Northeast Natural Energy Donates Stream Monitoring Equipment
MORGANTOWN, WV, September 21, 2022— Northeast Natural Energy (“Northeast”) is continuing its efforts to help restore Deckers Creek, this time by donating funds to local watershed group, Friends of Deckers Creek (“FODC”). FODC will use the funds for the purchase and implementation of stream water quality monitoring equipment, that will record water quality data used to gauge the health of Deckers Creek. In 2021, Northeast announced a partnership with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) to fund annual operations and maintenance for an acid mine drainage active treatment system, which is now under construction.
The system will treat acid mine drainage originating from the Richard Mine, an abandoned underground coal mine, that has severely degraded Deckers Creek for almost 100 years. The Richard Mine discharges water with an extremely low pH and elevated metals, which significantly impair the stream’s water quality and its ability to support aquatic life.
FODC, AML, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service have worked diligently for years to clean up the upper reaches of Deckers Creek through installation of passive treatment systems and land reclamation projects. “FODC wants to thank Northeast Natural Energy for their generous contribution”, said Brian Hurley, Executive Director of FODC. “This stream monitoring equipment will play a vital role in building one of the most advanced monitoring systems in the region.”
Once the acid mine drainage treatment system is operational, it should allow for year-long biological connectivity between the Monongahela River and the upper sections of Deckers Creek. “Northeast Natural Energy is proud to support Friends of Deckers Creek in their vital efforts to protect and clean up this watershed,” said Diane Corwin, Vice President of Operations for Northeast Natural Energy. “Community engagement efforts like these are important to us at Northeast, because we live and work in this community,” added Corwin.
Northeast Natural Energy is a West Virginia natural gas exploration and production company, with operations in Monongalia County, including their operations headquarters in Morgantown, WV.
