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By:Cory Sauvé, Lacy Powers, Jesse Jones, Louis Sick, and Glenn Wolfe

Johnson Creek Assessment and Restoration Plan

Goal is to restore the Johnson Creek Watershed through:Stream bank stabilization projectsAbandoned mine drainage remediation

Project area will focus on a two mile portion of Johnson Creek and its tributariesRt. 15 bridge to the mouth at the Tioga River

Watershed Vision

Improve water quality and aquatic habitat to increase the diversity and health of fish and macroinvertebrate communities.Will improve the recreational opportunities found in the

watershed

Increase community education on the importance of the Johnson Creek Watershed through interactive seminars and opportunities to volunteer.Will encourage stewardship for generations to come

Goals

Johnson Creek WatershedDrainage basin is 17.4 square milesBloss and Hamilton TownshipBlossburg and Cherry Flats USGS topographic maps

Project Area2 Mile section of Johnson Creek and its tributaries

Bellman Run, Boone Run, Mills Creek, and several unnamed tributaries

Drainage area is 5.6 square miles

Location

Johnson Creek Watershed

Johnson Creek Project Area

Johnson Creek is on the 303d list Impaired for metals: Iron, manganese, and aluminum Result of coal mining operations in the watershed

The Department of Environmental Protection has conducted studies on Johnson Creek.

Studies showed high levels of tolerant taxa indicative of impaired water bodies.

Habitat assessments identified stream bank erosion and poor riparian buffer zones as recurring issues in the watershed.

History

Mainly forested , no agricultural activities Residential and industrial land use near Arnot and Blossburg

Sewage discharges, increased erosion, stream channelization, and bank cementation

Abandoned strip minesMain source of pollution

36 acres of abandoned mine land in project area.

Little recreational uses in watershed besides hunting.

Land Use

Sampling Plan Site Descriptions

Sampling Sites

Located approximately 100 meters upstream of bridge at South Williamson Road.

Good tree cover over the stream and healthy riparian buffer zone.

Small amounts of undercutting along the stream.

The substrate is most cobble and boulder , very little silt

A strong presence of macroinvertebrates

Site 1 : Bellman Run

Located about 1 mile upstream of the confluence with Johnson creek.

Forested riparian zone, completely shadedAbandoned mine land upstream of siteSubstrate consisted of mostly cobble with no silt prevalent.

Woody debris in streamVisual iron and aluminum precipitate were presentNo marcoinvertebrate communities were present

Site 2: Unnamed Tributary of Johnson Creek

Located 100 meters upstream of the confluence with Bellman Run.

Stream channel was mostly shadedGood riparian buffer on both banks; some bank erosion. The substrate consisted of gravel with little cobble. Some silt

and sand were presentMacroinvertebrate communities was present.

Taxa consisted of mainly caddis and midges.

Site 3: Johnson Creek Upstream of Bellman Run

Located 100 meters upstream from the confluence with the unnamed tributary.

Stream channel was mostly shaded with about 50 percent residential and forested land use.

Little to no riparian zone on the south bank from residential structuresSevere erosion was present along the exposed bank.

Substrate was very poor consisting of silt and sands. Some gravel and boulder formations were present.

Macroinvertebrate communities were present.

Site 4: Johnson Creek Upstream of UNT

Located 300 meters downstream from the unnamed tributary and Johnson creek confluence.

Partly shaded and mostly residential and forested land use.Severe stream bank erosion along both banksMacroinvertebrate communities were present at the site

Site 5: Johnson Creek Downstream of UNT

Located 50 meters upstream of the Tabor Street bridge in Blossburg.

Limited canopy cover and marginal riparian zones were present.

Multiple industrial and storm water discharges were found within this site location.

The substrate consisted of mostly silt and sand. Very small amounts of gravel and boulder were present.

Site 6: Johnson Creek at Tabor Street

Located 100 meters upstream of the mouth at the Tioga River. The steam was partially shaded and had marginal riparian

zones on either side of the creek.There were several discharge points along both stream banks.The substrate consisted of mostly silt and sand with very

small amounts of gravel and cobble.Limited macroinvertabrate communities were present. Visible iron and aluminum precipitate was present at the

confluence with the Tioga River.

Site 7: Johnson Creek UPS of Tioga River

Restoration Projects

Located 1 mile upstream of the confluence of Johnson Creek.Significant abandoned mine land in the area.Remainder of the land is forested.Site is completely shaded and has large forested riparian

buffer zones.Substrate is composed of cobble, with no silt.

Site 1: Unnamed Tributary of Johnson Creek

Surface Mine Reclamation above AMD Discharge

Abandoned Mine Land upstream of AMD Discharge

AMD Discharge Point

UNT Below AMD Impacts

Passive treatment system parameters50 gpm design flowpH= 3.48Iron = 1.50 mg/LAluminum = 9.00 mg/LManganese = 1.20 mg/LAlkalinity = 0.00 mg/L

Restoration Recommendation

Treatment Train1. Vertical Flow Wetland

162 ft X 93 ft at top of freeboard3 ft of limestone, 2 feet of OM, and 3 ft of waterPiping system to flush Aluminum

2. Settling Pond3. Limestone Bed4. Polishing aerobic wetland

131 ft X 68 ft at top of freeboard

Restoration Recommendation cont.

Stream bank stability reduced by limited riparian zone and residential structures

Stream stabilization project will take place along a 250 ft section that is experiencing stream bank erosion.

Site 2: Johnson Creek Upstream UNT

Bank Erosion

Construction of a brush mattress to protect the eroding bank is recommended .Help to capture sediment during flood eventsRestore the marginal riparian vegetation Allow native plants to colonize area to increase habitat

Bank Stabilization Project Design

250 ft section of stream bank will be graded to desirable slope8-12 inch trench will be constructed below water line

Brush will be placed in trench6-9 ft cuttings ; 4 inches thick when compressedAnchored by riprap rock to protect toe of brush mattress

Live and dead stakes will be placed at 3 ft intervals on the bankHeld together by 16 gauge wire Stakes will be a minimum of 2.5 ft

Branches and soil will fill void space between stakes

Brush Mattress Design

Stream bank eroding due to limited riparian zones and concentrated flows

The erosion project will encompass 210 feet of the eroding bank

Site 3: Johnson Creek Downstream of UNT

Erosion at beginning of Project Area

Main Bank Erosion

Combination of a soil terrace and biologs is recommended.Soil terrace will stabilize eroding stream bank.Biologs will prevent erosion along channel bottom.


Biologs will be installed along the first 60 ft of the graded bank.

Soil Terrace along remaining 150 ft of eroding bank.Banks will be graded to a favorable slopeLayer of riprap stone will be placed at bottom layer to protect

toe of terraceSoil terraces will be compacted and covered by heavy jute

blankets Layers of brush will be placed between soil layers to increase

stabilitySoil will be fastened by wood stakes

Project will give bank stability and increase the riparian vegetation along the stream bank.


The steam banks are eroding at this site due to limited riparian zones from industrial activity in the area.

Erosion project will include a 475 ft section of the east bank of the stream.

Site 4: Johnson Creek at Tabor Street

Stream Bank Erosion

A soil terrace at the 475 ft section is recommended to increase the bank stability and promote increased riparian buffer zones from native vegetation.

A soil terrace with the same components from Site 3 will be used with the exception of the 60 ft of biologs.


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