Houtzdale Municipal Authority
Clearfield County, Pennsylvania

The Houtzdale Municipal Authority (HMA) needs to create additional support for their municipal water system, especially for residents with wells contaminated by acid mine drainage (AMD) from years of mining in the county.

Based on these needs, HMA developed a plan for four groundwater production wells and a surface water intake in the headwaters of Moshannon Creek. However, this portion of the stream is designated as a High Quality-Cold Water Fishery (HQ-CWF) and is listed as a Class A Wild Trout Stream. As a result of these stream designations, all wetlands associated with the stream have special protection requirements and are considered to be exceptional value (EV) wetlands.

Due to the special protection requirements, WHM was contracted to perform wetland delineations for the footprint of the new waterline system. Additionally, the investigation area was expanded to include the entire area which may potentially experience drawdown as a result of the proposed groundwater withdrawal wells. As part of this delineation WHM was to make an assessment of the functions and values of wetlands within the project area.

Prior to conducting field investigations, WHM completed a review of natural resource data associated with the project site. Specifically, WHM reviewed USGS 7.5 minute topographical mapping for Blandburg, Houtzdale, Ramey, and Tipton, Pennsylvania, one ft. contour interval aerial topographic mapping, and the U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service soils mapping for Clearfield County, Pennsylvania (1988). The results of this desktop analysis were used to help establish probable areas of where wetland areas could be located before conducting the field investigation portion of the project.

WHM provided HMA with a detailed assessment of the resources and worked with regulators to find a balance between delicate regulatory requirements and municipal water needs.

L.K. Metzger
Dam

Phoenix Resources
Landfill Expansion

Dayton Dam

Houtzdale
Municipal

Ruff Creek
Stream
Restoration

Orchard Club
Subdivision Site

Oley Mountain
Estates