Watershed Protection

One of the main priorites of the ACA is to provide a clean, safe and reliable water supply.  The first step, often the most important, is to preserve and protect the watershed from which the water supplies originate.   The following are some of the approaches the ACA incorporated into its watershed management program.

Forestry

A healthy forest is the most effective way to ensure that water flowing from the watershed is of good quality.  The ACA watersheds are 96% forested.  When the timber is harvested from these watersheds, only relative small tracts are selectively cut.  This forestry management approach has proven to be the best way to continue high quality source water and a healthy forest.  The ACA has utilized this forest management practice since it’s creation in the 1980’s.

No Trespassing: To preserve and protect our most sensitive drinking water, watershed areas have a no trespassing policy.  It is unlawful to enter these posted lands without written permission from the ACA.  Failure to comply to the No Trespassing policy could result in fines and other legal action.

Restricted Reservoir Use: ACA reservoirs are utilized strictly for drinking water purposes only.  Boating, swimming, and fishing are prohibited in or on any of the 12 ACA reservoirs for any reason.

ACA watersheds and drinking water reservoirs are patrolled regularly by both state & local law enforcement in addition to a private security company.

Intergovernmental Cooperation

Public Hunting: The ACA has partnered with the Game Commission and opened 400+ watershed acres to hunting.  This 400+ acre tract is found in the Glenn White Watershed, near the Horseshoe Curve, Blair County State Game Land.  Public use rules apply to this tract.  The PA Game Commission will enforce public recreation.

Two of the seven ACA watersheds are severely affected by Acidic Mine Drainage (AMD).  In the last decade the ACA has partnered with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Blair County Conservation District (BCCD), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and  many others to clean the AMD discharges up before entering receiving streams.  Various passive treatment technologies are being utilized everyday in both the Glennwhite (HSC) and Bellwood watersheds.  The passive systems are performing well and cleaning up the streams and our drinking water sources (See Glennwhite Case Studies).  The ACA maintains and monitors these systems to ensure their performance.

Water Monitoring

Streams and reservoirs are sampled regularly to gauge watershed health and raw water quality.  Regular monitoring establishes a base line to gauge watershed changes as well as provides an early warning system if pollution problems arise.  ACA employees, ACA Watershed Protection Committee Members, and other community volunteers (EASI & T.U.) conduct water monitoring.