BEAR CREEK TREATMENT SYSTEM

In February 2009 Bear Creek Watershed Association was granted $393,986 from the Growing Greener program for the purpose of reclaiming an abandoned mine site known as the Young Mine Complex.  This site was surface mined for coal in the 1950's and was left unreclaimed.  In the early 1970's a deep mine was started by Mohawk Mining Co. with mining completed in 1972.  This mine was known as the Brookes #2 Deep Mine.  The purpose of this project is to develop a reclamation plan that reclaims open pits to approximate original contour, adds alkaline materials to spoil,  the installation of a mine drain into the Brookes #2 mine and to establish vegetation on the mine site. 

In March 2010 a monitoring well was drilled into the Brookes #2 deep mine for the purpose of monitoring mine pool elevations and pH.  A base map has been produced by DEM Surveying of Brookville, Pa for the purpose of developing full scale reclamation plans.  In January 2011 the Brookes #2 Deep Mine drain was installed by Groves Excavating.  The deep mine drain has lowered the level of water in the mine.  The drain pipe is discharging 20gpm of alkaline water to Bear Creek.