Rivers Run Through This

Governor Tom Wolf today announced the investment of $117 million for 25 drinking water, wastewater, and non-point source projects across 19 counties through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST).

“This historic investment in Pennsylvania’s clean water and healthy communities serves as a fitting celebration of Earth Week, when our country celebrates advances in environmental protection and committed stewardship of our lands and waters,” said Governor Wolf. “Not only do the awards made in our communities strengthen our clean water facilities, but they also address legacy contaminants like lead and PFAS, which should never endanger the welfare of our children and families.”

The funding for these projects originates from a combination of state funds approved by voters, Growing Greener, Marcellus Legacy funds, federal grants to PENNVEST from the Environmental Protection Agency, and recycled loan repayments from previous PENNVEST funding awards. Funds for these projects are disbursed after expenses for work are paid and receipts are submitted to PENNVEST for review.

Click here to read out the project summaries. 

With more and more people getting their COVID-19 vaccinations as the pandemic carries on, Marion County officials are hoping to bring events back to Palatine Park in a big way, offering free, family friendly entertainment all summer long.

Palatine Park rose to modern prominence several years ago when the county became more serious about keeping up the park and holding major events there. Since that decision was made, the park has been host to Led Zeppelin light shows, ski stunts on the Monongahela River, the annual Three Rivers Festival and more.

Marion County Administrator Kris Cinalli said he hopes to build Palatine Park bigger and better each year.

Click here to read about what Palatine Park has to offer!

The busy Ohio River freight corridor along West Virginia’s northern panhandle paused on April 26 to make way for barges transporting a 830-ft tied-arch bridge span that will form the signature element of a new $131-million crossing between Wellsburg, W. Va., and Brilliant, Ohio.

Flatiron Construction Corp., lead contractor for the project, oversaw assembly of span segments and approach girders at an offsite riverside location. Placed atop a hydraulic jacking beam system, the 4,100-ton structure was floated one mile to the project site, where it was lifted and secured atop concrete piers approximately 80 ft above the river. The transport and preliminary installation process was completed in approximately 13 hours.

Click here to read the full article and see pictures of the new bridge.

City of Warren Police have recovered the body of a woman that’s been missing for over a month.  Sunday, the body of 49-year-old Nicole Lee Font was recovered in the Allegheny River in Conewango Township.  Font was last seen on March 14th. The reported cause of death was determined to be drowning.  No foul play is suspected and the investigation is closed.

Click here to read more.

April 2014 testing results showed alarming levels of radium in discharges to Tenmile Creek from the abandoned Clyde Mine and coal refuse piles further upstream near Waynesburg and at the Cumberland Mine on Whiteley Creek. In response, 3RQ performed a targeted study to help provide reliable information to the communities surrounding Tenmile Creek who were concerned about the quality of their streams and their health.

To learn more about 3RQ's efforts with this project, click the links below!
Fact sheet
Story Map

One of our undergraduate workers at WVWRI, Loren Gormley, will be leaving us at 3RQ to pursue her Master's.  Loren worked on creating the Rivers Run Through This newsletters, making fact sheets and story maps for the targeted studies, and helped update spreadsheets.  All her hard work will be missed, but it will be handed down to a very capable student, Eliza Siefert, who will be joining us shortly.  Thanks so much Loren for all you've done!

The Office of Abandoned Mine Lands and Reclamation (AML) has created a program to help projects located on or adjacent to mine sites that ceased operations prior to the signing of the Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) on Aug. 3, 1977.

West Virginia coalfields have been donated over $130 million since 2016 through the AML Pilot Program. To view a map of AML in the state of West Virginia, click here.

To sign up for the 2021 round of grant finding, click the link here! Make sure to submit completed applications by July 31, 2021.

Website link
Contact Travis Parsons, Planning Administrator, for more information.
Phone: (304) 414-1185
Email: Travis.G.Parsons@wv.gov