Little Laurel Run:
Little Laurel Run was one of the more polluted tributaries of Clearfield Creek, as determined in the assessment project conducted in 2001-2003 by the County Conservation Districts and CCWA. Little Laurel Run originates near the village of Buckhorn and flows about 3 miles to enter Clearfield Creek about a mile downsteam from Ashville. Sampling indicates that the watershed has no macroinvertebrates. In quarterly samples from 2001-2002, values at the mouth averaged 42 mg/L acidity, 0.8 mg/L iron, 3.1 mg/L aluminum at a flow of 1700 gal/min, and an acidity loading of 780 lb/d. About 25% of this watershed has been mined for coal. The Gibson, Klondike, and West Ferris Wheel systems are all part of the treatment plan for Little Laurel Run.
In addition to those larger projects, CCWA has also worked to remedy the issues on Little Laurel Run through smaller projects. These projects include the Old Beldin Mine project, the Sand Springs Project, and the West Ferris Wheel Revegetation Project. Through the combination of these various treatment systems, the acidity of Little Laurel Run has been reduced by more than 60%. We hope to further reduce this acidity in the coming years.
