Kantner man takes helm of new Bottomlands Conservancy; insuring rehab of Stonycreek continues
The Friedens-based non-profit has taken over the abandoned mine discharge treatment facilities from the Somerset County Conservancy, and the North Star graduate hopes to continue the on-going battle to rehabilitate local waterways.
'It definitely means a lot,' said Lichvar.'I feel a large responsibility, but I know we have guys in place on the board and future members that are going to help out a lot.'
Lichvar said that the conservancy was looking for someone to take over the sites, and was either going to give them away or sell them. "So, to keep those properties open to the public and make sure the AMD sites are taken care of in the future we decided to go ahead and start Bottomlands so that we could transfer those properties to us.'
Lichvar and his father Len (who will serve as Bottomlands' vice-chairman) already have a great deal of experience with the treatment facilities as each worked with the conservancy in the past .The elder Lichvar recently retired from the Somerset Conservation District.
As an employee of InnoH2O Solutions in Friedens, which conducts AMD engineering and treatment for coal companies and the Dept. of Environmental Protection, Logan will use experience gained from the private sector. The company's president, Mike McClusky, will serve at Bottomlands secretary.
'Nobody in Bottomlands is going to be paid,' said Lichvar. 'It's a true small non-profit. Everything is volunteer.' Currently there are just four members, with InnoH2O's Nate Moot serving as treasurer.
Established with a letter of determination from the state on Nov.6, Bottomlands will be writing grants and seeking donations and membership fees to maintain and operate the passive treatment sites. 'Right now, we basically just threw a couple of bucks in to get it started and get it going,' said Lichvar.
Aside from treating polluted water, one of Bottomlands' goals is to keep open to the public approximately 200 acres of ground that comes with the transfer. Lichvar explained that the Somerset Co. Conservation District has always funded, operated and maintained the treatment ponds, and the conservancy was the land trust that owned the ground. 'It just made sense to do something to keep local control and make sure they're open to the public so people can keep hunting there and walking,' he said.
The properties are used for hiking, hunting, trapping, bird-watching, and fishing. Deer, turkeys, woodcock, squirrel, and even an occasional bear or bald eagle use the properties, Lichvar said. Jenner Rod and Gun Club stocks pheasants on one parcel.
Lichvar said Bottomlands' immediate goals are to rehabilitate a treatment facility on Coal Run in Meyersdale, and to address two seepage areas at their Hawk View site north of Kantner. Water from those sites flow into the Casselman and Stonycreek rivers, respectively.
'We would be looking at adding systems wherever we can,' said Lichvar. 'We're definitely a Somerset County group but we're not limiting ourselves to Somerset County.' He added, 'Even if it's consulting with other non-profit organizations or conservation districts. It feels good to know you're doing something that's making a difference.'
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