Restoration efforts continue to heal Johnstown rivers

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WJAC) — Known for its history of mining, the city of Johnstown is also known for its bright orange-colored waterways that resulted from the mining.

But the environmental scars of the past have begun to heal after decades of hard work and millions of dollars invested. Rivers throughout Johnstown have started to redefine the city.

"Back in the 1990s and prior to that, the Stonycreek and Little Conemaugh (rivers) ran orange from the abandoned mine drainage. The iron in it would actually stain the rocks orange. That killed all the insects, which the fish feed on, so there was no habitat," said Brad Clemenson, with the Stonycreek Quemahoning Initiative.

Now, that orange is becoming harder and harder to find because of cleanup efforts at the federal, state and local levels.

"When I was a kid in Johnstown, you'd go play in the Stonycreek River and your mom knew you were in there because you came home with orange all over your pants and your shoes," said Clemenson.

While iron oxide isn't harmful to humans, it killed people's desire to get in the rivers throughout Johnstown. Today, the rivers are turning heads and bringing in businesses, such as Coal Tubin', which in turn build up tourism and boost the economy.

"The locals don't understand that we have some of the best whitewater rafting right here in the state right here in Johnstown, because our rivers and creeks were polluted. While the whole water recreation industry grew, it overlooked Johnstown," said Chad Gontkovic, the owner of Coal Tubin'.

Studies estimate that out of the approximately 4,000 customers that Coal Tubin' sees annually, 90% of them are from outside the Johnstown area.

"The locals here have it ingrained in their heads, 'Don't go into the creeks and rivers.' And we're over here, jumping up and down, saying, 'No, it's OK.' You know, a lot of work's been done over the last couple of decades, and it's really come back," said Gontkovic.

Many locals have started to take a greater interest in the much-improved rivers. Michael Cook, the president of the Benscreek Canoe Club, said they're what kept him from leaving the city.

"When I moved to Johnstown, I absolutely hated it here until I realized what awesome whitewater resources we have," said Cook.

Cook and other members of the club can often be seen paddling through the Stonycreek River.

Hundreds come out and join them at Greenhouse Park in Johnstown every year for the club's three-day Stonycreek Rendezvous.

"We keep building our audience every year. We keep seeing more and more new faces. And the other thing about the rendezvous that's nice, too, is it's kind of like a big family reunion, with 1,000 people in Greenhouse Park. And they're bringing their kids now and getting them into the sport," said Cook.

With all the excitement surrounding the cleanup of the rivers, there are fears looming in the distance of losing the funding that keeps them clean.

In 1977, the passage of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act served as a large source of funding to clean rivers such as Stonycreek and Little Conemaugh.

"It charges a tipping fee essentially on every ton of coal produced, and then the monies are distributed to the states that suffer from abandoned mine discharges," said Melissa Reckner, the secretary of the Stonycreek River Improvement Project.

Those reclamation fees are set to expire in 2021. Reckner says that could potentially wash away the progress that has been made, which would wipe out not only wildlife, but the potential for waterways in Johnstown to continue to help the economy grow.

"Water is what connects everybody. We all need it. Everything needs water to survive and, without it, where would we be? But we really need to work on connecting the value of restoration and maintaining those restoration projects so that we can connect it to the economic value of this region," said Reckner.

ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ56axLR7y6iamqRfp7K0wM6rmK2hn6N6prLFqKmtq12YvK%2FAyKesnmWkpHqpscClZKOnmKPAtbvWp2Sroaaav7SLxZuapaGUcpa4jbFsm4mSlq2Pubips66oj6CBsXevwbB7goOUZcaoxb5%2FonqBen5%2Bs7KYbpmwm4WXs42zk5ymb4%2BDdp4%3D