Pennsylvania Run Watershed

The Pennsylvania Run Watershed has an area of approximately 7.0 square miles and contains 33.4 stream miles.

The table below shows the various land-use percentages for the watershed.

Water Quality Impacts

Water quality and biological diversity show moderate impairment. Fecal bacteria levels exceed recreational contact standards over one-third of the time and are like due to septic systems, several small wastewater treatment plants, and animal waste from farms. Elevated levels of phosphorus and nitrogen also are problems. Much of that pollution comes from fertilized lawns and golf courses, small-scale agriculture, septic systems, and small treatment plants. Heavy silt loads from construction sites and agriculture are reducing habitat quality within the stream and the diversity of life that it supports. Other non-point sources within this watershed are herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers.

The Pennsylvania Run Watershed has fewer point source discharges than many of the watersheds in Jefferson County. The table summarizes point sources in the watershed.

Monitoring

MSD has performed monitoring activities within the Pennsylvania Run Watershed.

Strategies

MSD is currently in the process of prioritizing Jefferson County watersheds for development of a water quality-based evaluation tool. A schedule has not been established for the development of a water quality tool for the Pennsylvania Run Watershed.

Project Implementation

Currently there are no active wet weather and water quality projects within the Pennsylvania Run Watershed.

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