Try This!

Huff Run Fall Tour

The Huff Run Watershed Restoration Partnership (HRWRP) held a tour of the watershed for local citizens, local government officials, the press, and agency professionals on October 9, 2003. The point of the "Huff Run Fall Tour” was to get people who had heard about, given money to, or helped the watershed group to really see Huff Run. Most, but not all, of the people who took part in the tour had never seen acid mine drainage and were in for a huge educational experience.

The 50 or so tourists met in the basement of a local church for lunch, which was donated by a member of the HRWRP. A brief presentation was given about the watershed, funding for projects, and history of the group. Folders with additional reading material were also provided. After the presentation, the visitors hitched a ride on a charter bus. The group had money from an EPA 319 grant for such a purpose and was able to rent a 47-passenger bus. (As it turns out, the company sent a 56 passenger bus for the same price because it was cheaper to run. What a deal!)

Below Left (top): Participants gather for lunch and a presentation before the tour.
Below Left (bottom): A 56-seat tour bus.
Below Right: Jim Gue, Environmental Specialist II for the Salam ODNR/Mineral Resource Management, served as a tour guide.

The bus drove to the unpolluted headwater of Huff Run. After this, there were stops at the Linden Bioremediation Project, Huff Run Site 42, and the future site of the Lyons Restoration Project. Other sites were pointed out along the way. All attendees reported that they had a great time.

One of the participants of the Huff Run Fall Tour was Terry Wagner, a Carroll County Commissioner. He was impressed with the watershed and the HRWRP. As he was leaving, he asked Maureen Wise, Huff Run Watershed Coordinator, how they had paid for the bus along with her salary. He was unaware that the Carroll County Commissioners had been allocating about $800 a year towards her salary. A few weeks later, Maureen, an ODNR representative, and some additional group members attended a meeting with the Carroll Commissioners to give an update of the group's activities and request that the County raise their yearly contribution. Less than a month later, Maureen received news that Carroll County will be allocating over $5,000 towards her salary next year. Needless to say, the Fall Tour reaped more rewards than the group imagined!