Upper Monongahela River Association
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Watershed Issues
Water Quality
UMRA inteds to make sure that as much as possible be done to improve the water quality in the Monongahela River. Several of the feeder streams have their individual advoccy groups. For example, the Friends of Deckers Creek has received national recognition for their accomplishments.
Robinson Run
We have observed that Robinson Run, which joins the Mon at about Mile 97, runs visably orange much of the time, and have chosen to become advocats for its improvement. Dana Mining has active operations in this watershed. We have no reason to think that they are part of the problem, but they play a major part in its restoration.
In reading recent permit application advertisements by Dana and Consol Coal we hae learned how complex our environment is. In order to let Dana mine Sewickley coal west of I-79, it is proposed that water which falls in the Dunkasrd Creek watershed and enters the Pittsburgh coal seams mined by Consol be pumped between mines, treated, and discharged into the Mon upstream from Morgantown. We invite you to read out request to the WV DEP for public hearings on this issue.
Morgantown Drinking Water
The main source of drinking water for the Morgantown area is surface water from the Monongahela River. The Morgantown Utility Boatrd (MUB) water plant operators continuously monitor and test the raw water intake into the water treatment plant for the presence of likely contaminants. MUB has intake water quality reports on page 5 of their Consumer Confidence Report. - If you are used to reading about how polluted America's rivers are, you will probably be surprised at the high quality of the Monongahela River at Morgantown!
Cheat Lake
The Cheat River is the largets tributary of the Upper Monongahela River. It flows into the Mon just north of the West Virginia-Pennsylvania line. Only a short portion of the Cheat is navigable. About three miles above the junction a hydro-electric power dam was constructed in the 1930s. The resulting lake is formally known as Lake Lynn, but usually called Cheat Lake.
Cheat Lake Environment and Recreation Association (CLEAR)
Study Shows Cheat Lake Is At Carrying Capacity For Boaters
Study Completed: Swimming Areas Found
Morgans Run Development
Locals Fight Morgan Run Plan - Md. Firm Wants to Build in the Cheat Lake Area - Morgantown Dominion Post - February 5, 2004
UMRA 10 February 2004 letters regarding Morgans Run Development