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Aerial liming project completed in Quehanna Wild Area
Fifty
tons of lime were applied to the Beaver Run impoundment in the Quehanna Wild Area. The 25-acre impoundment
is located in the headwaters of Mosquito Creek Watershed and the lake liming project was part of the
Mosquito Creek Sportsman’s Association’s efforts to improve the water quality
of the 90 square mile watershed located in Clearfield and Elk counties. "Mosquito Creek and its
main tributary Gifford Run were once famous for naturally reproducing wild brook and brown trout, but
since the early 1960’s, the pH of the stream has steadily declined due to acid rain. As a result,
wild brook trout are now scarce and wild brown trout have virtually disappeared in the watershed," says Terry
Rightnour, president and principal hydrologist of Water's Edge Hydrology, consultant on the
project.
The lime was applied by air by a specially equipped plane flying out of the Clearfield-Lawrence
Township airport. The aerial liming is part of an overall watershed restoration program that
includes constructed wetlands, forest liming, and in-stream liming to improve this fishery and
provide increased opportunities for public recreation in the region.
Bill Sharpe, professor of forest hydrology, who is collaborating with Rightnour on this project notes, "Preliminary data indicated a large increase in the pH of Beaver Run water soon after the application was completed." Both he and Rightnour are hoping that the increased pH will persist.
Funded under the Pennsylvania Growing Greener program, the restoration efforts represent a
partnership of county, state and federal resource agencies, conservation groups, Penn State
University and volunteers from the Mosquito Creek Sportsman’s Association.
Bill Sharpe is involved extensively in various Mosquito Creek restoration projects. Please visit the following links for more information on other ongoing research projects:
- Restoration of atmospheric-related water quality impacts in Mosquito Creek employing innovative passive treatment technology
- Evaluation of Whole Watershed and Riparian Wetland Liming to Mitigate Acidity
Contact:
William Sharpe
814-863-8564
wes@psu.edu
http://www.sfr.cas.psu.edu/Faculty/sharpe.htm
Terry Rightnour
814-592-2216
trightnour@wehydro.com
Water's Edge Hydrology, Inc.
Patricia Craig
814-863-0037
plc103@psu.edu