Lackawanna River Watershed

Conservation Plan

  Conservation Plan Report

  prepared by

The Lackawanna River Corridor Association

  November 2001

This project is funded with support from the Chesapeake Bay Program Small Watershed Grants Program administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Scranton Area Foundation, the Rivers Conservation Program of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

and

The membership and community support funding received through contributions to the Lackawanna River Corridor Association.

   This document has been prepared by:

Bernard McGurl, Executive Director

Arthur Popp, Project Manager

Deilsie Heath Kulesa, Administrative Assistant

Gail Puente, Education and Outreach Coordinator

for the

Table of Contents  

1. Introduction

1.1.     Executive Summary:  Issues, Process

1.2.     Executive Plan Recommendations

1.3.     Priority Recommendations

1.4.     Considerations for Implementation

2. Purpose and Vision

      2.1    Vision

2.2    Scope of Work

3. The River and Its Watershed

3.1        Soils and Geology  

3.2       Flora and Fauna

3.3     Socio-economics and Cultural History  

4. Issues:  A discussion and review of public policy issues and topics affecting the Lackawanna River Watershed Environment  

      4.1 A discussion and review of public policy issues and topics affecting the Lackawanna River Watershed    environment

5. Water Quality and Quantity

      5.1    Sewage Treatment, Treatment Plants, CSO’s, Act 537 Planning

      5.2    Storm Water Management

      5.3    Acid Mine Drainage/Abandoned Mine Reclamation

      5.4    Erosion and Sedimentation

      5.5    Water Supply

      5.6    Aquatic Habitats and Fisheries

6. Land Stewardship

      6.1    Flood Plain Management

      6.2    Stream Encroachment

      6.3    Riparian and Upland Forest and Forestry Management

      6.4    Wetlands

      6.5    Natural Areas and Open Space Management

6.6        Land Use Regulations and Watershed Best Management Practices

      6.7    Reclamation and Economic Development

      6.8    Litter, Illegal Dumping and Contaminated Sites

7. Recreation, Public Access, Public Use

      7.1    Water Flow Management, Stillwater Dam Issues

      7.2    Fisheries

      7.3    Canoeing, Kayaking and Other Navigation

      7.4    Trails

      7.5    Hunting

      7.6    Motor Vehicle Issues

8. Natural Areas and Special Places Inventory

      8.1    Historic Places

      8.2    Waterfalls and Morphologic Sites

      8.3    Natural Areas

      8.4    Ponds, Reservoirs and Water Works

      8.5    Wetlands, Swamps and Bog Complexes

9. Environmental Education and Public Involvement

10. Watershed Management and Program Administration

     10.1   Management Program Assessment

     10.2   Unmet Needs and Growth Issues

11. River Conservation Plan Recommendations

     11.1   Lackawanna River Partnership and Watershed 2000

     11.2   Water and Environmental Quality Protection and Enhancements

     11.3   Municipal Advisory Committee

     11.4   Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Plan

     11.5   Economic Development

     11.6   Recreation and Trails

     11.7   Open Space Management, Watershed Resource Protection

     11.8   Environmental Education and Public Involvement

     11.9   Land Use Recommendations for Watershed Conservation

     11.10 Historical and Cultural Conservation  

12. River Conservation Project Recommendations

      12.1   Down Valley Communities

     12.2   Scranton and Dunmore

     12.3   North Pocono Communities

     12.4   Abington Communities

     12.5   Mid Valley Communities

     12.6   Up Valley Communities

13. The River Conservation Registry

       Model Resolution

14. Bibliography

15. Public Comment and LRCA Contact Information                

Appendix A  Trail Routing Alternatives Report

Appendix B  Mine Reclamation Plan

Executive Summary

B.1  Geological and Historical Background

B.2  A Review of Abandoned Mine Land Impacts in the Lackawanna Valley

B.3  An Assessment of Previous Reclamation Programs and Studies

B.4  Lackawanna River Watershed Reclamation Programs

            Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation

Lackawanna County and Watershed 2000 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers        

            Growing Greener projects  

            Private Development           

            Municipal Reclamation Projects 

            Public Infrastructure Improvements

B.5  Remaining Priorities and Summary Recommendations

B.6  Bibliography

B. Pictures

Appendix C  River and Tributary Stream Survey Reports and Recommendations

C.1     River Reach and Tributary Stream Survey Reports Synopsis

C.2     Lackawanna Watershed Ascension Chart

C.3     Lackawanna Watershed River Mileage Key

C.4     River Reach Survey Reports and Recommendations

                        Reach 1:  Confluence with Susquehanna River, Duryea to Main St., Old Forge

                        Reach 2:  Main St., Old Forge to Davis St., Taylor

                        Reach 3:  Davis Street, Taylor to Lackawanna Ave, Scranton

                        Reach 4:  Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton to I-81, Scranton/Throop

                        Reach 5:  I-81, Scranton/Throop to Mellow Park, Blakely

                        Reach 6:  Mellow Park, Blakely to Gilmartin St., Archbald

                        Reach 7:  Gilmartin St., Archbald to Meredith St., Carbondale Twp

                        Reach 8:  Meredith St., Carbondale Twp. to PA Rte. 171, Fell Twp

                        Reach 9:  PA Rte. 171 Fell Twp. to PA Rte. 247, Forest City

                        Reach 10: Pa Rte. 247 Forest City to Stillwater Dam, Uniondale

                        Reach 11: East Branch of Lackawanna River

                        Reach 12: West Branch of Lackawanna River

C.5 Tributary Stream Reports and Recommendations

                        Campbells Ledge Run

                        Red Springs Run

                        St. Johns Creek

                        Mill Creek

                        Spring Brook

                        Greenwood Creek

                        Keyser Creek

                        Stafford Meadow Brook

                        Roaring Brook

                        Pine Brook

                        Meadow Brook

 Carter Creek

                        Leggetts Creek

 Greenbush Run

                        I-81 Channel

                        Grier Creek

  Sulphur Creek

                        Storrs Creek 

                        Scotts Creek 

Eddy Creek

Miles Creek

Hull Creek

Lackawanna Outfall

Wildcat Creek

Sterry Creek

Grassy Island Creek

Winton Run

Laurel Run

White Oak Run

Powder Mill Run1

Aylesworth Creek

Woodland Run

Calendar Gap Creek

                        Rush Brook

                        Hosey Creek

                        Powderly Creek

                        Lees Creek

                        Brookside Run

                        Fall Brook

                        Racket Brook

                        Coal Brook

                        Wilson Creek

C.6  Information Available on the LRCA Webpage

C. Pictures

Public Meetings Slide Show

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