Watersheds of Clearfield County
The waterways of Pennsylvania have always played a major role in the industrialization of our area. Our streams and rivers are valuable for transportation, sources of drinking water, recreational activities, wildlife habitat, and are necessary parts of the ecosystem. Unfortunately, many of the waters in Clearfield County are impacted by abandoned mine drainage, sedimentation, excess nutrients, trash, and more. But there is hope, these streams are being cleaned! The Watershed Specialist at the Conservation District has been working to restore and protect the streams of Clearfield County since 2000. Some of the projects we've completed include the design and construction of passive treatment systems for abandoned mine drainage, installation of streambank stabilization and in-stream habitat devices, conducting watershed assessments and developing restoration plans, and working with watershed groups throughout the county. |
What is a watershed?
No matter where you live, you live in a watershed.
A watershed is the land area that drains to a single body of water such as a stream, lake, wetland, or estuary. These land areas are separated by ridges or hills. Watersheds are many different sizes. Let's imagine you are a drop of rain - you fall on a hillside that overlooks Montgomery Creek, which will eventually drip into that stream; therefore, you fell into the Montgomery Creek Watershed. You then flow into the West Branch Susquehanna River; therefore, you continue in the West Branch Susquehanna River Watershed. Then the river flows into the Susquehanna River and ultimately into the Chesapeake Bay; therefore, Montgomery Creek is one of many small watersheds inside the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The most important thing to remember about a watershed is that everything is connected. If some type of pollution enters a stream, it will affect the people relying on that water downstream, and so on. "We all live downstream..." |
Watershed Groups in Clearfield County
Allegheny Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Anderson Creek Watershed Association Bennett Branch Watershed Association Chest Creek Watershed Alliance Clearfield Creek Watershed Association Clearfield County Senior Environment Corps Sample Data Sheet - Excel Sample Data Sheet - PDF |
Clearfield High School Watershed Club
Deer Creek Watershed Association Emigh Run Lakeside Watershed Association Little Clearfield Watershed Association Montgomery Creek Watershed Association Morgan Run Watershed Group Moshannon Creek Watershed Association |
Let us help!
There is no shortage of work to be done in Clearfield County, and we continuously work hard to keep our waters clean and healthy. The Conservation District serves to address watershed issues - this can include, but is not limited to:
Please reach out to us with any of your watershed-related concerns and questions! Enter your information on the right, or call our office at (814) 765-2629 to speak with Watershed Specialist Kelly Williams or Resource Technician Rachel Fallon. |
|