Wolfden Branch Mining Proposal and Concerns


Description

  • Tributary to the North Branch Potomac River at the town of Kitzmiller

  • 4 miles from mouth to headwater with several significant tribs

  • Classified use III P (natural trout and public water supply) by MDE

  • In 2003 MDNR survey documented wild brook trout, the stream was resurveyed in 2006 and 2007 and multiple year classes were documented with good #s of YOY

  • Lower reaches have public access and some angling occurs

  • MDE asked DNR for comments on a proposal to surface mine for coal approximately 500 acres in the headwaters


Proposal

  • 1st proposal - leave 100’ buffer on 3100’ of the west fork (UT) & and 50’ of buffer on 4100’ of the west side of the east fork (Wolfden mainstem)

    • However the depth of the coal seam buffer at the margin of the buffer would result in a 50 – 100’ headwall around the UT and the applicant admitted that it would likely be dewatered even after reclamation. It should also be noted that the site owner has already clear cut a large portion of what would have been buffer.


  • 2nd proposal - In Feb ‘07 The applicant asked for a variance to allow mining through the UT with plans to recreate the stream channel during site reclamation. 


Major Concerns

  • The complete loss of 3100’ of perennial stream – Regardless of the proposal adopted the stream will likely have no groundwater input and would function only to channel surface water runoff. Although no finfish are present in the UT, it is quality habitat for other aquatic and terrestrial communities and provides a constant flow of cold, filtered water to the mainstem. The catchment area of this tributary is large and the loss of this area as a forested buffer will negatively impact the natural water flow and infiltration regimes, the nutrient input, and the filtering capacity for at least a decade, and most likely several decades, and will improve only if reforestation efforts are successful. In addition headwater streams are also important to the cycling of nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon within the watershed and the tributary proper.

Wolfden Branch Mining Proposal and Concerns (continued)


 

  • Maintaining good water quality including temperature, pH and turbidity downstream - Temperature is the most immediate concern. All surface waters will be diverted to sediment control ponds. Likely high temperature discharges into Wolfden Run could extirpate brook trout from the drainage with no chance of recovery from the North Branch Potomac. Turbidity is also a concern during operations if surface runoff is not adequately controlled. Finally mineral content at the site makes pH a serious concern for the future. The applicant has agreed that active mitigation measures would likely have to be built and maintained indefinitely assuming that acceptable pH can be achieved. Past experiences with mining company assurances that they can insure no bad water incidents suggests otherwise, and one bad water release (i.e. a stormwater pond blowout, pump failure, clogged drainage pipe, human error, etc.) could result in extirpation, with no natural recovery possibility.

 

  • Setting precedent - This is the first request that we are aware of to allow the destruction of a perennial stream in Maryland.  While not ‘Mountaintop Mining’ by strict definition, the end result is the same, a stream lost and watershed buried under hundreds of feet of rubble. We have been told that many of Maryland’s remaining coal reserves are similarly located and there will be more applications to mine these areas as the demand/price of coal goes up. This permit may set a precedent that could result in a flood of applications for similar projects, which would be difficult to control and will result in cumulative negative impacts to Maryland’s brook trout and other aquatic resources.  

 

Other Considerations


This mine could produce up to 10% of Maryland’s annual coal production (500,000/year) for 5 or more years. If BOM denies the permit due to our recommendations the company could ask for arbitration at which point the decision would go to the courts.

 

Garrett County is the last stronghold of brook trout in Maryland but it is also only one of two counties in Maryland with active coal mining. Maryland DNR is an active partner in the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture, a national partnership of state, federal, academic, and NGO’s dedicated to conserving brook trout in the eastern U.S. As part of this mission Maryland has pledged no net loss of brook trout populations. Destruction of this Wolfden Run tributary runs counter to this mission and our agreement.

 

 

 

Mission Statement:    "To conserve, protect and restore North America's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds."

Our Vision:  By the next generation, Trout Unlimited will ensure that robust populations of native and wild coldwater fish once again thrive within their North American range, so that our children can enjoy healthy fisheries in their home waters.