ATTENTION – ALL VOLUNTEERS

THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP FOR THE

CREEK CLEAN UP PROJECT

WHEN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2007

TIME: 9:00 AM TO NOON

WHERE: OPTION FIRE DEPARTMENT

825 Streets Run Road

Pittsburgh, PA  15236

Brentwood, West Mifflin, Whitehall, City of Pittsburgh and ALCOSAN will hold a
“Creek Clean Up” to remove debris and trash from the Streets Run Creek.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

If you are able to volunteer by donating a little time, please mark your calendar for
Saturday, September 15, 2007! (Come for an hour or stay the morning. ALL
volunteers and groups welcome!)

Volunteers will meet at the Option Fire Department where the donated trash
bags, gloves and safety vests will be distributed. Teams and/or groups will work
together to collect the debris and trash inside and along Streets Run Creek.
Hope to see you there!

Any questions, please contact Ann Scott, Secretary at (412) 809-6530.

Streets Run Watershed Association is proud of our Communities continuing to
work together!


Streets Run Watershed Association thanks all of you who attended our Open
House!

STREETS RUN WATERSHED ASSOCIATION
Accomplishments, Goals and Future Plans

Growing Greener Grant
The Streets Run Watershed Association received a Growing Greener Grant in the
amount of $35,000 for the research and preparation of a “Watershed
Assessment and Restoration Plan”. Work completed in December 2005

Reconnaissance Report
SRWA, through Congressman Doyle’s Office, 14th District, received a $75,000
grant towards the completion of a Reconnaissance Report through the Army
Core of Engineers.

League of Women’s Voters Grant
SRWA received grant funding in 2002 for the purchase and installation of signage
along Streets Run Road, indicating the entering and exiting of the Watershed.

Safe Water – Education Grant
SRWA received a $30,000 Safe Water Grant through the efforts of Senator Jay
Costa Jr, 43rd District, for the education of resident living in and along the
watershed. This funding supported the following education products;
Development of Brochures; a power point presentation of the watershed utilized
at public meetings; letterhead; an education display board located at the
participating communities; and the purchase of books for school and public
libraries on watershed awareness and pollution.

Enviroscape
SRWA purchased an Enviroscape (a mock watershed) utilized for hands-on
education and watershed awareness of students and adults. Funding provided
through a grant received through State Representative Harry Readshaw, 36th
District.

Annual Clean Up
SRWA has sponsored a “Clean Up” of the watershed every year since
incorporation. The Association worked with PA DEP and Riversweep for two
years, Goodwill Industries and PA American Water Company on special clean
ups.

Pennsylvania Resource Council (PRC)
The SRWA is working with the PRC through a Growing Greener Grant for the
design and installation of a riparian buffer zone along Streets Run Road. Funding
for this project has not yet been approved.

Watershed Tours
The SRWA has conducted bus tours of the watershed to educate public officials,
participating municipalities, and water and sewer authority members/employees
about the problems affecting the Streets Run Watershed.

PRC
The SRWA worked with the PRC and offered a Rain Barrel Workshop in October
2006. The cost was $30 per person, a rain barrel was provided. The Borough of
Whitehall was able to secure the barrels through Schneider’s and Colteryahn’s
Dairies.

Riparian Buffer Zone
SRWA is working with the PA DEP regarding businesses with various violations
in the watershed to perform repair projects, including the installation of a riparian
buffer zone in lieu of payment of fines. This project is current with work anticipated
to be completed by Fall 2007.

Growing Greener Grant
SRWA submitted a Growing Greener Grant in cooperation with the Borough of
Baldwin to complete a “FGM” Fluvial Geomorphology project (engineered
placement of boulders/rocks in a stream bed to decrease the velocity of the
stream). The total project costs; $121,910; $54,910 matching funds through
SRWA and other partners in the project, requesting $67,000 in Growing Greener
funding. Unfortunately, the application was denied. The Association may consider
submitting a similar application in 2007.

The SRWA received a $15,000 Grant through the continued efforts of
Representative Harry Readshaw. The Association purchased 8,000 permanent
storm drain markers and distributed to the Boroughs of Baldwin, Brentwood,
West Mifflin and Whitehall.
The Association will hold 3 to 4 evening meetings in 2007 with the goal of
increased attendance and support.
The Association will organize a “Creek Clean Up” for 2007.
The Association will organize a “Spring Tour” of the Watershed to view completed
and future projects.

POTENTIAL STREETS RUN WATERSHED ASSOCIATION PROJECTS

1. Control and eliminate the flooding of Streets Run and its tributaries.
2. Eliminate all sewage entering Streets Run and Glass Run.
3. Locate all storm water outfalls discharging into the Streets Run Watershed.
4. Review all storm water outfalls and evaluate temporary and permanent    
upstream storage of storm water to reduce storm flows entering Streets Run and
its tributaries.
5. Locate and treat all abandoned mine drainage in the watershed.
6. Stabilize the stream bank erosion of Streets Run and its tributaries.
7. Adopt inter-municipal storm water ordinances that attempt to control and store
storm water rather than convey to Streets Run and its tributaries as quickly as
possible.
8. Clean all open dump areas in the watershed.
9. Conduct a detailed macro invertebrate survey on Streets Run and its tributaries
to evaluate water quality and existing species.
10. Conduct a detailed water chemistry analysis on Streets Run and its
tributaries to evaluate water quality and potential sources of pollution.
11. Investigate all businesses directly contributing to water quality degradation in
the watershed.
12. Enforce fines and penalties to businesses that continue to operate without
regard to pollution prevention practices.
13. Widen, dredge and realign Streets Run and its tributaries as necessary to
control flooding.
14. Identify property owners adjacent to Streets Run and its tributaries.
15. Develop a community stewardship program for residents to adopt portions of
the watershed.
16. Establish green spaces, parklettes, and parks adjacent to Streets Run and its
tributaries enhancing the aesthetic value of the streams.
17. Development of a quarterly newsletter.
18. Establish fund raising events.
19. Conduct an annual “Streets Run Walk” to communicate current concerns and
projects within the Streets Run watershed.
General Information
Harry Readshaw,
PA State Representative:
www.pahouse.net/readshaw/index.htm
Recommended Links
News
Pennsylvania Department of
Conservation and Natural
Resources
www.dcnr.state.pa.us
Western Pennsylvania
Conservancy
www.paconserve.org
Federal Emergency
Management Agency
www.fema.gov
Next meeting:

Wednesday, January 25th @ 4:00 PM at the Whitehall Borough
Municipal Building
Help Your Watershed!

#1
Use water wisely. Wasting it
at the faucet drains our
natural water supply.

#2
Dispose of household
waste properly. Batteries
and toxic chemicals create
an environmental hazard
whey they go into the
landfill with the other
household waste. Contact
your local waste
management authorities for
proper handling of these
materials.

#3
Plant native plants along
stream banks to help
prevent erosion and
invasion by harmful
non-native species.

#4
Avoid cutting trees or
shrubs away from the
stream bank, the root
structures help to keep soil
in place and the trees
provide shade to help keep
the water cool.

#5
Keep your car properly
maintained. Cars leak
brake fluid, oil, and
antifreeze when they're not
properly cared for, and that
leakage eventually washes
into streams. Also, let your
car get a little dirty from
time to time. Car-wash soap
becomes a pollutant when it
washes into a stream.

#6
Limit the amount of salt you
put on your walks during
the winter months. Salt
doesn't disappear; it is held
in the soil and water and
affects aquatic life.

#7
Remember that some
weeds and insects can
actually be beneficial.
Spraying large amounts of
chemicals and overusing
fertilizer can be more
harmful than helpful in the
long run.

#8
Choose gravel or wood
chips for your landscaping.
Gravel allows water to seep
into the ground where it is
cooled and cleaned
through natural processes.

#9
Pick up trash along the
stream bank. Chemicals
found in the waste could
leach into the water. Cans
and bottles can be recycled
for cash, and removing litter
instills community pride.

#10
Get involved! You can help
protect watersheds in your
own area. And by giving to
Western Pennsylvania
Conservancy, you can
support watershed
conservation across the
entire region.

E-MAIL US:

Info@StreetsRunWatershed.com