HELP Laurel Hill Creek PA

Fishermen friends have shared stories about the water running thigh high, not anymore. American Rivers (a Washington DC non profit) has listed this Pennsylvania treasure a seven out of ten in "America's Most Endangered Rivers in 2009." This year's edition highlights missing safeguards that they feel are necessary to protect this creek from "excessive water withdrawals for development and energy extraction."

According to River Facts, Laurel Hill Creek is "16.2 miles long and has been determined by American Whitewater to be a class II+ section." The creek is a tributary of the Youghiogheny River. Here's a map of how it runs through Laurel Hill State Park. (Make sure you increase the size!)

According to an article in the Tribune Democrat, before ‘09 is over, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will determine if this watershed "deserves a "critical" label that would guide future decisions on how much of its water can be consumed." Timely... considering there are currently three pending tap in applications. Two are renewals for Somerset Boro and Seven Springs.

In fact, Monday night, June 22^nd, at the Bakersville Fire Hall, there will be a public hearing on the third permit application for Cooper Springs, a water bottling company. They would like to draw 108,000 gallons daily from Laurel Hill Creek. DEP has had this application since June 2008. In March, Pennsylvania's new State Water Plan was signed.

If you can't make it, here's a link to help you take action.