N. Branch Bear Run

Since our inception in 2001, the Watershed Assistance Center of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) has worked diligently to improve watershed health and the health of local communities. We believe that by helping grassroots organizations save the local watersheds they care about, WPC ultimately achieves its mission of Saving the Places We Care About, one watershed at a time.

The northern branch of Bear Run is not currently listed as a High Quality Cold-Water Fishery (HQ-CWF). However, due to its biotic integrity and current trout populations, this waterway is a candidate for reclassification and the cold-water conservation plan is a way to assure that this area of Bear Run remains a pristine natural environment.

Unfortunately, the southern half of the watershed has not faired nearly as well and has been negatively impacted by abandoned mine drainage.  The impacts associated with the rest of the watershed, and the potential for additional mining in the area, make the northern branch of Bear Run unique and in immediate need of preservation.  We believe a step in a positive direction would be to complete the cold-water conservation plan; thus helping to lead to the reclassification of the stream to either High Quality or Exceptional Value.

Coldwater Heritage Plan outline:

One of the major components of this plan will be to compile information that will help to reclassify this section of stream. Reclassifying the northern branch of Bear Run is one of the valuable ways to protect this area.  The information included in the completed cold-water conservation plan will offer further justification for this process. By reaching out to the community through educational presentations and public meetings, the people of Indiana County will be encouraged to take part in this restoration effort. In conjunction with work completed through the Indiana County Conservation District, Susquehanna River Basin Commission, and the Ken Sink Chapter of Trout Unlimited, the majority of the stream will be visually assessed with special attention paid to the possible problem areas along Bear Run.

About WPC: 

WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVANCY'S MISSION STATEMENT:

Saving the places we care about by connecting people to the natural world. 

There are five Strategic Drivers that guide Western Pennsylvania Conservancy in all its programs.

•  Conserve the natural and cultural heritage of western Pennsylvania

•  Inspire a conservation ethic through outreach and volunteer action

•  Collaborate with communities

•  Advance public policy and public funding for conservation

•  Maintain a healthy organization

Contact Information:

For more information on this plan please contact:

Ben Wright at (724) 459-0953 ext. 102 or email at bwright@paconserve.org

  Download the North Branch of Bear Run Conservation plan here