run #8 Valve

47. Phase III – Big Run #8 (#7A)

48. Phase III – Big Run #8

49. Phase III – Big Run #8

50. Phase III – Big Run #8

51. Phase III – Big Run #8

52. Phase IV - Big Run #3
• Big Run #3 discharge occurred and
adverse property
• 4 acres of treatment area preserved for
potential treatment of Big Run #3
• Phase IV – Big Run #3
– Supplemental treatment of Phase II & III
– Provides excess alkalinity for Big Run #3
– Big Run #3 could be re-directed in future

53. Phase IV - Big Run #3

54. Phase IV - Big Run #3

55. Phase IV - Big Run #3

56. Phase IV - Big Run #3

57. Phase IV - Big Run #3

58. 2014/2015
• $500,000 Act 13 Grant O&M
• Growing Greener Kolb Wetland Expansion
• Fish in Lower Blacklegs Creek
• Bugs in Lower Big Run
• Norfolk Southern received mitigation
• Work progressing on Whiskey Run

59. Partners
• Saltsburg Sportsman’s Club
• Norfolk Southern
• Consol Energy
• EASI – water sampling
• PA DEP
• Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
• Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team

60. Partners
• WPCAMR
• Growing Greener
• EPA 319
• OSM Clean Streams Initiative
• Foundation for PA Watersheds
• Blackleggs Creek Watershed
Association

61. Trout Nursery Man of the Year

62. Watershed Hero

63. Mayfly Award Recipient

64. Always on the Job

65. Comments Or QuestionsComments Or Questions