Manypenny Addresses City Council with Watershed Concerns
Grafton, WV Mountain Statesman
8 January 2010
By Matthew Trout, Statesman Editor
Delegate to the 42nd District of the West Virginia House of
Representatives Mike Manypenny, addressed the Grafton City Council
about the dangers of high levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) being
introduced into local watersheds. Mike Manypenny, Delegate to the 42nd
District of the West Virginia House of Representatives attended the
regular meeting of the Grafton City Council on Tuesday to speak about
preserving water quality in the state.
High levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) have been found in streams
throughout the state, and are attributed to the growth of Golden Alga
(Prymnesium parvum), a naturally occurring microscopic flagellated alga
that typically occurs in brackish waters. Under certain environmental
stresses, this alga can produce toxins, which can cause massive fish
and bivalve (i.e. clams and mussels) kills.
According to a November 23, 2009 Update on Dunkard Creek report,
submitted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency,
Environmental Analysis and Innovation Division, Office of Monitoring
and Assessment Freshwater Biology Team, “We now know that a substantial
bloom of the Golden Alga, Pyrmnesium parvum, was present in Dunkard
Creek at the time of the kill.”
The report further stated, “We believe control of TDS on Dunkard Creek
and other watersheds is the best solution to control P.parvum blooms.
Lowering TDS and chlorides in the stream would also make it easier to
restore the native fauna of Dunkard Creek and decrease the loading of
TDS to the Monongahela River. A water quality criterion for TDS could
be developed to protect aquatic life uses.”
Salinity is caused by highly soluble minerals such as table salt and
gypsum that, at reasonable concentrations, are non-toxic.
In very high concentrations they harm aquatic life and are implicated
in blooms of toxic algae. Saline water or brine contains high salt
concentrations measured as TDS: the sum of all dissolved elements.
Sources of TDS can include abandoned mine drainage, agricultural
runoff, wastewater from gas well drilling and discharges from
industrial sewage treatment plants. The recent fish kill in Dunkard
Creek highlighted the need to control TDS to prevent a re-occurrence in
Dunkard and other streams in the state.
In addition to Dunkard Creek, according to Delegate Manypenny, there
are 13 other West Virginia streams that have levels of Golden Alga.
“The West Fork of the Potomac River is as salty as sea water,”
Manypenny stated. “Two power plants and one steel mill in Pennsylvania
have had to close due to high levels of salt.”
Delegate Manypenny is working with other delegates in Monongalia and
Marion Counties to create legislation that will set water quality
standards for TDS in streams and rivers.
They are traveling to different cities across the state to encourage
officials to endorse the legislation. They have also been meeting with
local scientists at West Virginia University to find a solution to this
dire situation.
Delegate Manypenny provided a copy of a resolution adopted by the City
of Morgantown as a reference. Early in the session, Manypenny has an
appointment with West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin, II, to discuss the
importance of this matter.
In a November article in the Mountain Statesman, titled Watershed
Association Concerned with Marcellus Shale gas wells, it was reported
that testing along the Tygart near Grafton High School has detected
high levels of brine. These levels are much higher than previous
results, and the Save The Tygart Watershed Association is attempting to
determine if the flow back water from one of two wells, located at the
top of Long Run, is causing the increase.
Justin Ford, Contract Analyst for Naval Solutions Incorporated,
presented the City of Grafton with a Flag of the United States of
America that was flown above Headquarters, Multi-National Corps – Iraq
on November 11, 2009 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Ford shared
pictures with Council of his time in Iraq and of the former palace that
the Headquarters now occupies. One of the pictures was of Ford sitting
on one of Sadamm Hussein’s thrones. This palace is just one of 99
Presidential Palaces Sadamm Hussein had in the country. The flag was
presented along with a certificate depicting the palace.
Grafton City Council adopted an updated Taylor County
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. A resolution, read by
Grafton Mayor G. Thomas Bartlett, III, states: … Whereas the Grafton
City Council of the City of Grafton has partnered with the Taylor
County Commission to update the existing Taylor County
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, adopted on October 6,
2003, in an effort to further identify, define, and characterize the
hazards affecting the City of Grafton as well as to continue
identifying and prioritizing projects that could lessen hazard
vulnerability; and
… Whereas, the hazard mitigation plan is a federal and state
requirement to maintain eligibility for hazard mitigation funding, and
by that requirement, must be updated a minimum of every five years; and
Whereas, a cooperative effort is an efficient way to plan for and
reduce hazard susceptibility in all government jurisdictions in Taylor
County, West Virginia; and
Whereas, the City of Grafton joined the Taylor County Commission and
the Town of Flemington in the completion of this plan update.
Grafton City Manager Kevin Stead informed the Council that the West
Virginia Municipal League Winter Conference will be held on January 17
and 18, 2010.
He continued his report by informing that Taylor Made, Nashville
recording artists from Taylor County have been scheduled to perform the
Saturday evening show during the Spirit of Grafton Celebration this
year.
Stead also informed the Council that the Dedication of Sam Bord Drive,
formerly Luby Street, will take place on Saturday, January 30, 2010.
Stead concluded his report stating, “I want to thank the Public Works
Department for consistently plowing and keeping the roads clear during
these past snow storms.