Allegheny River Headwaters Watershed Conservation Plan

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Allegheny River Headwaters Conservation Plan Chapter 2. Land Resources Surface landowners who do not own the subsurface rights to their property cannot prevent reasonable access to subsurface owners for development and production, but surface landowners are afforded rights for the protection of their resources, such as water quality. If presented with the situation, surface landowners should contact an attorney knowledgeable in oil and gas or mining laws. Oil and Gas Well Drilling In the case of oil or gas wells, landowners should work with well operators to ease tensions and develop a strategy that will compliment both parties’ interests. The selection of well sites, access roads, gathering pipelines, etc., should be discussed between the surface and subsurface owners to minimize damage to the surface property and provide reasonable access for development and production of subsurface minerals and gas. Landowners should request that the well operator hire a certified lab to analyze sources of water used for consumption or irrigation prior to drilling to document baseline conditions, incase adverse impacts on the quality of water from the extraction activities occur (DEP, 2007a). The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy developed a conservation guidance document to assist in decision-making around natural gas exploration and extraction for landowners, partners and others. The guidance document is titled “Conservation Guidance for Landowners on Natural Gas Development” and can be found on the www.WaterLandLife.org website, as well as Appendix W. Critical Areas Critical areas have constraints that limit development and other activities. Critical natural areas contain rare, threatened, or endangered species, natural communities of concern, or significant ecological and geological landscapes worthy of protection. Steep slopes, ridgetops, floodplains, streambanks, and wetlands are examples of critical natural areas. Figure 2-6 depicts the environmentally sensitive areas within the project area. Landslides Ground movements, such as rock falls, slope failures, and shallow debris flows that negatively impact the stability of slope are considered landslides. Most landslides occur on steep slopes where loose colluvial soils exist. Gravity forces rock and debris down the slope in a gradual or sudden, flashy manner. Typically, landslides occur along road cuts that have unstable bank conditions (Delano & Wilshusen, 2001). Landslides can be caused by natural or human events and actions. Groundwater pressure can destabilize the slope, making it susceptible to landslides. A lack of vegetation, soil nutrients, and soil structures increase the vulnerability of a slope. Erosion, permeability after precipitation, and earthquakes can also trigger landslides. Vibrations from machinery or traffic, blasting, earth moving activities, vegetation removal, and construction activities are examples of human influences. Any activity that changes the amount of water that infiltrates the soil, natural or man-made, can increase the likelihood of landslides. Landslide Hazards Program (LHP) was established as part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in the mid 1970s. Their role is to reduce long-term losses from landslide hazards by improving the understanding of the causes of ground failure and suggesting strategies to mitigate these causes. Through information gathering, research, and emergency and disasters response, LHP is able to produce scientific reports to a variety of audiences. 2-14
Allegheny River Headwaters Conservation Plan Chapter 2. Land Resources Landslides occur throughout Pennsylvania and are heavily concentrated in southwestern Pennsylvania. Within Landslide Hazards: A National Threat, the Allegheny River headwaters were identified as being located with a region of the U.S. that has a moderate to high potential for the occurrence of landslides (USGS, 2005). Landslides cause damage to transportation routes, utilities, and buildings. They can create travel delays and other side effects. The threat of landslides should always be assessed when planning any development project. Proactively avoiding a landslide is cheaper than the clean-up, repair, and time that is required after a landslide. If development within a landslide-prone area is ultimately chosen, additional precautionary measures should be taken during development, such as additional drainage features and proper site planning, which are essential to minimize the risk of a landslide (Delano & Wilshusen, 2001). Subsidence Subsidence is the downward movement of surface material involving little or no horizontal movement. Occurring naturally due to physical and chemical weathering of certain types of bedrock, subsidence usually takes place locally as a result of underground mining, excessive pumping of groundwater, or subsurface erosion due to the failure of existing utility lines. Subsidence usually occurs slowly over long periods, but also can happen rapidly. The development of a sinkhole occurs when the support of the land is gradually removed, causing the land surface to sag and finally collapse, leaving a hole or cavity. Although subsidence is not common in the watershed, the potential exists; especially in areas that were previously mined (Kochanov, 1999). Erosion and Sedimentation Erosion is the transfer of soil particles through air or water. The relocation of these particles is sedimentation. Erosion and sedimentation are natural earthmoving processes, but the extent of this movement can be greater than normal due to poor land-use practices. Erosion and sedimentation are very serious issues with the potential to cause significant degradation to an area’s waterbodies. Erosion is common along streambanks, steep slopes, and ridgetops. Streambank erosion occurs when the banks of a creek or river erode and deposit sediment into a waterway. Typically, erosion is caused by improper land uses and a lack of vegetation along the streambank. Vegetation anchors soils in place, preventing it from washing away during high stream levels or heavy rains. However, if the vegetation is removed or inadequate, the soil is easily washed into the waterbody. A lack of vegetation also leaves soils vulnerable to high winds, which can induce erosion. An increase in sediment in a waterbody is itself a cause for concern, as it alters native aquatic habitats. Excessive sedimentation clouds the water, which reduces the amount of sunlight reaching aquatic plants. It covers fish spawning areas and food supplies and may clog their gills. Other pollutants attached to soil particles are deposited in waterbodies with the sediment. Sediment deposits can significantly alter the channel and flow of the stream. Improperly built and managed dirt and gravel roadways increase the amount of sediment entering streams via runoff following a precipitation event (Source: Upper Allegheny Watershed Association) Erosion can negatively impact a stream’s water quality. Soil eroded from construction sites, timber operations, or agricultural operations exacerbates sedimentation problems in streams. Dirt particles from poorly designed and managed dirt and gravel roadways enter waterways by direct runoff or are deposited in waterways as dry deposition being transported in a cloud of dust. In an effort to reduce erosion and sedimentation, the 2-15
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Allegheny River Headwaters Watershed Conservation Plan

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