From the Williamsport Sun-Gazette:
By CHERYL R. CLARKE - cclarke@sungazette.com
MORRIS - Twenty years after a local fisherman and environmentalist "got mad" that his favorite fishing stream had become polluted with acid mine drainage, Babb Creek has been officially removed by the Department of Environmental Protection from classification as an "endangered stream."
The accomplishment was celebrated Saturday with a "ribbon cutting" at the creek off Landrus Road, sponsored by Trout Unlimited, Back Creek Watershed Association, the Clearfield County Conservation District and the West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Coalition.
"DEP now says it meets state water quality standards" said Bill Meacom, of the Babb Creek Watershed Association. It is a shame that the fisherman, Bob McCullough Jr., of South Williamsport, "could not be with us," Meacom said. McCullough died in 2007 at the age of 84.
"Bob was amazing at getting people together," he added.
Two other pioneers of the effort to clean up the watershed, former District Forester Jack Sherwood and Phil Stillerman, founder of the Pine Creek Headwaters Protection Group, also passed away before seeing their dream come to fruition.
In 1989, McCullough was a founding member of the Pennsylvania Environmental Defense Fund, which preceeded the Babb Creek organization, said DEP representative Mike Smith.
Also present at the ribbon cutting were representatives of Graymont, Inc., State College, which provided the limestone and lime used in the treatment systems that ultimately brought the stream back to life, and were presented with awards for their efforts in the partnership.
"Sixteen projects, about $10 million spent from Growing Greener funds, the coal mining industry and various organizations and agencies later we have brought about the restoration of a trout stream," Smith said. "It just goes to show that if people get together, things can get done," he added.
About 50 members of the public were brought in on a school bus to witness the event, which included an educational portion at Mansfield University Saturday morning, followed by a picnic lunch at Nessmuk Lake near Wellsboro, and culminating with the event at the creek.
SunGazette.com; September 13, 2009:
http://www.sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/532298.html?nav=5011
