Captina Creek Watershed Action Plan

Belmont County Soil and Water Conservation District

101 N. Market St. Suite D

St. Clairsville, Ohio 43950

Table of Contents

Part I. Introduction A. Watershed Size and Administrative Boundaries

B. Demographics

C. Geographic Locators

D. General Watershed Information

Part II. Watershed Plan Development

A. Watershed Partners

B. Mission Statement

C. Organization and Administration of Watershed Group

D. General Plan Contents

Part III. Watershed Inventory

A. Description of watershed

Geology

Topography

Geological Features

Soils

Glacial History

Biological Features

Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species

Invasive Species

Water Resources

Climate

Surface Water and Wetlands

Ground Water

Land Usage and Cover

Urban and Impervious Surfaces

Home Sewage Treatment Systems

Forest

Agriculture

Water

Non-Forested Wetlands

Barren

Protected Lands

Status and Trends

B. Cultural Resources

C. Previous and Complementary Efforts

D. Physical Attributes that Support Habitat, Recreation and Water Quality

E. Water Resource Quality

Locationally Referenced Use Attainment

Miles in Full Attainment

Threatened Miles

Miles in Partial Attainment

Miles in Non-Attainment

Number of Streams Designated but not Monitored

Quality of Lakes

Quality of Wetlands

Quality of Groundwater

Causes and Sources of Impairment

Point Sources

Spills and Illicit Discharges

Nonpoint Sources

Status and Trends

Part IV. Watershed Impairments TMDL and Pollutant Loading

Habitat Conditions

Cause and Source of Impairments and Estimated Load

Part V. Watershed Restoration Project Goals Measurable Indicators of Success

Objectives to Accomplish Each Goal

Part VI. Implementation

Prioritized Objectives

Education/Information Strategies

Funding Strategy

Part VII. Evaluation

Criteria for Progress/Load Reduction

Monitoring of Plan Progress

Part I. Introduction

Defining the Watershed

A watershed is an area of land over which water drains into a specific location (stream, lake,

river, or ocean). Water resources in Ohio are protected and maintained through groups that work

at the local watershed level to restore water quality to state and national standards. In order to

restore and maintain water quality, a watershed action plan is developed to outline the necessary

steps to achieve water quality attainment. Because each watershed is different each watershed

action plan is written with local support distinctive to the area. Support from local members of

the watershed help ensure that the watershed goals will be met, and will help impaired streams

meet designated standards.

The Captina Creek watershed is unique for a watershed management plan because it meets

water quality standards and grades exceptional water quality both on its mainstem and several of

its tributaries. While most watershed action plans are drafted to repair and restore damaged

habitat, Captina Creek's action plan focuses more on preserving the relatively undisturbed

landscape that gives the creek its exceptional standing. Many streams within the watershed

contain rare and diverse species of fish, macroinvertebrates and amphibians and show little signs

of chemical, physical, and biological stress. Sparsely populated areas surrounding the

watershed's tributaries allow for growth of extensive riparian corridors around nearly unaltered

streambeds. The OEPA has deemed the mainstem of Captina Creek an Outstanding State Water

(OSW) from River Mile (RM) 25.42 to River Mile (RM) 0.8 and the USEPA has designated the

creek an Aquatic Resource of National Importance (ARNI) based its biodiversity and water

quality values (USEPA, 2010).

Nearly the entire length of Captina Creek is classified by the OEPA to be exceptional

warmwater habitat (EWH), meaning it is capable of supporting and maintaining an exceptional

or unusual community of warmwater aquatic organisms having a species composition, diversity

and functional organization comparable to the seventy-fifth percentile of the identified reference

sites on a statewide basis (USEPA, 2010). Several of the headwater tributaries feeding into the

creek have attained cold water habitat (CWH) status based on the diversity of sampled

salamanders and macroinvertebrates. The mainstem of Captina Creek scored the highest Index

of Biotic Integrity (IBI) average in the state (55.1 out of a possible 60 points) with a diversity of

fifty-six fish species sampled, many of which are pollution intolerant. Moreover, Invertebrate

Community Index (ICI) score averages place Captina Creek in the top ten among watersheds in

the state (OEPA, 2010). Adding to its unique diversity, Captina Creek is home to the largest

eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) population in the state of Ohio and the only

reproductive population. Sightings of the state endangered bobcat (Felis rufus) have also

increased in the forested habitat of the watershed over the last 10 years.

Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) scores are used by the EPA to measure stream

physical habitat in terms of substrate type, imbeddedness within streams and channel shape

characteristics. The average QHEI scores recorded by OEPA for all of Captina Creek was 72.2

consistent with very good overall habitat quality (OEPA, 2010). Headwater Habitat Evaluation

Indexes (HHEI) have been conducted on numerous streams in the watershed by the OEPA

including Casey Run, Reeves Hollow, Berrys Run and Mikes Run. HHEI metrics evaluate the

quality of headwater stream habitat (< 1 square mile of drainage area) based on the presence of

diverse populations of macroinvertebrates and salamanders, substrate content, stream depth and

channel width. A score of 70 classifies a headwater stream as Class III - Primary Headwater

Habitat (PHWH) indicating a stream of the highest quality able to support cold water biota year-

round. All four of these headwater streams scored above 70 with Casey Run registering an 84 at

RM 0.75 (USEPA, 2010).

Although Captina Creek scores high on OEPA and USEPA water quality and habitat

assessments, significant impacts to the biological integrity of the watershed exist with land use

being one of the primary concerns. Sedimentation pollutes headwater and tributary streams

during times of heavy rainfall due to naturally erosive processes. Logging, construction, gravel

excavation and recreational ATV traffic are prevalent in portions of the watershed and

significantly add to the sediment load of specific tributaries. Agriculturally speaking, concerns

exist with livestock having unregulated access to portions of the creek, trampling stream banks

and increasing nutrient loading and sedimentation. Developmentally speaking, increasing

amounts of sewage effluent are entering the creek via faulty waste water treatment facilities and

dysfunctional or absent private leach fields that drain directly into the creek.

Two coal mines owned by Murray Energy, Ohio Valley Coal Company (OVCC) and

American Energy Corporation (AEC), reside on the banks of the middle section of the mainstem

of Captina Creek and have had multiple slurry spills into the creek over the course of their

operations with the most recent occurring October 1st, 2010. Coal slurry is a waste material

generated by washing impurities from coal once it is retrieved from the ground. Slurry spills are

very damaging to watershed habitat and have mortal effects on the creek's biotic fauna especially

near their discharge points. Not only is the slurry choking and poisonous to creek inhabitants,

the cleanup and removal of the waste is damaging to the environment as well. Roads have to be

cut through riparian corridors and the creek bed is trampled and sucked dry in places by vacuum

trucks. Interestingly, the creek has had a unique ability to rebound somewhat quickly from

slurry spill contamination which is attributed to a layer of limestone bedrock lining the creek

bed. In addition to contamination from sporadic slurry spills, local residents complain about

subsidence impacts on home drinking wells.

Slurry contamination also poses a threat to state endangered eastern hellbender populations

in Captina Creek. During the most recent cleanup process, three hellbenders were found alive in

the slurry spill zone that stretched over three-fourths of a mile in length between Wayne and

Washington Townships. Workers contracted to remove the slurry discovered the hellbenders in

the couple of days following the spill but did not know how to care for them or what steps to take

to ensure their survival. Subsequently the animals were released with good intention into areas

outside the spill zone that were unfavorable habitat without any documentation of whether they

had been previously pit-tagged or whether they were healthy enough for release. In the future,

having a proper implementation plan in place for hellbender rescue and care and educating

cleanup crews on the handling and caging of hellbenders during slurry spill cleanups may reduce

the impact on hellbender populations.

The purpose of this management plan is to provide a guiding framework for watershed

stakeholders and key individuals at the community level that can be implemented to protect the

biological, chemical and physical integrity of the Captina Creek watershed region. Protecting

streams, lakes and wetlands in full attainment status and restoring acceptable water quality

standards to impaired streams ensures that Captina Creek and its tributaries will remain premier

freshwater bodies in the state of Ohio. In order to achieve these goals, data collection, public and

private outreach, education, land management, community involvement and best management

practices will need to be implemented to protect the waters of the region.

Figure 1.

Watershed Boundaries

The Captina Creek watershed drains approximately 180 square miles of surface area in

Belmont and Monroe Counties in southeastern Ohio. Of that, 167.8 square miles (93.2%) are

located in Belmont County and 12.2 square miles (6.8%) are in Monroe County. The watershed

is part of the EPA designated Central Ohio River Tributaries from below McMahon Creek to

above Fish Creek West Virginia.

Within the Captina Creek watershed there are six incorporated villages: Barnesville,

Beallsville (northern portion), Bethesda, Jerusalem (northern portion), Powhatan Point and

Wilson (northern portion). There are also fifteen unincorporated hamlets in the watershed region

some of which are difficult to identify within the landscape (e.g. Captina and Clover Ridge)

because of limited or absent structural features. The unincorporated areas are: Alledonia,

Armstrongs Mills, Bingham, Boston, Captina, Centerville, Clover Ridge, Cool Hill, Crabapple,

Hunter, Jacobsburg, New Castle, Somerton, Speidel and Steinersville.

Figure 2.

Special Districts Within the Watershed

Parks – Within the Captina Creek watershed there are several parks for public

recreational activities. Village parks include Somerton Park in Somerton and Epworth Park in

Bethesda. Centerville and Powhatan Point also have recreational ball fields and community

areas which are not designated city parks. Powhatan Point has a community marina for

launching watercraft into the Ohio River as well. Also three golf courses are located within the

watershed are which are Clair-Mar in Steinersville, Horseshoe Bend in Armstrongs Mills and

Switzerland Lake in Wilson. No national or state parks reside in the watershed, however there

are private fisheries located near the unincorporated hamlet of Captina (Lake Shawn) and at

Switzerland Lake.

The Ohio Riverfront Development Committee (ORDC) and Rails to Trails have

expressed interest in extending recreational biking and horseback trails from Powhatan Point

westward along the mainstem of Captina Creek. If constructed near the creek a walking/biking

trail could be beneficial in preserving riparian corridors and green space, and providing residents

an alternative to ATV recreation.

Regional Planning Agencies – Government agencies in the watershed are the Belmont

and Monroe Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the Natural Resource Conservation District,

Ohio Department of Transportation (Highway Garages), OSU Extension Service of Belmont

County and the Farm Bureau.

Conservation – Within the watershed there are two current land conservation areas,

Dysart Woods and Raven Rocks, and several conservation easements held by Murray Energy.

Dysart Woods is an old growth forest preserve of approximately 55 acres owned and operated by

Ohio University. It is located in the west-central portion of Smith township in the Bend Fork

subwatershed area and is used primarily for academic research although its nature trails are open

to the public year-round. Raven Rocks Inc. is a private organization that owns land for

conservation practices. The group has acquired approximately 1200 acres of land in southeastern

Wayne Township within South Fork subwatershed to protect against mining and is currently

working with the Captina Conservancy on placing a portion of the property into a land trust.

Murray Energy, owners of Ohio Valley Coal Company Powhatan #6 and American

Energy Corporation Century coal mines, holds several conservation easements on private

property in Wayne and Washington townships. Easements in Wayne Township are located on

different parcels between six streams in Section 3 including Long Run and Piney Creek.

Combined the easements along these tributaries totals 11,110 linear feet at a width of 50 feet.

Also in the same township section, a 2.66 acre easement exists next to Township Road 87 where

a patch of wetlands has been reclaimed as a mitigation project. Other conservation easements

held by Murray Energy are located near the mouth of Bend Fork in Sections 23, 24 and 30 of

Washington Township along Township Road 101 and on Millers Run in Section 30 of

Washington Township. The easements at the mouth of Bend Fork cover 831.7 linear feet of

stream with a width of 250 feet while those in Millers Run cover 844 linear feet of stream at a

width of 100 feet (Wood-Pugh email communication, February, 2011).

Schools – Public school districts in the watershed region include a portion of Switzerland

of Ohio Local School District (including Beallsville Schools), all of Shadyside Local School

District, portions of Union Local Schools, Bellaire Schools and Barnesville Exempted Village

School District as illustrated in Figure 3. Additionally Olney Friends school is a private

secondary school located in Barnesville.

Figure 3.

Special Designations

The mainstem of Captina Creek (from RM 25.2 to S.R. 7 at RM 0.8) and its South Fork

Captina Creek tributary have been designated Outstanding State Waters (OSW) by OEPA based

on exceptional ecological values. An additional two of Captina Creek's tributaries, North Fork

Captina Creek (from RM 6.64 to the mouth) and Pea Vine Creek, have been declared Superior

High Quality Waters by OEPA as well (OEPA, 2010). The creek has also garnered recognition

as an Aquatic Resource of National Importance (ARNI) by USEPA. It is not designated as

national or state wild and scenic river but may be considered in the future.

Phase Two Storm Water Communities

The National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), established from the Clean

Water Act, provides governing rules for stormwater runoff. NPDES regulations are divided in

two phases. Phase one deals with the most severe stormwater pollution and Phase two deals with

less severe stormwater pollution usually by smaller municipalities that were exempt from earlier

regulations. There are no Phase 1 or Phase 2 storm water communities present within the

Captina Creek watershed boundary

Watershed Demographics

Population and Age

The estimated population residing in the Captina Creek watershed is approximately 11,138

persons with nearly one third of the population living in unincorporated areas. Population

estimates are based on 2010 GIS address data provided by Belmont and Monroe Counties' 911

Services and was calculated by adding the total number of houses and trailers within the

watershed boundary then multiplying that number by the county averages of 2.37 persons per

household in Belmont and 2.5 persons per household in Monroe respectively (US Census Data,

2009). A map of the watershed population distribution by township is given in Figure 4.

Figure 4. Belmont county townships are outlined in blue while Monroe county townships are in red.

Each dot in Figure 4 represents either a structural building or trailer within the Captina

watershed. As one would expect, the majority of dots are situated in or near the incorporated

villages. Using calculations described for estimating population numbers in the watershed, the

population of individuals living in Monroe County was 828 and those living in Belmont was

10,310.

Based on 2009 census estimates the population of Belmont County was 68,066 persons

while Monroe County was 14,058 persons. Both counties in the watershed have experienced

decreases in population over the last ten years. According to year 2000 census data the

population of Belmont County was 70,226 while Monroe County was 15,180. Current Ohio

census data indicates population changes of -3.1% and -7.4% for Belmont and Monroe Counties

respectively from the period April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009. Figures 5a and 5b represent a

breakdown of the age groups by percentage in each county (census.gov).

Figure 5a. Based on year 2000 census data (census.gov).

Figure 5b. Based on year 2000 census data (census.gov).

5% 6%7%

7%

5%

12%

15%

15%

5%

5%

9%

7%

2%

under 5 yrs.

5 to 9 years

10 to 14 years

15 to 19 years

20 to 24 years

25 to 34 years

35 to 44 years

45 to 54 years

55 to 59 years

60 to 64 years

65 to 74 years

75 to 84 years

85 and older

Belmont County Population Age

5% 6%

7%

7%

5%

11%

15%

15%

6%

6%

9%6%

2% under 5 yrs.

5 to 9 years

10 to 14 years

15 to 19 years

20 to 24 years

25 to 34 years

35 to 44 years

45 to 54 years

55 to 59 years

60 to 64 years

65 to 74 years

75 to 84 years

85 and older

Monroe County Population Age

Education Levels

Education statistics for both counties are similar in that roughly twenty percent of

individuals have no high school diploma which is consistent with state (17%) and national

averages (19.6%) from year 2009. Of those individuals who attend post-secondary institutions

only 11% go on to earn bachelor degrees in Belmont County and 9 % in Monroe County. This

statistic along with the struggling local economy may be the largest force driving people and

businesses away from the area. Figures 6a and 6b depict the education status of both counties in

the watershed.

Figure 6a. (census.gov, 2009) Figure 6b. (census.gov, 2009)

Income Levels

Median household income for year 2008 per household was $37,941 in Belmont County and

$40,089 for Monroe County compared to a statewide median of $48,011 and a national median

of $52, 029 per household. Only 24% of residents in Belmont County earn median incomes at or

above the national average compared to 23% in Monroe County. Figures 7a and 7b depict

yearly income statistics for residents of each county (US Census Data, 2009).

19%

47%17%

6%7% 4%

Belmont County Education

No High School Diploma

High School Graduate

Some College, No Degree

Associate Degree

Bachelor Degree

Master Degree or Higher

21%

50%

15%

5% 6% 3%

Monroe County Education

No High School Diploma

High School Graduate

Some College, No Degree

Associate Degree

Bachelor Degree

Master Degree or Higher

Figure 7a. From US Census Data, 2009.

Figure 7b. From US Census Data, 2009.

Locations of Growth/Economic Patterns

For each county the workforce has decreased while unemployment has remained the same

for years 2003-2007. The number of new businesses have dropped 34% from 2003-2007 and the

number of active businesses in the area have dropped 14% within the same years (US census

data, 2008).

14%

20%

17%14%

10%

8%

8%6%

2% 0%1%

Belmont County Household Income

Less than $10,000

$10,000 to $19,999

$20,000 to $29,999

$30,000 to $39,999

$40,000 to $49,999

$50,000 to $59,999

$60,000 to $74,999

$75,000 to $99,999

$100,000 to $149,999

$150,000 to $199,999

$200,000 or more

14%

17%

18%15%

12%

9%

9%4%

1% 0%1%

Monroe County Household Income

Less than $10,000

$10,000 to $19,999

$20,000 to $29,999

$30,000 to $39,999

$40,000 to $49,999

$50,000 to $59,999

$60,000 to $74,999

$75,000 to $99,999

$100,000 to $149,999

$150,000 to $199,999

$200,000 or more

According to US census projections, populations within Belmont and Monroe Counties are

expected continue to decrease over the next ten years primarily due to a sluggish local economy

and the fact that more youth leaves the area than stays. Belmont County Community

Improvement Corporation (CIC) indicates that urban growth and development in the Captina

Creek watershed is not forecast to be significant in the foreseeable future. CIC associate director

Susan Douglass stated that Murray Energy has been the only corporation in the watershed that

has worked with the CIC in the past. Douglass also indicated she had been approached by

private interests seeking to establish recreational ventures along the mainstem of the creek none

of which have yet to materialize. The newest business development slated in Belmont County is

a commercial park located behind valley plaza in St. Clairsville near Interstate 70 well north of

the Captina watershed area (Douglass, 2010). Also, the Switzerland of Ohio School District is

planning to construct a new elementary school near Captina Creek west of Powhatan Point

within the next two years (Workman, 2010) .

Economic forecasts are similar in Monroe County in terms of slow commercial development

with the Black Walnut Center in Woodsfield and the State Route 7 corridor along the Ohio River

likely locations for growth if it were to occur. The Switzerland of Ohio School District is also

constructing a school facility at the extreme southern edge of the watershed area in Monroe

County. This facility will serve as the new Beallsville Schools campus and is located along SR

556 on the southern fringe of the Piney Creek subwatershed (Workman, 2010). Figures 8a and

8b represent projected census trends over the next few decades for Belmont and Monroe

Counties (US Census Data, 2000).

Figure 8a. From US Census Data, 2000

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

100,000

1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 2050

Belmont County Population Trend

Figure 8b. From US Census Data, 2000

Other Demographic Factors

Absentee land ownership is becoming more prevalent within the watershed area. Although

no census data exists regarding absentee ownership trends in the watershed, hunters and

individuals seeking recreational retreats from surrounding urban areas (Columbus, Cleveland

Pittsburgh) are constructing small cabins and mobile homes as temporary housing at an increased

rate. These facilities have potential to affect the creek and its tributaries negatively as explained

in Parts III and IV of the watershed action plan.

Watershed Geographic Locators

Geographically, Captina Creek is located in rural southeastern Ohio and is part of the

foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It is a direct tributary to the Ohio River and drains the

southern third of Belmont county and the extreme northern edge of Monroe County. The

watershed area is bound by the Ohio River to the east, the McMahon Creek Watershed to the

north, the Leatherwood and Salt Fork drainages to the west and the Sunfish Creek watershed to

the south.

The Ohio sub-basin code is 7 (of the 93 Ohio sub-basins) and the 305(b) identification

number is 06E. The Captina watershed is part of the Central Ohio Tributaries and is located in

section 05 of the United States Geological Survey corresponding to the Ohio River Basin

drainage region. The creek is located in the Upper Ohio Sub-region (0503) with a total area of

13,200 square miles, Upper Ohio-Beaver accounting unit (050301) which is 6,570 square miles

and cataloging unit Upper-Ohio Wheeling (05030106) which is 1,490 square miles. Spatially,

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 2050

Monroe County Population Trend

the watershed area lies between longitude coordinates 81o13'12"W and 80

o44'18"W and,

between latitude coordinates 40o1'36"N and 39

o49'35"N.

Figure 9a. From Ohio River Basin Consotorium. Figure 9b. Upper Ohio Wheeling Watershed (OEPA)

The Captina Creek watershed area consists of six subwatershed tributary regions that drain

directly into the mainstem of Captina Creek. They are named North Fork Captina Creek, South

Fork Captina Creek, Bend Fork, Piney Creek, Pea Vine Creek and Cat Run from west to east

respectively.

Hydrologic Unit Codes were developed by the USGS in the mid 1970's as a means to

standardize the watershed classification system in the U.S. Hydrologic units are watershed

boundaries organized hierarchically by surface area. They range from regions of 8 digit to 14

digit codes with the lesser number representing a larger surface drainage and the greater number

representing a very specific watershed drainage within a region (USGS Water Data Online,

2010). ODNR currently recognizes twelve digit HUC coding (illustrated in Figure 10) for

classifying watershed areas. The Captina watershed region also has an eight digit HUC

05030106 and the eleven digit HUC 05030106110 (NRCS, 2010).

Figure 10. The Captina Creek mainstem is fed by six subwatershed areas.

Table 1. Subwatershed areas by acreage (derived from Ohio Geological Survey Data).

Subwatershed Twelve-Digit HUC Surface Area (acres) Total Stream Miles*

Pea Vine Creek 050301060905 24,332 220.5

South Fork 050301060902 23,036 191.3

North Fork 050301060901 20,942 172.3

Piney Creek 050301060904 18,608 163.4

Bend Fork 050301060903 17,290 140.1

Cat Run 050301060906 10,980 64.3

*Stream miles were calculated using all tributary drainages in each subwatershed area including those that are semi-permanent.

General Watershed Information: Background/Historic Information

Incredibly, as exceptional of a body of water as it is, Captina Creek is located in one of the

most heavily mined areas of the state and is included in the Appalachian Coal Basin, one of the

largest coal fields in the United States. Ohio Valley Coal Company's (OVCC) #6 facility located

in west central Washington Township and American Energy Corporation's (AEC) Century Mine

located immediately upstream in east central Wayne Township together make Belmont County

the largest producer of coal in the state accounting for 55% of Ohio's total annual production

volume (Wood-Pugh, 2010). Both coal companies are owned by Murray Energy. With

production forecast estimates from these mines ranging anywhere from another 30 to 60 years, it

is likely that coal mining will continue to be a driving force in the area's economy and a potential

impact to the watershed region.

Historically coal mining in the watershed region has been mostly sub-surface longwall or

room-and-pillar extraction with some surface strip mining primarily occurring in Goshen

Township. Figure 11 shows the extent of abandoned underground mine coverage in Belmont

and Monroe Counties while Figures 12a and 12b show areas in the watershed that have been

previously surface strip mined or contain NRCS Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO)

spoil soils. Spoil soils consist of overburden or waste coal refuse left behind by strip mining

processes and are generally poor in nature.

Figure 11. Areas in brown indicate abandoned underground mines in eastern Belmont and Monroe Counties

(ODNR Abandoned Mine Mapping Project, 2010).

Figure 12a. Location of strip mined grounds in the western portion of the Captina Creek watershed area (source: Belmont

County GIS).

ALLEDONIAALLEDONIAALLEDONIAALLEDONIAALLEDONIA

ARMSTRONGS MILARMSTRONGS MILARMSTRONGS MILARMSTRONGS MILARMSTRONGS MIL

BADGERSBURGBADGERSBURGBADGERSBURGBADGERSBURGBADGERSBURG

BARKCAMP PARKBARKCAMP PARKBARKCAMP PARKBARKCAMP PARKBARKCAMP PARK

BARNESVILLEBARNESVILLEBARNESVILLEBARNESVILLEBARNESVILLE

BELMONTBELMONTBELMONTBELMONTBELMONT

BETHESDABETHESDABETHESDABETHESDABETHESDA

BOSTONBOSTONBOSTONBOSTONBOSTON

CENTERVILLECENTERVILLECENTERVILLECENTERVILLECENTERVILLE

CHAPEL HILLCHAPEL HILLCHAPEL HILLCHAPEL HILLCHAPEL HILL

CLOVER RIDGECLOVER RIDGECLOVER RIDGECLOVER RIDGECLOVER RIDGE

COOL HILLCOOL HILLCOOL HILLCOOL HILLCOOL HILL JACOBSBURGJACOBSBURGJACOBSBURGJACOBSBURGJACOBSBURG

LAMIRALAMIRALAMIRALAMIRALAMIRA

LOOMISLOOMISLOOMISLOOMISLOOMIS

MT OLIVETTMT OLIVETTMT OLIVETTMT OLIVETTMT OLIVETT

NEW CASTLENEW CASTLENEW CASTLENEW CASTLENEW CASTLE

SOMERTONSOMERTONSOMERTONSOMERTONSOMERTON

SPEIDELSPEIDELSPEIDELSPEIDELSPEIDELTACOMATACOMATACOMATACOMATACOMA

WARNOCKWARNOCKWARNOCKWARNOCKWARNOCK

WHITNEYWHITNEYWHITNEYWHITNEYWHITNEY

WILSONWILSONWILSONWILSONWILSON

Map Legend

Creeks Strip Mine Ground SSURGO Spoil Soils

Figure 12b. Location of strip mined grounds in the eastern portion of the Captina Creek watershed area (source: Belmont

County GIS).

Captina Creek has had one historic restoration and cleanup effort of note. The campaign

was headed by the watershed organization ‘Citizens for a Clean Captina’ that formed in the late

1970’s - a time when water quality was so bad that large sections of the mainstem of Captina

Creek were declared dead because of mining activities along its banks. The group was headed

by Captina Creek resident Dennis Bigler and had the goal of restoring water quality standards

within the watershed at a time when there was little influence by the EPA on coal mining

discharge and acid mine drainage. Contributing to water quality problems were waste coal gob

piles deposited directly on creek banks, unregulated slurry seepage into the creek, and acid mine

drainage (AMD) from un-reclaimed strip mine grounds and pumping out underground mines.

The Citizens group had 70 stakeholders of which 40 attended regular meetings.

During this time the group organized un-reclaimed strip mine funds to launch studies of acid

mine drainage treatment and abatement (AMDAT) along Captina Creek. The Citizens group

disbanded in 1982 after successful cleanup efforts of the Oglebay-Norton gob pile at the former

Cravat site near the confluence of Pea Vine and Captina Creeks. In a personal interview

conducted in September of 2010, Dennis Bigler stated that he could not believe how fast the

ALLEDONIAALLEDONIAALLEDONIAALLEDONIAALLEDONIA

ARMSTRONGS MILARMSTRONGS MILARMSTRONGS MILARMSTRONGS MILARMSTRONGS MIL

AVONDALEAVONDALEAVONDALEAVONDALEAVONDALE

BUSINESSBURGBUSINESSBURGBUSINESSBURGBUSINESSBURGBUSINESSBURG

CAPTINACAPTINACAPTINACAPTINACAPTINA

CENTERVILLECENTERVILLECENTERVILLECENTERVILLECENTERVILLE

CHAPEL HILLCHAPEL HILLCHAPEL HILLCHAPEL HILLCHAPEL HILL

CLOVER RIDGECLOVER RIDGECLOVER RIDGECLOVER RIDGECLOVER RIDGE

COOL HILLCOOL HILLCOOL HILLCOOL HILLCOOL HILL

DILLES BOTTOMDILLES BOTTOMDILLES BOTTOMDILLES BOTTOMDILLES BOTTOM

GLENCOEGLENCOEGLENCOEGLENCOEGLENCOE

JACOBSBURGJACOBSBURGJACOBSBURGJACOBSBURGJACOBSBURG

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POWHATAN POINTPOWHATAN POINTPOWHATAN POINTPOWHATAN POINTPOWHATAN POINT

SHADYSIDESHADYSIDESHADYSIDESHADYSIDESHADYSIDE

STEINERSVILLESTEINERSVILLESTEINERSVILLESTEINERSVILLESTEINERSVILLE

STEWARTSVILLESTEWARTSVILLESTEWARTSVILLESTEWARTSVILLESTEWARTSVILLE

VADISVADISVADISVADISVADIS

VALLONIAVALLONIAVALLONIAVALLONIAVALLONIA

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WEGEEWEGEEWEGEEWEGEEWEGEE

WHITNEYWHITNEYWHITNEYWHITNEYWHITNEY

Map Legend

Creeks Strip Mine Ground SSURGO Spoil Soils

creek's habitat rebounded once the gob pile was removed. "In a matter of a few years the habitat

went from seemingly dead to thriving," commented Bigler. See Appendix B for copies of

newspaper articles related to the Citizens for a Clean Captina accomplishments.

Cravat Coal Company received recognition for its reclamation of 55 acres of strip mined

grounds in the 1980's located in section 33 of York Township across SR 148 from Lake Shawn.

The restoration project eliminated an existing high wall in the reclamation area, constructed two

settling ponds lined with limestone slag to neutralize acid mine drainage (AMD) and buried an

existing gob pile at the site. Further improvements were made to this site from 1990 to 2000

with the assistance of Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) Appalachian Clean Streams (ACS)

initiative. Included in these improvements were the installment of two additional settling ponds

at the site and an alkaline slag bed to treat water escaping the toe of the buried gob pile. Cravat

has also been credited for the reclamation of surface mined grounds in the late 1970's just west of

Armstrongs Mills in Washington township sections 10 and 16, and a reclamation of the Linn

Tipple facility by installing settling ponds for AMD prior to 1986.

Two abandoned subsurface coal mines have also been reclaimed by Ohio Division of

Mineral Resources along the banks of Captina Creek. One area is located west of Powhatan

Point along Cove Rd. and the other is just east of York Township Rd. 810 near the intersection

with SR 148. Both sites employ the use of alkaline dosing silos to treat acidic water pumped

from underground mine shafts before entering the creek. The Cove Rd. silo is at the former

Bellaire Corporation Powhatan No. 2 mine which was abandoned in 1954 and the York

Township Rd. 810 silo is at the former Bellaire Corporation Powhatan No. 5 mine abandoned in

the early 1980's.

In 2006 crews working for Murray Energy were able to remove a portion of the abandoned

Oklahoma Coal Company Linn Tipple gob pile located in Section 4 of Washington Township.

The reclaimed area is specifically located between SR 148 and the railroad tracks. A sizable gob

pile still exists on the hillside above the railroad tracks at this location and has been documented

releasing AMD into a culvert along SR 148. Mike Mozena, head of Ohio Department of Mineral

Resources Abandoned Mine Lands reclamation program, states the remnants of the Linn Tipple

gob pile along Captina Creek in eastern Washington Township remains a priority project for his

department. Two other partially reclaimed piles are located along Captina Creek downstream of

Linn Tipple, their locations are given in Table 2.

Table 2. Existing gob pile locations in the Captina Creek watershed region.

Township Subwatershed Description Coordinates 12 Digit HUC

Washington - Sec. 4 Pea Vine Creek

Oklahoma Coal

Company Linn

Tipple Facility

80o 54' 18.4" W

39o 54' 5.1" N

050301060905

York - Sec. 21 Pea Vine Creek

Bellaire Corporation

Powhatan #5 Mine

site

80o 51' 15.7" W

39o 53' 17.5" N

050301060905

York - Sec. 33 Pea Vine Creek Reclaimed Cravat

gob pile

80o 53' 35.8" W

39o 53' 39.8" N

050301060905

Additionally, in spring of 2007 biologists from Murray Energy reclaimed a wetland parcel

near the Century Mine in Section 3 of Wayne Township along Township Road 87. The location

was recently inspected and approved by the Army Corps of Engineers. Officials at Murray

Energy have been open to ideas for mitigation projects like wetlands habitat restoration that will

improve water quality in the Captina Creek area.

In 2002, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) targeted the Captina

watershed for the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP). This cost-sharing program

protects soil and water by using best management practices (BMPs) for agriculture and ranching.

The program has provided Belmont County more than one million dollars over the last 6 years

for conservation practices designed protect water quality through the use of riparian buffer

corridors, animal waste and nutrient management facilities, proper silviculture, and outreach and

educational activities. In fall of 2010 specifications were made to the EQUIP application

guidelines by Belmont SWCD and NRCS Local Work Group giving extra points to farmers

applying for EQUIP funding who live in the Cat Run and South Fork subwatershed areas. These

areas were targeted based on TMDL results from OEPA assessment of stream quality indicating

higher than normal nutrient loading due to agricultural practices.