What is a watershed?

A watershed is the area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place.   It is the land that drains into a body of water such as a stream, lake or wetland.  Small watersheds make up larger watersheds.  Any changes to the land in a watershed will affect the river or lake it drains into. 

Watershed updates

Raccoon Creek

The Beaver County Conservation District is conducting a bacteria monitoring project on Traverse Creek which started in June and will continue through September as part of a cooperative project between Citizen Volunteer Monitors and the PA Department of Environmental Protection.  Traverse Creek travels through Raccoon Creek State Park.

In Independence Township, construction will begin this summer on the Raredon Run Stream Rehabilitation Project .  Three sites are targeted for stream enhancement projects using natural stream design.

Bradys Run

A project to drain Bradys Run Lake began in July, 2010.The lake will be drawn down to remove sediment that has accumulated behind the dam over the past 24 years. The plan calls for the lake to be drained, a process that could take up to six weeks, and then dredged to its original basin.  It also includes upstream restoration of Bradys Run to reduce the flow of sediment into the lake as well as upgrades to the boat launch area and the handicapped fishing and swimming area shorelines.

The PA Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) lifted all seasons, sizes and creel limits on May 15 to provide  additional recreational opportunities for anglers and help reduce the number of fish that could potentially be stranded when the water level drops.  They wanted to salvage as many game fish as possible from the lake and relocate them to other waters in the area.   These temporary modifications will be in effect until further notice.

The lake is a 28-acre reservoir owned by Beaver County and is the central attraction in Brady’s Run County Park, located southwest of Beaver Falls in Chippewa Township. The lake was similarly rehabilitated in 1985 – 1986 and remained closed for two years.

Hereford Manor Lakes

 The Hereford Manor Lakes Conservancy and Watershed Group is a grassroots organization of concerned citizens who formed to work with a coalition of state, federal and local legislators, township officials and county conservationists along with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the owner of the property.  Their primary focus is repairing the dams. 

The lower lake was drawn down approximately four feet in December in the interest of public safety.  Recent site inspections indicate the condition of the dam is continuing to deteriorate.   The controlled partial drawdown was done to alleviate pressure on the dam structure.   Rep. Jaret Gibbons hosted a House Majority Policy Committee hearing to show the importance of saving the popular fishing and boating spot to benefit the local economy and meet recreational needs.  With the dams classified as unsafe, putting six homes, one business and 27 residents at risk, the Fish & Boat Commission may breach them as early as next year.

 Big Sewickley Creek

Big Sewickley Creek Watershed encompasses ten municipalities including Ambridge and parts of Economy Borough and Harmony and New Sewickley Townships.  A watershed plan is being finalized.