Murrysville, conservation district to host ‘healthy stream walk’
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Pennsylvania’s extensive mining history — and the resulting acid mine drainage — means that there aren’t many high-quality streams in the region.
Murrysville residents, however, have one right in the center of town.
Haymaker Run, along Sardis Road, is designated as a high-quality stream, and part of the municipality’s state-mandated responsibility includes educational outreach to help maintain that designation.
To that end, it has partnered with the Westmoreland Conservation District to host a “Healthy Stream Walking Tour” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 18. Those attending can learn about ways to reduce water pollution in local streams.
“We try to do at least two outreach programs each year,” said Emily Mallisee, an engineering technician with the municipality.
The outreach is a requirement of the state’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System, or MS4, permitting program to help reduce pollution in stormwater runoff.
“We were still doing webinars last year, but we’re hoping to bring some people out this year to show how some of these best management practices work.”
The tour will leave from the parking lot at the recently constructed Franklin Regional Intermediate School. Mallisee said the tour will include some of the measures the school district’s construction contractors undertook to maintain the quality of Haymaker Run.
“The Conservation District is planning to repair some of the jack dams along the stream as well, so we’ll look at things like that, and other practices like the permeable pavement in the school parking lot,” Mallisee said.
Jack dams are manmade structures, typically made from rocks, that help ward off stream bank erosion.
There is no cost to attend, but registration is required by going to murrysville.com/calendar or calling 724-327-2100, ext. 114. The group will meet at the intermediate school’s front parking lot, 4125 Sardis Road, Murrysville.