Chartiers Greenway

<body background="art/frosty.gif" bgproperties="fixed" link="#008000" vlink="#008080" alink="#00FF00"> <div align="center"> <center> <table BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" cellspacing="0" width="640" bordercolorlight="#C6BBA2" bordercolordark="#808000" bordercolor="#808000"> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="left" valign="top" width="320"><b><font color="#FF8000" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><i><span style="font-variant: small-caps">ChartiersGreenway.net </span></i></font></b> </td> <td align="left" valign="top" width="320" height="7"><font SIZE="-1" COLOR="#FF8000" FACE="Comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <marquee BORDER="0">Chartiers Creek watershed news, projects & flood control info</marquee> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="left" valign="top" width="320" height="25"><img border="0" src="art/greenway.gif" width="320" height="50"> </td> <td align="right" valign="top" width="320" height="25"><img border="0" src="art/awareness.gif" align="left" width="320" height="50"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" colspan="2" width="320"> <div align="center"> <table BORDER="3" width="320" CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="0" BGCOLOR="#FAFFBD" BORDERCOLOR="#808000" BACKGROUND="art/back_leaf1.jpg" height="25" bordercolorlight="#C6BBA2" bordercolordark="#808000"> <tr> <td ALIGN="CENTER" width="329"> <p align="center"><a TARGET="main" href="water.htm"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">WATER QUALITY & STORMWATER MANAGEMENT</span></font></a></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </td> <td align="center" width="320"> <div align="center"> <table BORDER="3" WIDTH="320" CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="0" BGCOLOR="#FAFFBD" BORDERCOLOR="#808000" BACKGROUND="art/back_leaf1.jpg" height="25" bordercolorlight="#C6BBA2" bordercolordark="#808000"> <tr> <td ALIGN="CENTER"> <p align="center"><font SIZE="-2" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a HREF="trails.htm" TARGET="main">TRAILS & RECREATION</a></font></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"> <div align="center"> <table BORDER="3" WIDTH="160" CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="0" BGCOLOR="#FAFFBD" BORDERCOLOR="#808000" BACKGROUND="art/back_leaf1.jpg" height="25" bordercolorlight="#C6BBA2" bordercolordark="#808000"> <tr> <td ALIGN="CENTER"> <p align="center"><a HREF="index.html" TARGET="_top"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">HOME</span></font></a></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </td> <td align="center"> <table BORDER="3" WIDTH="160" CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="0" BGCOLOR="#FAFFBD" BORDERCOLOR="#808000" BACKGROUND="art/back_leaf1.jpg" height="25" bordercolorlight="#C6BBA2" bordercolordark="#808000"> <tr> <td ALIGN="CENTER"> <p align="center"><font SIZE="-2" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a HREF="news.htm" TARGET="main">NEWS</a></font></p> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td align="left" width="320"> <div align="center"> <table BORDER="3" WIDTH="320" CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="0" BGCOLOR="#FAFFBD" BORDERCOLOR="#808000" BACKGROUND="art/back_leaf1.jpg" height="25" bordercolorlight="#C6BBA2" bordercolordark="#808000"> <tr> <td ALIGN="CENTER"> <p align="center"><a HREF="land.htm" TARGET="main"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><span style="font-variant: small-caps">LAND & CONSERVATION</span></font></a></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </center> </div> <hr size="6"> <div align="center"> <center> <table BORDER="0" WIDTH="640" CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="0"> <tr> <td ALIGN="left" rowspan="2" valign="top"> <table BORDER="3" WIDTH="100" CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="0" BGCOLOR="#FAFFBD" BORDERCOLOR="#808000" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C6BBA2" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808000" BACKGROUND="art/back_leaf1.jpg" height="25"> <tr> <td ALIGN="CENTER"> <p align="center"><a HREF="#GOALS" TARGET="main"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif">GOALS</font></a></p> </td> </tr> </table> <div align="left"> <table BORDER="3" WIDTH="100" CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="0" BGCOLOR="#FAFFBD" BORDERCOLOR="#808000" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C6BBA2" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808000" BACKGROUND="art/back_leaf1.jpg" height="25"> <tr> <td ALIGN="CENTER"> <p align="center"><a HREF="#Land" TARGET="main"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif">LAND USE</font></a><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> </font></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div align="left"> <table BORDER="3" WIDTH="100" CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="0" BGCOLOR="#FAFFBD" BORDERCOLOR="#808000" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C6BBA2" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808000" BACKGROUND="art/back_leaf1.jpg" height="25"> <tr> <td ALIGN="CENTER"> <p align="center"><a HREF="#Water" TARGET="main"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif">WATER</font></a></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div align="left"> <table BORDER="3" WIDTH="100" CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="0" BGCOLOR="#FAFFBD" BORDERCOLOR="#808000" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C6BBA2" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808000" BACKGROUND="art/back_leaf1.jpg" height="25"> <tr> <td ALIGN="CENTER"> <p align="center"><a HREF="#Biological" TARGET="main"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif">BIOLOGICAL</font></a></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div align="left"> <table BORDER="3" WIDTH="100" CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="0" BGCOLOR="#FAFFBD" BORDERCOLOR="#808000" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C6BBA2" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808000" BACKGROUND="art/back_leaf1.jpg" height="25"> <tr> <td ALIGN="CENTER"> <p align="center"><a HREF="#Cultural" TARGET="main"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif">CULTURAL</font></a></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div align="left"> <table BORDER="3" WIDTH="100" CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="0" BGCOLOR="#FAFFBD" BORDERCOLOR="#808000" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C6BBA2" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808000" BACKGROUND="art/back_leaf1.jpg" height="25"> <tr> <td ALIGN="CENTER"> <p align="center"><a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif">ISSUES</font></a></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <table border="3" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="100" bordercolor="#808000" bordercolorlight="#C6BBA2" bordercolordark="#808000" bgcolor="#FAFFBD" background="art/back_leaf1.jpg" height="25"> <tr> <td align="center"> <p align="center"><a HREF="http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/rivers/riversconservation/registry/61lowerchartiers.aspx" TARGET="_blank"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif">PLAN</font></a></p> </td> </tr> </table> </font> </td> <td ALIGN="CENTER" colspan="2"><h1 ALIGN="CENTER"><b><font color="#FF8000" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif">Lower Chartiers Watershed </font></b></h1> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="justify" colspan="2" width="536"> <font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Chartiers Creek is located in southwestern Pennsylvania and flows north through Washington and Allegheny Counties, discharging into the Ohio River at McKees Rocks, three miles downstream from Pittsburgh, PA.  The Chartiers Watershed is the total area that is drained by the network of tributaries that feed the main channel of Chartiers Creek.</p> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="left" valign="middle" rowspan="10"><img border="0" src="art/topo.gif" width="58" height="604"><br> <div align="left"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="87"> <tr> <td align="left" width="79"> <p align="left"><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <a HREF="#GOALS" TARGET="main">GOALS<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Land" TARGET="main">LAND USE</a> <br> <img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Water" TARGET="main">WATER<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Biological" TARGET="main">BIOLOGICAL<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Cultural" TARGET="main">CULTURAL<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm">ISSUES</a></font><a HREF="#Cultural" TARGET="main"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><br> </font></a><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/rivers/riversconservation/registry/61lowerchartiers.aspx" TARGET="_blank">PLAN</a></font></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <p><img border="0" src="art/topo.gif" width="58" height="604"></p> <div align="left"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="87"> <tr> <td align="left" width="79"> <p align="left"><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <a HREF="#GOALS" TARGET="main">GOALS<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Land" TARGET="main">LAND USE</a> <br> <img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Water" TARGET="main">WATER<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Biological" TARGET="main">BIOLOGICAL<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Cultural" TARGET="main">CULTURAL<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm">ISSUES</a> </font><a HREF="#Cultural" TARGET="main"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><br> </font></a><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/rivers/riversconservation/registry/61lowerchartiers.aspx" TARGET="_blank">PLAN</a></font></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <p><img border="0" src="art/topo.gif" width="58" height="604"></p> <div align="left"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="87"> <tr> <td align="left" width="79"> <p align="left"><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <a HREF="#GOALS" TARGET="main">GOALS<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Land" TARGET="main">LAND USE</a> <br> <img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Water" TARGET="main">WATER<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Biological" TARGET="main">BIOLOGICAL<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Cultural" TARGET="main">CULTURAL<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm">ISSUES</a></font><a HREF="#Cultural" TARGET="main"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><br> </font></a><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/rivers/riversconservation/registry/61lowerchartiers.aspx" TARGET="_blank">PLAN</a></font></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <p><img border="0" src="art/topo.gif" width="58" height="604"></p> <div align="left"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="87"> <tr> <td align="left" width="79"> <p align="left"><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <a HREF="#GOALS" TARGET="main">GOALS<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Land" TARGET="main">LAND USE</a> <br> <img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Water" TARGET="main">WATER<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Biological" TARGET="main">BIOLOGICAL<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Cultural" TARGET="main">CULTURAL<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm">ISSUES</a></font><a HREF="#Cultural" TARGET="main"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><br> </font></a><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/rivers/riversconservation/registry/61lowerchartiers.aspx" TARGET="_blank">PLAN</a></font></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <p><img border="0" src="art/topo.gif" width="58" height="604"></p> <div align="left"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="87"> <tr> <td align="left" width="79"> <p align="left"><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <a HREF="#GOALS" TARGET="main">GOALS<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Land" TARGET="main">LAND USE</a> <br> <img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Water" TARGET="main">WATER<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Biological" TARGET="main">BIOLOGICAL<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Cultural" TARGET="main">CULTURAL<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm">ISSUES</a></font><a HREF="#Cultural" TARGET="main"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><br> </font></a><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/rivers/riversconservation/registry/61lowerchartiers.aspx" TARGET="_blank">PLAN</a></font></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <p><img border="0" src="art/topo.gif" width="58" height="604"></p> <div align="left"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="87"> <tr> <td align="left" width="79"> <p align="left"><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <a HREF="#GOALS" TARGET="main">GOALS<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Land" TARGET="main">LAND USE</a> <br> <img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Water" TARGET="main">WATER<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Biological" TARGET="main">BIOLOGICAL<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Cultural" TARGET="main">CULTURAL<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm">ISSUES</a></font><a HREF="#Cultural" TARGET="main"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><br> </font></a><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/rivers/riversconservation/registry/61lowerchartiers.aspx" TARGET="_blank">PLAN</a></font></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <p><img border="0" src="art/topo.gif" width="58" height="604"></p> <div align="left"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="87"> <tr> <td align="left" width="79"> <p align="left"><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <a HREF="#GOALS" TARGET="main">GOALS<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Land" TARGET="main">LAND USE</a> <br> <img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Water" TARGET="main">WATER<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Biological" TARGET="main">BIOLOGICAL<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Cultural" TARGET="main">CULTURAL<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm">ISSUES</a></font><a HREF="#Cultural" TARGET="main"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><br> </font></a><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/rivers/riversconservation/registry/61lowerchartiers.aspx" TARGET="_blank">PLAN</a></font></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <p><img border="0" src="art/topo.gif" width="58" height="604"></p> <div align="left"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="87"> <tr> <td align="left" width="79"> <p align="left"><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <a HREF="#GOALS" TARGET="main">GOALS<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Land" TARGET="main">LAND USE</a> <br> <img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Water" TARGET="main">WATER<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Biological" TARGET="main">BIOLOGICAL<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Cultural" TARGET="main">CULTURAL<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm">ISSUES</a></font><a HREF="#Cultural" TARGET="main"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><br> </font></a><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/rivers/riversconservation/registry/61lowerchartiers.aspx" TARGET="_blank">PLAN</a></font></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <p><img border="0" src="art/topo.gif" width="58" height="604"> <div align="left"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="87"> <tr> <td align="left" width="79"> <p align="left"><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <a HREF="#GOALS" TARGET="main">GOALS<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Land" TARGET="main">LAND USE</a> <br> <img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Water" TARGET="main">WATER<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Biological" TARGET="main">BIOLOGICAL<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="#Cultural" TARGET="main">CULTURAL<br> </a><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm">ISSUES</a></font><a HREF="#Cultural" TARGET="main"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><br> </font></a><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><img border="0" src="art/ybullet.gif" width="5" height="5"> <a HREF="http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/rivers/riversconservation/registry/61lowerchartiers.aspx" TARGET="_blank">PLAN</a></font></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <p><img border="0" src="art/topo.gif" width="58" height="604"> </td> <td ALIGN="left" valign="middle"> <p align="left"><font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes">The Lower Chartiers Creek Watershed encompasses the area downstream of the confluence of Little Chartiers Creek and Chartiers Creek in Washington County. This portion of the watershed is approximately 139 square miles in size.</span></font> </td> <td ALIGN="right" valign="middle"> <p align="left"> <img border="0" src="art/rivers/indexmap.jpg" alt="Digital elevation model of the lower Chartiers Creek watershed overlays the Pittsburgh area as seen by the LandSat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM)" width="366" height="267" align="right"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="justify" colspan="2"> <p align="justify"><font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif">The entire Chartiers Watershed is 277 square miles and Chartiers Creek runs for a length of 52.4 miles. The undeveloped meadows and woodlands of the Chartiers Valley are a precious commodity. Wildlife abounds in these undisturbed natural areas, forming a greenway along the creek and its tributaries.<font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif" color="#804000">  </font></font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="left" valign="middle"> <p align="left"><font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif" color="#804000"> The Chartiers Creek Greenway could become the centerpiece of the entire Lower Chartiers Creek Watershed, connecting residents with water-related recreational activities. An important wildlife corridor, it would provide 14 communities with a continuous natural green and blue recreational thread</font>. </font> </td> <td ALIGN="right"> <img border="0" src="art/fall.jpg" align="right" width="366" height="239" alt="Behold the natural, unspoiled beauty of Chartiers Creek right in the heart of urban Pittsburgh"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="left"> <img border="0" src="art/view.jpg" align="left" alt="The upper Chartiers in rural Washington County is scenic, too" width="130" height="82"> </td> <td ALIGN="justify"> <p align="justify"><font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> Creatures you might see on a walk through the woods include pheasant, turkeys, opossum, ruffed grouse, deer, foxes, raccoons, blue heron, green heron, beavers, muskrats, kingfishers, bats, red tail hawks, osprey hawks, geese, ducks, and of course squirrels, rabbits, ground hogs, owls, and woodpeckers. </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="justify" colspan="2"> <p align="justify"><font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif">What a treasure for residents to discover this hidden natural resource nestled in the large urban Pittsburgh area. Many surrounding communities have declared their support for the greenway idea. By designating it as a Greenway, we can preserve our Chartiers Valley so that people of all ages can enjoy the beauty and wildlife forever. Right in their own backyard.</font> <p align="justify">  </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="CENTER" colspan="2"> <h1><b><font color="#808000" face="courier new, arial, helvetica, sans serif">RIVERS CONSERVATION PLAN</font></b></h1> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="CENTER" colspan="2"> <img SRC="art/key.gif" ALT="Planning is key to unlock the Lower Chartiers Watershed's potential" width="120" height="42"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="justify" colspan="2"> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">The </span><a href="../html/www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/rivers/riversconservation/registry/61lowerchartiers.aspx" target="_blank">Rivers Conservation Plan</a> unlocks the Lower Chartiers Watershed's potential by identifying watershed conditions, issues and opportunities.  <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The plan focuses on resources and conditions in the watershed and identifies their relation to watershed health. This website tracks the progress on solving the problems and exploring the opportunities identified in the Rivers Conservation Plan for the Lower Chartiers Watershed.</font> </p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif">A reference guide and an integrative tool for decision makers <i>(municipal officials and staff, conservation organizations, businesses, planners, & governmental agencies)</i> in the Lower Chartiers Creek Watershed,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the plan incorporates critical watershed conservation information and potential implementation strategies into a single reference source.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </span></font> </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="CENTER" colspan="2"> <img SRC="art/line.gif" width="480" height="25"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="CENTER" colspan="2"> <div align="center"> <table BORDER="0" width="540" CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="5"> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" colspan="2" height="1"> <h2 ALIGN="CENTER"><b><font face="Courier New" color="#808000"><a name="GOALS">GOALS</a></font></b></h2> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="justify" colspan="2" height="50"> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">The planning process has involved public input, environmental investigation, data gathering, and agency coordination.  By outlining goals for watershed improvement, we can focus on the projects that most effectively contribute to their attainment. </font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" colspan="2" height="370"> <p align="justify"> </p> <p> <img border="0" src="art/rivers/location.jpg" alt="Index map of the Lower Chartiers Watershed in Allegheny and Washington Counties, SW Pennsylvania, illustrates the main channel and its tributaries, municipalities and townships and major roads." width="301" height="330"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" colspan="2" height="18"> <p align="center"> <font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">  The following are the five project goals that were established by the project's steering committee:</font> </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="right" width="136" height="58"> <div align="right"> <table BORDER="3" WIDTH="130" CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="0" BGCOLOR="#FAFFBD" BORDERCOLOR="#808000" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C6BBA2" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808000" BACKGROUND="art/back_leaf1.jpg" height="25"> <tr> <td ALIGN="CENTER"> <p align="center"><a TARGET="main" href="water,.htm"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif">WATER QUALITY & STORMWATER MANAGEMENT </font></a></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" height="58"> <p align="justify"> <font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> Improve water quality and manage stormwater </font> </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="right" width="136" height="44"> <div align="right"> <table BORDER="3" WIDTH="130" CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="0" BGCOLOR="#FAFFBD" BORDERCOLOR="#808000" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C6BBA2" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808000" BACKGROUND="art/back_leaf1.jpg" height="25"> <tr> <td ALIGN="CENTER"> <p align="center"><a TARGET="main" href="land.htm"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif">LAND & CONSERVATION</font></a></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" height="44"> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">Protect the natural resources, historic landscape and scenic beauty within the watershed</font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="right" width="136" height="33"> <div align="right"> <table BORDER="3" WIDTH="130" CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="0" BGCOLOR="#FAFFBD" BORDERCOLOR="#808000" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C6BBA2" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808000" BACKGROUND="art/back_leaf1.jpg" height="25"> <tr> <td ALIGN="CENTER"> <p align="center"><a TARGET="main" href="trails.htm"><font size="-2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif">TRAILS & RECREATION</font></a></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" height="33"> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">Enhance the recreational opportunities of the watershed</font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="right" width="136" height="22"> <p align="right"><img border="0" src="art/leaf_b1.gif" width="20" height="20"> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" height="22"> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">Promote land development that is compatible with a sustainable environment</font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="right" width="136" height="34"> <p align="right"><img border="0" src="art/leaf_b1.gif" width="20" height="20"> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" height="34"> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">Provide an environmental education program for adults and enhance existing school-based environmental education</font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="right" width="136" height="22"> <p align="right"><img border="0" src="art/leaf_b1.gif" width="20" height="20"> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" height="22"> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US; mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">Encourage compatible and sustainable economic development</span></font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" colspan="2" height="14"> <img border="0" src="art/leaf_b2.gif" width="12" height="12"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" colspan="2" height="20"> <p align="center"><font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="#GOALS">goals</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="#Land">land use</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="#Water">water resources</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="#Biological">biological resources</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="#Cultural">cultural resources</a> | <a TARGET="_blank" href="http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/rivers/riversconservation/registry/61lowerchartiers.aspx">plan</a></font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" colspan="2" height="135"> <hr SIZE="6" WIDTH="320"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" colspan="2" height="29"> <h2 ALIGN="CENTER"><b><font face="Courier New" color="#808000"><a name="Land">LAND</a> USE</font></b></h2> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="justify" colspan="2" height="213"> <p align="justify"> <font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">The watershed is located in the Appalachian Plateau physiographic province. Sandstone, shale, claystone, limestone, dolomite, and coal are the exposed geologic formations. <font color="#FF8000"><b> The plateau is noted for its narrow and dissected, steep-sided valleys.</b></font> Twenty coal seams are exposed in Allegheny County, however, only the Pittsburgh coal seam is of significant economic importance. Some of the limitations of the soils and the parent rock in the Chartiers Creek watershed are that the soils are derived from very landslide prone rock. <b><font color="#FF8000"> When the soils and parent rock material are found on steep slopes, landslides can be and often are a by-product of developmental activities.</font></b>  </font> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><font color="#FF8000"><b> Another limitation is that some of the soils located in valley bottoms have previously been altered by man and are located adjacent to floodplains.</b></font><font color="#804000"> This has increased the limitation of these and associated soils by </font><font color="#FF8000"><b> reducing their ability to allow water to effectively drain</b></font><font color="#804000"> an area </font> with little or no flood related impacts. An additional limitation to some soils is that in general, septic systems do not work effectively here, which lead to some of the water quality pollution issues in the watershed </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" colspan="2" height="215"> <img border="0" src="art/rivers/piechart2.gif" width="495" height="213" alt="Land use pie chart showing that the watershed is about evenly divided between residental/agricultural use and natural forest"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="JUSTIFY" colspan="2" height="82"> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> The project area shows very visible land use activities and trends. These land use activities are spurring urban sprawl in areas of the project area that have historically not observed these types of pressures. The project area east of the I-79 transportation corridor is dominated by residential and commercial/industrial land use. In the western and more southern areas of the project area, agricultural/open space and forested land uses are dominant. </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" width="136" height="280" valign="top"> <a href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE2" target="main"><img border="0" src="art/rivers/urban.jpg" alt="Proper planning is needed in order to control negative impacts of sprawl" width="100" height="50"></a><font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE2"><br> Urban Sprawl<br> </a></font><br> <br> <a href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE3" target="main"> <img border="0" src="art/rivers/transportation.jpg" alt="Urban sprawl is partially caused by the construction of new transportation facilities. " width="100" height="50"></a><br> <font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE3">Transportation<br> <br> <br> </a></font><a href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE1" target="main"><img border="0" src="art/rivers/conservation.jpg" alt="An encompassing organization can promote conservation of greenspace for the entire watershed" width="100" height="50"></a><font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE1"><br> Conservation</a></font></td> <td ALIGN="JUSTIFY" valign="top" height="280"> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">Residential land use varies within the project area. High residential land use is found along the eastern portion communities and lower residential land use is observed in the western portion of the project area.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> Industrial/commercial land use and brownfield <i> (real estate no longer being used or abandoned industrial sites)</i> properties are located primarily along and/or near major transportation corridors such as U.S. Interstates 79 and 279 and State Routes 19, 22, 50, 60, and 980.  </font></p> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> Agricultural land in the project area is located in the western portion of Allegheny County <i> (west of I-79) </i> and in Washington County. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">Park properties in the project area are as diverse as they are common. A total of sixty-four <i> (64)</i> parks, parklets, playgrounds, and other recreational facilities exist throughout the project area.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" colspan="2" height="149"> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">Landfills: No sanitary landfills exist within the project area, however the William H. Harris, Inc. sanitary <i>(Arden)</i> landfill is located in the Washington, PA portion of the Chartiers Creek watershed. There is one demolition landfill that is located within the project area, the Deep Valley Coal and Disposal landfill located in North Fayette Township <i>(PADEP, 2000).</i></p> <p align="justify">Hazard Areas, Waste Sites: The National Priorities <i>(Superfund) </i>List <i>(NPL) </i>is EPA's database of uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites identified for priority remediation under the Superfund program <i>(Environmental Institute, 1991)</i>. There are no NPL sites within the boundaries of the Chartiers Creek watershed.  </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="right" width="136" height="98" valign="top"> <font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE5">UMTRCA</a>   </font><br> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" valign="top" height="98"> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (UMTRCA) regulates one site in the project area. The UMTRCA controls any activity that has to do with the mining and milling of radioactive materials. The site operated and milled radioactive materials during the post World War II/Cold War period. At the time, materials were cleaned up and disposed of to the standards of the day <i>(PADEP, October 2000)</i>. </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="right" width="136" height="39" valign="top"> <font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE4">Brownfields</a>   </font><br> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" valign="top" height="39"> <font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">The industrial/commercial sites in the project area can be locations for historic or abandoned waste site locations. </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="justify" colspan="2" height="34"> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">The following are the waste handling facilities located in the project area that are listed in PADEP's document, Waste Management Program Permitted Sites for the Southwestern Region (PADEP, 2000)</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="right" width="136" height="22" valign="top"> <img border="0" src="art/leaf_b1.gif" width="20" height="20"> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" valign="top" height="22"> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">No Sanitary Landfills</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="right" width="136" height="50" valign="top"> <img border="0" src="art/leaf_b1.gif" width="20" height="20"> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" valign="top" height="50"> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">Two Residual Waste Processing Facilities<i> (Petromax Residual Waste Oil Processing Facility in Collier Township and Tri-State Petroleum Recovery Residual Waste Transfer Station - Kennedy Township)</i></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="right" width="136" height="34" valign="top"> <img border="0" src="art/leaf_b1.gif" width="20" height="20"> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" valign="top" height="34"> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">One Demolition Landfill <i>(Deep Valley Coal and Disposal - North Fayette Township)</i></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="right" width="136" height="22" valign="top"> <img border="0" src="art/leaf_b1.gif" width="20" height="20"> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" valign="top" height="22"> <font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">No Fly Ash/Industrial Waste Sites</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="right" width="136" height="22" valign="top"> <img border="0" src="art/leaf_b1.gif" width="20" height="20"> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" valign="top" height="22"> <font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">No Municipal Waste Processing Facilities</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="right" width="136" height="22" valign="top"> <img border="0" src="art/leaf_b1.gif" width="20" height="20"> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" valign="top" height="22"> <font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">No Commercial Hazardous Waste Facilities</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="right" width="136" height="34" valign="top"> <img border="0" src="art/leaf_b1.gif" width="20" height="20"> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" valign="top" height="34"> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">One Captive Hazardous Waste Facility <i>(General Electric Company, Bridgeville Glass - Collier Township)</i></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="right" width="136" height="22" valign="top"> <img border="0" src="art/leaf_b1.gif" width="20" height="20"> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" valign="top" height="22"> <font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">No Processing Facilities</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="right" width="136" height="34" valign="top"> <img border="0" src="art/leaf_b1.gif" width="20" height="20"> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" valign="top" height="34"> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> One Transfer Station [Infectious Waste] <i>(Weavertown Transfer Facility - Cecil Township)</i></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" colspan="2" height="14"> <img border="0" src="art/leaf_b2.gif" width="12" height="12"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" colspan="2" height="20"> <p align="center"><font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="#GOALS">goals</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="#Land">land use</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="#Water">water resources</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="#Biological">biological resources</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="#Cultural">cultural resources</a> | <a TARGET="_blank" href="http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/rivers/riversconservation/registry/61lowerchartiers.aspx">plan</a></font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" colspan="2" height="135"> <hr SIZE="6" WIDTH="320"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" colspan="2" height="29"> <h2 ALIGN="CENTER"><b><font face="Courier New" color="#808000"><a name="Water">WATER</a> RESOURCES</font></b></h2> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="JUSTIFY" colspan="2" height="66"> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> There are 79 miles of streams in the Lower Chartiers Watershed that are not in attainment with the state's Clean Streams Act, representing 93% of the assessed streams in the project area.   The quality of the water in streams is directly related to the quality of the land from which it came. This is important because it directly impacts chemical, physical, and biological processes that take place in streams. </font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="JUSTIFY" colspan="2" height="302"> <p align="center"><img border="0" src="art/rivers/waterquality.jpg" alt="Water quality map of the lower watershed shows that AMD is the major problem in the west, agricultural runoff in the southern rural portion and urban impacts and sewage in the heavily residential eastern part" align="center" width="265" height="300"></td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="JUSTIFY" colspan="2" height="82"> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">Water quality of the Chartiers Creek watershed was good prior to man's intensive land use activities of the 19th and 20th centuries. But only three sub-basins in the project area are now in attainment. These areas are shown in light blue on the water quality map, above.  The main pollution problems affecting water quality in the watershed, as shown on the map, are summarized below.  Follow the links for further discussion of these pollution issues and the management options that can be taken.  </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" valign="top" width="136" height="21"> </td> <td ALIGN="left" valign="top" height="21"> <p align="left"><font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE6">Abandoned Mine Drainage</a></font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" valign="top" width="136" height="88"> <a href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE6" target="main"> <img border="0" src="art/rivers/Scrubgrass_AMD.jpg" alt="AMD, one of the major water quality problems in the project area is being remediated at the Scrubgrass Passive Treatment facility in Scott Township." width="100" height="50"></a><font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE6"><br> <br> issue</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE6">option</a> </font> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" valign="top" height="88"> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">AMD is made up of numerous water quality parameters and can differ from discharge to discharge. AMD typically can be either acidic or alkaline and has metals <i> (Aluminum, Iron, and/or Manganese)</i> associated with it. This is one of the major water quality problems in the Chartiers Creek.</font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" valign="top" width="136" height="21"> </td> <td ALIGN="left" valign="top" height="21"> <font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE7">Sewage</a></font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" valign="top" height="98" width="136"> <a href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE7" target="main"> <img border="0" src="art/rivers/sewage.jpg" alt="Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) in Crafton that empties directly into Chartiers Creek." width="100" height="50"></a><font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE7"><br> <br> issue</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE7">option</a> </font> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" valign="top" height="98"> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">Sewage is composed of wastewater, feces and particulate matter. In a conventional sewage treatment plant, sewage is transported to treatment facilities via an underground network of sewage pipelines from residences and businesses.  Stormwater in most municipalities in the project area has been combined with the sanitary sewers. This situation causes the combined sewers to overflow during wet weather events.</font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" width="136" valign="top" height="21"> </td> <td ALIGN="left" valign="top" height="21"> <font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE8">Urban Impacted</a></font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" valign="top" width="136" height="98"> <a href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE8" target="main"> <img border="0" src="art/rivers/Brushrun.jpg" alt="Brush Run is one of the many Urban Impacted (or Habitat Modified) streams in the project area. Increased flows scour the stream during a storm event, thus causing increased erosion and sedimentation." width="100" height="50"></a><font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE8"><br> <br> issue</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE8">option</a> </font> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" valign="top" height="98"> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">This designation is given to streams that are impacted due to one or more water quality parameters. These parameters alone or together impact the habitat, stream structure, and the environment for benthic organisms and fish. Streams that exhibit urban impacted <i> (or habitat modification) </i> problems are affected by high stream flows, turbidity, erosion and sedimentation, residual chemicals <i> (e.g., road salts, oils, solvents, etc.)</i> and thermal pollution. </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" colspan="2" height="14"> <p align="center"><img SRC="art/leaf_b2.gif" WIDTH="12" HEIGHT="12"></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" colspan="2" height="20"> <p align="center"><font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="#GOALS">goals</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="#Land">land use</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="#Water">water resources</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="#Biological">biological resources</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="#Cultural">cultural resources</a> | <a TARGET="_blank" href="http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/rivers/riversconservation/registry/61lowerchartiers.aspx">plan</a></font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" colspan="2" height="135"> <hr SIZE="6" WIDTH="320"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" colspan="2" height="29"> <h2 ALIGN="CENTER"><b><font face="Courier New" color="#808000"><a name="Biological">BIOLOGICAL</a> RESOURCES</font></b></h2> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" width="136" height="21"> </td> <td ALIGN="left" height="21"> <p align="left"><font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE9">Great Blue Heron Rookeries</a></font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" width="136" height="70" valign="top"> <a href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE9" target="main"> <img border="0" src="art/rivers/herons.jpg" alt="Around 70 Great Blue Heron nest in pairs in the rookery on Chartiers Creek near Bavington." width="100" height="50"> </a> <br> <font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE9"> issue</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE9">option</a> </font> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" valign="top" height="70"> <p align="justify"> <font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">Two Great Blue Heron <i>(Ardea herodias)</i> rookeries exist in the riparian forest buffer and wetland habitats in the project area.</font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" width="136" height="21"> </td> <td ALIGN="left" height="21"> <p align="left"><font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE10">Riparian Buffers, Wetlands & Forest</a></font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" width="136" height="446" valign="top"> <a href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE10" target="main"> <img border="0" src="art/rivers/Robinson.jpg" alt="A portion of Robinson Run with a healthy riparian forest buffer corridor" width="100" height="50"></a><br> <br> <font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE10"> issue</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE10">option</a> </font> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" valign="top" height="446"> <p align="justify"> <font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">Riparian forest buffers and wetland habitats are very important in all watersheds. These habitats are transitional areas <i> (ecotones)</i> between the terrestrial and the aquatic portions <i> (the receiving stream)</i> of a watershed. As such, they have direct interaction between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. </font> <p align="justify"> <font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> Riparian zones act as transportation corridors, integral and diverse habitats for wildlife and fishes <i>(bio-diversity)</i>, high production areas for timber and food, and are important recreational areas. Wetlands trap sediments, nutrients and pesticides. They regulate flood and storm events. </font> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">These areas are important to watershed and fisheries management. Streamside vegetation controls erosion and sedimentation, which stabilizes streambanks and determines channel morphology. They also create habitat and microhabitat for insects, wildlife, and fishes by adding large, woody debris to streams. </font> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> Riparian zones and wetlands moderate environmental conditions for wildlife, fishes, and humans. These areas help regulate stream temperatures.  Sediments, nutrients <i> (phosphorus and nitrogen)</i>, and pesticides are deposited here. This is where energy from floodwaters dissipate <i> (American Fisheries Society, 1997; Orth and White, 1999; and Wesche and Isaak, 1999)</i>.  </font> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> Forest systems in the lower Chartiers Watershed are very important habitats as well. Forest is still the dominant landcover type in the project area. Forest habitat maintains a healthy environment by adding barriers to pollutants that runoff the land into adjacent streams. By improving and connecting these riparian and upland forest systems, the aesthetics of the watershed improve and so will the environmental health of the watershed's land, stream, and biological resources. </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" colspan="2" height="14"> <p align="center"><img SRC="art/leaf_b2.gif" WIDTH="12" HEIGHT="12"></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" colspan="2" height="20"> <p align="center"><font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="#GOALS">goals</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="#Land">land use</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="#Water">water resources</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="#Biological">biological resources</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="#Cultural">cultural resources</a> | <a TARGET="_blank" href="http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/rivers/riversconservation/registry/61lowerchartiers.aspx">plan</a></font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" colspan="2" height="135"> <hr SIZE="6" WIDTH="320"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" colspan="2" height="29"> <h2 ALIGN="CENTER"><b><font face="Courier New" color="#808000"><a name="Cultural">CULTURAL</a> RESOURCES</font></b></h2> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" width="136" height="21"> </td> <td ALIGN="left" height="21"> <p align="left"><font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE11">Rails-to-Trails & Bikeways</a></font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" width="136" height="114" valign="top"> <a href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE11" target="main"> <img border="0" src="art/rivers/railstotrails.jpg" alt="A section of the Montour Trail in Peters Township called the Arrowhead Trail" width="100" height="50"></a><br> <br> <font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE11"> issue</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE11">option</a> </font> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" valign="top" height="114"> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">Abandoned railroad beds provide a unique opportunity for communities and environmental groups to develop recreational trails. There are existing and proposed trails <i> (Montour Trail, Chartiers Creek Trail, Panhandle Trail, and McLaughlin Run Trail)</i> located within the Lower Watershed and there are several sections of trail currently under construction. When completed, these trails will provide an exciting opportunity for a unique recreation choice for residents of the watershed. <i> (<a href="http://www.alleghenylandtrust.org" target="_top">Allegheny Land Trust</a>, 1999)</i>. </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" width="136" height="21"> </td> <td ALIGN="left" height="21"> <font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE12">Ecotourism</a></font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" width="136" height="89" valign="top"> <a href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE12" target="main"> <img border="0" src="art/rivers/ecotourism.jpg" alt="Canoe float on Chartiers Creek held for municipal and civic leaders passes by historic buildings in Carnegie. " width="100" height="50"></a><br> <br> <font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE12"> issue</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE12">option</a> </font> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" valign="top" height="89"> <p align="justify"><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">Ecotourism is an activity that is not being promoted in the project area and is therefore an opportunity. The active marketing of the project area's ecological treasures and cultural highlights, and development of a watershed activity that can link or connect the Allegheny and Washington County portions of the watershed is needed.</font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" width="136" height="21"> </td> <td ALIGN="left" height="21"> <font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE13">Community Education/Public Relations Activities</a></font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" width="136" height="89" valign="top"> <a href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE13" target="main"> <img border="0" src="art/rivers/education.jpg" alt="Educating schoolchildren on the importance of wetlands habitat at the learning center on Chartiers Nature Conservancy's Idlewood Wetlands property in East Carnegie." width="100" height="50"></a><br> <br> <font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE13"> issue</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="rivers2.htm#ISSUE13">option</a> </font> </td> <td ALIGN="justify" valign="top" height="89"> <p align="justify"><font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif">Promotion of the watershed's organization and community events is vital, along with implementing this plan's proposed activities. We can also use the media as an important resource to educate the general public about our watershed.</font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" colspan="2" height="14"> <p align="center"><img SRC="art/leaf_b2.gif" WIDTH="12" HEIGHT="12"></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" colspan="2" height="20"> <p align="center"><font size="-1" face="comic sans ms, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a TARGET="main" href="#GOALS">goals</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="#Land">land use</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="#Water">water resources</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="#Biological">biological resources</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="#Cultural">cultural resources</a> | <a TARGET="_blank" href="http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/rivers/riversconservation/registry/61lowerchartiers.aspx">plan</a></font></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <p>  </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="center" valign="top" colspan="3"><img SRC="art/line.gif" align="center" width="480" height="25"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="left" valign="top" colspan="3"> <div align="center"> <table BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="5" width="640"> <tr> <td ALIGN="CENTER"> <p ALIGN="CENTER"><font SIZE="-2" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif"><a HREF="index.html" TARGET="_top">HOME</a> | <a TARGET="main" href="water.htm">WATER QUALITY & STORMWATER MANAGEMENT</a> | <a HREF="land.htm" TARGET="main">LAND & CONSERVATION</a> | <a HREF="trails.htm" TARGET="main">TRAILS & RECREATION</a> | <a HREF="news.htm" TARGET="main">NEWS</a></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="CENTER"><img SRC="art/leaf_b1.gif" WIDTH="20" HEIGHT="20"></td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="CENTER"> <p ALIGN="CENTER"><font SIZE="-1"><i>this page updated on 10/26/2005 by Robin Anthony</i></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="CENTER"> <p ALIGN="CENTER"><b><font SIZE="5" FACE="Wingdings" COLOR="#808000">,<br> </font></b><font SIZE="-1" FACE="arial, helvetica, sans serif">For more information contact:<br> <a HREF="rbinanth@aol.com" target="_blank">ChartiersGreenways.net</a></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN="CENTER"> <img src="../../_vti_bin/fpcount.exe/?Page=Chartiers%20Greenway/html/index.html|Image=4|Digits=5" alt="Hit Counter"> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <p>  </td> </tr> </table> </center> </div> </body>