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The Altoona Water Authority is to be commended for its professional, lengthy negotiations with representatives of the former Cooney Brothers Coal Co.
The purchase of the company's 2,450 acres above the Horseshoe Curve and below the village of Coupon will benefit our watershed by reclaiming this polluted tract of land.
Discussions began in the spring of 2017 when General Manager Mark Perry approached me about my opinion on this issue.
As chairman during my last year on the board, my support and brief response was important. I told him the authority should buy it.
The board of directors approved the $1.8 million acquisition in September 2020 after being awarded a $900,000 grant from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Kittanning Run is the worst stream of acid mine drainage to pollute the Juniata River Basin, which eventually flows into Chesapeake Bay.
The neighboring stream of Glen White Run had the same problem, but was remarkably cleaned up by utilizing natural passive treatment systems that neutralize the contaminated water.
This same natural treatment plan will be used again on Kittanning Run to ensure water quality.
In a few years, it is entirely possible this stream will flow, if needed, into our Horseshoe Curve reservoir system and treatment facility instead of the bypass presently in place.
The authority now regulates nearly 14,000 acres of watershed. Hunting, trapping, walking, hiking and now mountain bike riding are permitted in designated areas patrolled by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
A comprehensive reclamation plan begins with the Department of Environmental Protection and development will continue with the consulting engineering firm of Gwin Dobson & Foreman to bring this large expanse of land back to its natural environment.
This remarkable effort by the AWA reminds us why we have one of the best managed water systems in Pennsylvania.
William Schirf
Altoona