Pine Creek is the largest tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River and has the largest watershed of all the West Branch\u2019s tributaries Potter, Tioga, Lycoming, and Clinton counties in Pennsylvania. The creek is 87.2 miles long. \u00a0Within Tioga County, 23.25 miles of Pine Creek are designated as a Pennsylvania Scenic River (excerpt from Wikipedia).<\/p>\n
The Pine Creek Headwater\u2019s Protection Group (PCHPG) was\u00a0established in 1987 to\u00a0promote the local citizens awareness of the high value of\u00a0Pine Creek, to emphasize its uniqueness as a natural resource, and to show it\u00a0can be preserved for aquatic life, wildlife, and for all people to appreciate\u00a0and use. See the Pine Creek Headwaters Protection Group<\/a>\u00a0website.<\/p>\n Babb Creek<\/p>\n With the discovery of coal in 1782 in Blossburg and the development of the railroads from 1865-1895, mining in the Babb Creek Watershed began. By 1865 Arnot Mines was established and grew to a population 4,000 by 1880. \u00a0Other companies popped up throughout the watershed like the Klondike Mine, Antrim No. 1 Mine (1872), Bear Run Mine (1888) and town of Landrus, Anna S Mine (1895) and Rattler Mine by the early 1900’s. \u00a0Various surface mining operations were underway from the 1950s-1980s.<\/p>\n By 1990 Babb Creek was dead and sterile. \u00a0A stream survey showed no fish and very little macroinvertebrate life in the main stem of Babb Creek and in Lick Creek. \u00a0A pollution plume was observed in Pine Creek for 5 miles to Cedar Run. \u00a0DEP contacted and asked for assistance and the PEDF took on the task of cleaning up the watershed.<\/p>\n In 1990, the first treatment devices (diversion wells) in the watershed were constructed to treat acidity in Lick Creek. \u00a0The Antrim Mining Company constructed a treatment plant to treat the Antrim No. 1 and Backswitch Discharges. \u00a0In 1996,\u00a0A large SAPS and buried limestone drain were constructed using a state grant to treat the Arnot Discharge. \u00a0In 1998, additional diversion wells were constructed by volunteers to treat Red Run. The treatment raises the pH from 4.0 to 6.5. \u00a0Also that year, the Klondike Treatment System was excavated by DEP\u2019s BAMR construction crew, the materials were purchased through a state grant and the work was done by Signor Bros. Construction.<\/p>\n In 1999, coal mine refuse at the Klondike Mine was reclaimed by the Babb Creek Watershed Assoc. using topsoil and tannery sludge materials. \u00a0In 2000 two large vertical flow ponds were constructed to treat the Bear Run Mine pollution and approximately\u00a03,000 feet of railroad grade composed of coal and coal refuse were removed by Signor Brothers Contracting through a DEP mining permit. The stream was eroding the material and causing siltation in Babb Creek.<\/p>\n In 2002, the State Yard passive treatment system including vertical flow ponds, a settling basin, and manganese treatment was constructed with a DEP Growing Greener Grant and over 90 Acres of abandoned mine land at the Rattler Mine were revegetated using biosolids. The project was funded by an OSM grant, BCWA funds, Game Commission resources, and other grants and donations. \u00a0A new approach of injecting limestone sand slurry into the abandoned Rattler underground mine workings was also being done as part of a Growing Greener Grant.<\/p>\n In 2003, passive treatment at three sites associated with the Ratler Mine was accomplished through Growing Greener and OSM funding and passive treatment of the Anna S discharges and Hunters Drift was completed as part of a $2.5 million project funded by Growing Greener and OSM.<\/p>\n Before going out of business, the Antrim Mining Company constructed a more economical treatment plant and established a $1.5 million treatment trust for its operation. The plant is operated by the Babb Creek Watershed Association under an agreement with DEP.<\/p>\n Recovery Evidence<\/p>\n By 2016 the section of Pine Creek that was polluted by Babb Creek was officially removed from the 303(d) list of impaired streams. \u00a0Lick Creek is a recovering fishery. \u00a0Shallow headwater ponds are supporting panfish. \u00a0Wild trout are reproducing in Babb Creek near Landrus. \u00a0Sixteen types of fish were found at the mouth of Babb Creek. \u00a0The restaurant in Morris is now called \u201cThe Babb Creek Inn\u201d. \u00a0Kids are fishing Babb Creek again. \u00a0Pine Creek Anglers have complained about the Babb Creek restoration efforts because some hatches have been too prolific and fish have too many \u2018real\u2019 flies to eat and don\u2019t take the \u2018artificial\u2019 flies. \u00a0Some of Pine Creek\u2019s insect hatches including the \u2018Green Drake\u2019 have returned after being absent for many years (excerpt from Restoration of the Babb Creek Presentation from Babb Creek Watershed Association).<\/p>\n Reports on the Watershed:<\/p>\n Pine Creek Watershed Conservation Plan<\/a><\/p>\n Babb Creek Operation SCARLIFT Report<\/a><\/p>\n