11.  River Conservation Plan Recommendations

The recommendations developed for the implementation of the Lackawanna River Watershed Conservation Plan are presented in Sections 11 and 12.  Policy recommendations for issues and topics of a watershed level are presented in Section 11.  Site-specific recommendations for individual sites on the river or tributary stream, for river reaches, and for natural resources and special places are included in Sections 12.  These recommendations are grouped by municipality (recommendations are grouped by river reach and sub-watershed in Appendix C).

The recommendations have been developed by the Lackawanna River Corridor Association based on input received at public meetings, from key person interviews, surveys of municipal officials, county and state agency staff, property owners and business interests.  The recommendations are also based on analysis of the river and tributary stream surveys conducted by LRCA and community volunteers between 1999 and 2001.

Existing and proposed projects and programs related to the river, its watershed resources, recreation, transportation and economic development were assessed for their impact potential and overall project synergy on a watershed scale or as site specific projects.

River and watershed conservation plans in other watersheds were also reviewed and various typical projects were assessed for applicability in the Lackawanna watershed.  The original Lackawanna River Citizens Master Plan of 1990 was a primary assessment-base document.  Many of the general recommendations from the 1990 plan are still relevant today.

Prior to discussing future recommendations a brief review of the accomplishments based on the 1990 plan will be useful.  While some of this information was presented in previous sections, it is presented here in one unit.  The accomplishments summary is formatted around the four main recommendations of the 1990 plan.

o  A Lackawanna River Greenway and park system

·            1991, a Rail Trail inventory completed by LRCA and National Park Service (NPS)

·            1993, Based on the 1990 plan, the Corps of Engineers and Park Service team with LRCA  to develop Lackawanna River Heritage Trail plans

·            1991, LRCA helps to establish the Rail Trail Council of Northeast Pennsylvania

·            1993, LRCA works with Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority to secure $300K ISTEA Grants to acquire and develop 6 miles of trail

·            1993, Rail Trail Council secures $400K ISTEA Grant to acquire 32 miles of D&H along 15 miles of upper Lackawanna watershed

·            1995, LRCA partners with Lackawanna Valley Conservancy to acquire ½-mile of NYO&W rail corridor in Scranton

·            1996, RTC completes acquisition of D&H, secures easements on NYO&W effectively gaining control along 12 miles of both sides of upper Lackawanna

·            1998, LHVA completes 1.5-mile CNJ Trail and 3.1-mile O&W Trail

·            1999, LVC acquires 3 parcels totaling 1.2 miles of shoreline

·            1999, LVC acquires 3 parcels totaling 1.2 miles of shoreline

·            2001, Total 41.7 of 80 river miles acquired and protected through Trail and Conservancy acquisitions

o  Project River Clean

·            800 cubic-yards of debris removed from riverbanks along 10 miles of corridor by volunteers over 10 year period

·            $30-million USEPA funds allocated for water quality work for mine drainage and combined sewer overflows.  $28-million in nonfederal and in-kind funds designated from state, county and local sources as a match.

·            PA DEP, Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation has developed projects along 8 miles of tributary stream corridor for channel and habitat restoration

·            Corps of Engineers is initiating projects on 5 miles of tributary stream

·            Over 10 culm banks remain on flood plains

·            Over 20 miles of river and tributary stream corridor are in need of reclamation

·            Over 150 combined sewer overflow points remain to be addressed

·            Over 4 miles of riverbank or upland remain severely impacted with trash, debris, municipal waste or junkyards

o  Public Involvement and Education

·            LRCA mobilizes over 300 volunteers per year for a variety of hands-on activities.

·            LHVA and LRCA are planning work with volunteers and the LHRT municipal trail committee.

·            Rail Trail Council conducts volunteer events with over 300 volunteers per year.

·            LRCA conducts River Watch, a citizen water quality monitoring program, 30 volunteers per year for the past 12 years.

·            LRCA partners with county Agency On Ageing and Voluntary Action Center to sponsor the Lackawanna Senior Environmental Corps.

·            LRCA conducts up to 10 River in the Schools programs with local middle and high schools.

·            LRCA is developing river trunks and watershed curriculum focused on the Lackawanna watershed.

o  Lackawanna River Partnership

·            The partnership as proposed in the 1990 plan has not developed as a comprehensive oversight group.

·            Several ad hoc partnerships have evolved; one is focused on the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, another is focused on Watershed 2000

·            Both partnerships involve Lackawanna County in a lead role with the active participation of the Lackawanna River Corridor Association, other county agencies, state and federal agencies. 

·            The LRCA has proposed that the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) process used by Luzerne and Lackawanna counties to conduct transportation infrastructure planning with PA DOT may provide a useful model to be adapted to water resources planning and management.

11.1  Lackawanna River Partnership and Watershed 2000

There has been a progressive movement since the completion of the LRCMP in 1990 towards a comprehensive and consensus-based water resources policy in the Lackawanna watershed.  The lead taken by Lackawanna County Regional Planning Commission to develop the Act 67 storm water management plan demonstrated the practicality of working on a watershed-wide basis.

The work of Lackawanna County and the LRCA with the Corps of Engineers and National Park Service on the Lackawanna River Greenway Study developed an assessment and an inventory of potential projects and partnerships focused on environmental habitat restoration, recreation and economic development.

This work lead to the appropriation by Congress in 1994 of a $30-million water resources grant through the USEPA for Lackawanna County to develop projects to abate acid mine drainage and abandoned mine land drainage impacts in the watershed as well as initiate partnerships with sewer authorities to demonstrate combined sewer overflow control technologies.  This program requires a 55/45 % federal/nonfederal match.

After several years of discussions regarding congressional intent, the definition of and requirements for match, the understanding of the scopes of work and the involvement of various local, state and federal partners.  The program is finally underway on a project basis rather than a watershed basis.  The development of the Watershed 2000 program between 1994 and 2001 has led to a good working partnership among the local and state agencies, especially on mine reclamation and drainage issues.  A sufficient amount of nonfederal funds has been qualified from state and local sources to allow the Watershed 2000 program to proceed to site characterization and project design.

The key factor in these achievements has been the leadership of Lackawanna County and the strong support and participation by the Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (BAMR) and Water Quality (BWQ) of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP).  The potential to maximize the effectiveness of state and local efforts combined with the use of federal funds has been a strong incentive to keep all partners working to advance the program.  Regular meetings of agency representatives in a working group have been important in achieving the consensus-based decision-making, which is now likely to have demonstrable watershed-wide impact.

The Environmental Futures Planning process (EFP2) presently being instituted by PA DEP to implement planning cycles involving stakeholder consensus on a watershed basis provides a significant opportunity to support and broaden the watershed management dialogue in the Lackawanna Basin.  A confluence of EFP2 precepts with the vision and recommendations for a Lackawanna River Partnership entity based on successful aspects of the MPO transportation planning model is encouraged as an outcome of this river conservation plan.

Some of the following topics could become part of the partnership’s agenda:

·       Update of the Act 67 storm water management plan

·       An assessment of sanitary sewage infrastructure and jurisdictions

·       Implementation of watershed-based total maximum daily loads (TMDL’s)

·       Development of a stream corridor management program with local municipalities

·       Enhanced public/private partnership for drinking water system management including water conservation and source water protection

·       Flood protection system management

·       Integration of sustainable water resources management with economic development

·       Integration with recreation, trails, greenways and open space management

·       Conduct of post Watershed 2000 mine reclamation programs.

To advance the potential of the partnership concept, this plan recommends that Lackawanna County and/or the LRCA conduct a strategic planning feasibility study to more fully develop a mission, structure, and agenda for a watershed partnership entity to serve the residents and local governments in the Lackawanna watershed.  This project is recommended as a river conservation implementation program.

11.2  Water and Environmental Quality Protection and Enhancements

This plan recommends that all municipalities consider environmental audits of their plans and ordinances to include resource conservation measures, conservation subdivision opportunities, storm water Best Management Practices, water body and water course buffer requirements and building setbacks, open space network requirements, performance based zoning practices which are included in the Growing Greener-Growing Smarter approach suggested by recent changes in the Municipalities Planning Code and outcome from the 21^st Century Environment Commission.  These practices also include those promoted by the Center for Watershed Protection and the Natural Lands Trust.

This plan recommends programs to upgrade and consolidate public waste-water treatment facilities, improve discharge parameters and reduce combined sewer overflows.  To further inform decision making for water quality improvement this plan recommends a comprehensive assessment of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL’s) and a sediment transport and output study for the Lackawanna Watershed.

This plan also recommends mitigation of all acid mine drainage outfalls and elimination of non-point AMD sources.

11.3  Municipal Advisory Committee

While a river partnership brings together representatives from different levels of government, there may also be a role for a municipal level body that would focus on water resources.  A first step would be the creation of a municipal advisory committee for the Lackawanna watershed.  In the past, various inter-municipal committees have formed as part of a Council of Governments (COG) activity.  Lackawanna County developed one as part of the Act 67 storm water plan.  Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority has initiated on inter-municipal agreement to create a management committee for the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail.

This plan recommends that Lackawanna County and its agencies collaborate with LRCA  and local municipalities individually or through an existing COG or to advance the concept of a municipal advisory committee for the Lackawanna watershed.  The committee could function at the level of a COG and/or become a component of a more formalized Lackawanna River Partnership.

This plan recommends that the development of a municipal watershed committee be considered for a river conservation implementation program.

11.4  Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Plan

The mine reclamation component of this plan in Appendix B contains an extensive inventory of mine reclamation projects, which await implementation.  Where appropriate, this plan recommends implementation of projects through the Watershed 2000 program or by PA DEP, BAMR.  However, when feasible, other partnerships are encouraged to involve economic development with mine reclamation work to restore riparian and upland habitat.  This plan recommends where appropriate, river conservation implementation projects accomplish reclamation work.

This plan also recommends and prioritizes projects by all agencies to remove culm dumps and coal wastes from the immediate flood plains and water courses of the river and tributaries.

11.5  Economic Development

This plan recommends that all economic development agencies and projects address their interface with watershed resources in the context of mine reclamation, storm water management, open space and natural areas preservation, greenways and recreation corridors.  This plan further recommends the use of the river conservation implementation programs to facilitate a beneficial interface between economic development projects and watershed resources.

11.6  Recreation and Trails

The opportunities to develop recreational and community greenway trails in the Lackawanna watershed have been demonstrated by the work of the LRCA, Rail Trail Council and Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority along the Lackawanna River.  The trail alternative report in Appendix A develops an extensive trail alternative analysis to support a continuous 40-mile trail from Pittston to Stillwater.

The plan recommends application of the river conservation implementation program to support further trail development along the preferred alignment.  This includes integration of the flood levees with the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail and development of greenways in Downtown Scranton.

There are additional trail opportunities referenced in the river and tributary survey recommendations which are reiterated here to support the development of trail links throughout the watershed.  The following trail projects are also recommended through this plan for river conservation and other appropriate implementation programs.

·       Nay Aug/Roaring Brook greenways/ North Pocono Greenway Trail system

·       St. John’s Creek Greenway Trail

·       Spring Brook / Wilkes-Barre and Eastern Greenway

·       Mill Creek Greenway

·       LHRT link to Dunmore via I-81 channel, Marywood Campus

·       PA Gravity & Moosic Lake Trolley Line Loop Trail

·       Leggetts Creek Greenway & Trail:  link to Abingtons and Northern Electric Trail

·       Grassy Island Creek Greenway

·       Powderly Creek Greenway

·       Fallbrook Trail

·       D&H Gravity/Racket Brook Trail

·       Wilson Creek Trail

·       D&H Gravity Shepards Crook Trail

This plan recommends and prioritizes a Nay Aug greenway plan  or a component of a Nay Aug Gorge Restoration program.  A North Pocono Trail/Roaring Brook Greenway is also a recommended priority to build on the existing county-owned rail corridor between Dunmore and Elmhurst and along water line rights-of-way to Moscow and Covington.

All other projects are recommended when partnerships are developed at the sub-watershed level to advance specific projects.

11.7  Open Space Management, Watershed Resource Protection

This plan recommends the use of river conservation implementation programs where appropriate to implement the acquisition and management of open space, natural resources, ridgelines, water resources, forest lands or historical resources.

Local municipalities can become more effective in meeting the communities’ needs for open space preservation and improved natural resource management through informed and active use of existing and newer provisions in the Pennsylvania municipalities planning code.  The community comprehensive plan can embody a strong conservation policy for the municipality which enhances economic development opportunities while establishing methods to conserve and protect environmental and cultural resources.  The zoning plan, subdivision and land use ordinances can provide flexible techniques to encourage appropriate economic growth with incentives for open space and resource protection.  The creative mix and use of compliance and incentive-based ordinances can provide the municipality with capacities to protect resources on a site-by-site basis and link through greenways to other conservation and recreation sites across the municipality.

This plan recommends audits of all new and existing ordinances and further proposes support for municipalities to upgrade their ordinances in the context of Growing Greener and Growing Starter policies inherent in the amended municipalities planning code.

11.8  Environmental Education and Public Involvement

An educated, informed and involved citizenry is the best guarantee for long-term, sustainable relationships among the human and natural communities in the watershed.  The LRCMP of 1990 offered a series of recommendations for both educational and public involvement strategies.  LRCA and other partners have developed programs on an incremental basis.  There are emerging needs for new programs and partnerships in this area.  Proposed updates to educational standards pending with the Pennsylvania Department of Education for environmental education will provide both new opportunities and needs for conservation organizations to collaborate with school districts on the delivery of environmental education programs.

During 2001-2002 the LRCA is in the process of developing a Lackawanna River watershed curriculum in partnership with the Northeast Intermediate Unit #19 with funding through a Growing Greener Grant.  LRCA has also developed a 2-day school program known as the “River in the Schools” program.  LRCA staff conducts a portion of a day in the classroom orientating students and teachers to watersheds in general and the Lackawanna and its sub-watersheds in particular.  A second portion of a day is spent with teachers and students along the river or at a tributary stream near the school.

This plan recommends that these programs be continued as appropriate with support from river conservation implementation programs and other sources developed by LRCA and local partners.  The LRCA works in partnership with several environmental educators and organizations including the PA DCNR naturalist and education specialist at Lackawanna State Park.  This plan recommends river conservation program support for collaborative programs with the DCNR watershed education specialist and other partners.

Another long-term unmet need in this watershed is the need for a nature center specifically situated and designed to educate the public about the local environment and its ecology.  There are several potential opportunities to develop such a center or centers in the watershed.  This plan recommends using river conservation implementation programs to further develop the nature center or centers as collaborative projects involving LRCA and other agencies such as the Everhart Museum, local institutions of higher education, local school districts, the NEIU #19, and other conservation organizations as appropriate.

There are needs for adult continuing education and technology training for resource management, environmental engineering, public policy (i.e. the municipalities planning code) and conservation practices.  This plan recommends support for the dissemination of technical and academic education through adult watershed education programs conducted with the involvement of LRCA and local educational institutions.

The LRCA has been providing public involvement opportunities for local residents along the Lackawanna watershed.  These include:

·       Active involvement as a board member or regular member in planning and advisory activities

·       Citizens water quality monitoring (River Watch and EASI/LSEC)

·       Special events promotion (Canoe-a-thon & annual dinner)

·       River and trail projects (trash clean-ups, tree planting)

·       Nature hikes and natural resource/conservation lectures

While the LRCA will continue to provide these opportunities, the organization and partners may from time to time propose public involvement activities in the context of advancing community and organizational capacity to address enhanced stewardship of the Lackawanna watershed.

These programs and projects may include but are not limited to the following:

·       Strategic planning for organizational development and institutional advancement

·       A watershed sojourn – a single or multi day exploration of the watershed and its special places

·       Support for the operation of a municipal advisory committee program

·       Support for the creation of Environmental Advisory Committees (EAC’s)

·       The development and enhancement of watershed information media, websites, videos, CD programs, maps, posters, brochures and newsletters

·       Creation and operation of a Lackawanna Valley Ranger Corps for youth employment training

·       Watershed theme-based arts and performance programs such as river festival performances, river related fine arts, AMD and art-type activities.

11.9  Land Use Recommendations for Watershed Conservation

The recommendations for upgrading municipal ordinances offered in previous sections and in Section 12 need to include state of the art best management practices and principles of ecological restoration and landscape ecology as a basis for achieving better resource protection and conservation.  The best management practices developed by the Center for Watershed Protection coupled with open space and conservation subdivision techniques developed by the Natural Lands Trust are typical of the practices which are successfully being implemented by local governments in upscale communities around the country where the conservation of local natural resources is seen as integral with the economic health of the region.

There is widespread interest at the local, regional and state level in promoting these practices in Northeast Pennsylvania. Therefore this plan recommends programs and proposals which promote the adoption and use of these practices, ordinances and techniques in the Lackawanna watershed.

The recommended programs may include:

·       Integration of appropriate practices in an update of Act 67 storm water management ordinances.

·       Auditing existing or recently updated ordinances to include additional practices.

·       Development of demonstration projects.

·       Training and technology transfer support for local practitioners and municipal officials.

·       Creation of public private partnerships to support the voluntary application of practices on private development.

·       Involvement of water supply utilities with adjacent landowners and municipalities in the application of these practices as a component of local source water protection.

While this plan endorses watershed-based best management practices across the entire watershed, the application of these practices in previously undeveloped watersheds associated with the water supply system is critical to the protection of water and habitat quality.  The plan therefore recommends that municipalities in which these water supply sheds are located consider the adoption and implementation of watershed protection practices as a high priority.

11.10  Historical and Cultural Conservation

The conservation of historical and cultural resources in the Lackawanna Valley has been accomplished by the private sector, individual property owners and historical societies.  The development of the Anthracite Museum, the Scranton Iron Furnaces and the Coal Mine Tour at McDade Park were the beginning of significant governmental involvement in the conservation of historic resources.

The development of the Steamtown National Historic Site and the plan for the Lackawanna Heritage Valley introduced the National Park Service into the Lackawanna Valley.  There is a greater understanding and recognition of the Lackawanna Valley as a nationally significant historical and cultural resource area.  The physical setting of the valley and the social, cultural and demographic setting all contain resources in need of protection, conservation and interpretation.

A few physical sites, mainly buildings in the public domain have been nominated for listing on the National Registry of Historic Places.  Aside from several initial nominations of these public sites, there has not been a sufficient outreach to include some of the physical sites with historical value in the more remote areas of the watershed.  These sites are included in the inventory of special places.

This plan recommends that sites listed in the special places inventory as well as similar sites should be catalogued and included in the pending Lackawanna – Luzerne county open space plans.  This river conservation plan recommends acquisition of several sites for permanent conservation.  The further development of management plans for these sites to include public access, informational and interpretive signage and related site improvements is also recommended.

Sites recommended for conservation protection include:

·       The Pennsylvania Canal in Pittston and Duryea, especially the canal prism in Duryea

·       The Pennsylvania Coal Company Gravity Railroad

·       The Scranton Iron Works and Steel Works associated resources

·       The D&H Gravity Railroad:  Depot Street, Valley Junction, Inclined Planes

·       The Gravity Slope Colliery in Archbald

·       Griffins Mills on Leggetts Creek

·       The Central Railroad of New Jersey site and Lackawanna Avenue vicinity in Scranton

·       The Scranton retaining walls

·       The Providence station site on Market Street, Scranton

·       All railroad bridges over 60 years old

·       All stone and barrel vault culverts

·       Old Forge/Lonesome Road historic district

·       The Peck Mills on Market Street, Scranton

·       The Doyle & Roth site in Simpson

·       All historic cemeteries with pre-1900 burials are recommended for special conservation consideration

·       All dams and waterworks

·       The confluence prehistoric sites and potential rock shelter sites throughout the watershed

The development of a historical sites maps and guidebook series is also recommended as well as integration of a “sense of place” program for local school curriculum.

The physical designs and spatial relationships of some main street and village residential neighborhoods can serve as templates to influence the designs of new developments using a neo-traditional theme as new neighborhoods and commercial sites are created on abandoned mine reclamation sites.  These ‘infill” developments can provide opportunities for new economic growth while helping to maintain the historic and cultural fabric of the communities in the Lackawanna Valley.