Blossburg, PA – The historic Victoria Theatre in Blossburg was alive with music and storytelling on Sunday, September 28, as musician, educator, and former coal miner Van Wagner performed in Songs Celebrating Coal Miners of Pennsylvania.
This family-friendly concert, presented by the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy (NPC), honored the coal miners who helped shape Pennsylvania’s history while highlighting ongoing efforts to restore the Tioga River.
Van Wagner Brings Coal Mining History to Life
Van Wagner is an educator, forester and musical artist. In the classroom, he teaches Agriculture Science at Danville Area High School. His songwriting explores Pennsylvania’s history, landscapes, and its spirit. He is releasing his thirty-sixth album this fall.
Wagner’s stories, songs, and humor were well-received by the 85 concertgoers who came out to enjoy the show.
Ben Nevin, a Blossburg resident who attended the concert, shared: “It was a great honor to have Van in my soft-coal hometown, promoting a great cause cleaning up abandoned mine drainage in the Tioga River.”
Concert Shines a Spotlight on Tioga River’s Restoration Journey
The intimate Victoria Theatre provided an inviting setting for the community to connect through music and history while learning about the local conservation efforts.
NPC’s Executive Director, Renee’ Carey, shared: “Van Wagner’s music brought our coal mining history to life and gave us an opportunity to engage with the community about the Tioga River and the ongoing clean-up project.”
This free, public concert was made possible thanks to support from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC).
L to R: Renee’ Carey (NPC), Deb Capece (Victoria Theatre), Van Wagner, Erica Tomlinson (TCCD), Holly Byers (NPC)
Rivers, Coal & Crafts
The concert was part of the 2025 Rivers, Coal & Crafts series, a series of hands-on educational events coordinated by NPC, the Blossburg Memorial Library, and the Tioga County Conservation District (TCCD). Throughout the series, participants explored the region’s mining history, learned about the decades-long impacts of Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD), and discovered how local partnerships—including NPC, TCCD, the Tioga County Concerned Citizens Committee, and SRBC—are working to improve the health of the Tioga River.
Blossburg – On Friday, June 27, more than 80 people gathered at the Blossburg Memorial Library for an afternoon of creativity, learning, and community connection at a free tie-dye party. However, this was not your typical tie-dye event. Instead, participants used an orange dye made from an unusual source: abandoned mine drainage (AMD).
Erica and Maddy from the Tioga County Conservation District help out at the Tie-Dye Party held at the Blossburg Memorial Library.Inside, NPC staff, Sara and Jesse, lead participants through a macro-matching game while waiting for their turn to tie-dye.
Why the Tioga River Runs Orange
AMD happens when water flows through old coal mines, picking up iron and metals along the way. When this water reaches meets air (oxygen) chemical reactions takes place. One chemical reaction is the iron in the water turns orange. This orange can stains the rocks and streambeds. This is what causes some parts of the Tioga River to have that bright orange color.
At the tie-dye party, guests of all ages learned how AMD has affected the Tioga River for years. AMD from old mines along Fall Brook, Morris Run, and Coal Creek continues to flow into the river, harming water quality and aquatic life. Rather than just talking about the problem, we turned it into something colorful. Using pigment made from iron oxide collected from AMD, guests created one-of-a-kind t-shirts they could take home.
The bright orange color in parts of the Tioga River comes from iron in abandoned mine drainage (AMD). As the iron-rich water meets air, chemical reactions turn the riverbed orange.
Access Leads to Action
The Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy (NPC) is playing a key role in the Tioga River’s recovery. By acquiring the Coal Creek property, NPC helped make it possible for scientists and engineers to reach the largest mine discharge site in the entire Tioga River watershed. This access is an important step toward designing and building treatment systems that can clean the water and bring fish and other aquatic life back to the river.
Rivers, Coal and Crafts: Highlighting the Tioga River Restoration
The series, coordinated by NPC, Tioga County Conservation District, and the Blossburg Memorial Library celebrates the Blossburg community and shares information about the Tioga River’s ongoing restoration.
Through hands on workshops, craft projects, and storytelling, participants of all ages are learning about the decades-long impacts of Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) on the Tioga River, and how local partnerships are working together to restore the health of the river and its surrounding landscape.
Students test pH with red cabbage juice and learn how abandoned mines affect local waterways.
Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy (NPC) Board Member and former Southern Tioga School District science teacher, Julie Weaver, led students through an activity exploring water pH.
pH is a measure of how acidic or basic water is. Because pH is affected by the chemicals present, it’s an important indicator of whether the water is undergoing chemical changes. The pH level also determines how much of a substance can dissolve in the water and how accessible that substance is to aquatic life.
pH is one of the key indicators used when studying abandoned mine drainage.
Metals like aluminum become more toxic at lower pH levels because more of the metal dissolves into the water under acidic conditions.
After discussing how abandoned mines can affect water quality, students used red cabbage juice to test the pH of various liquids. One of the samples was water from Coal Creek. Other samples included lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, milk, pond water, rainwater (there was plenty of that this month), baking soda, and soda pop. In case you’re curious, Coal Creek’s water typically has a pH between 2.7 and 3.0, according to Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) data. For comparison, baking soda has a pH of 8.5, and dairy milk has a pH of 6.5.
When red cabbage juice was added, acidic liquids turned red, while less acidic (more basic) substances turned blue.
The amateur scientists walked away with a better understanding of pH and how water can be impacted by abandoned mines—and Gnolli had a chance to make some new friends!
Coal Creek Connections: How NPC Is Helping Restore the Tioga River
For years, abandoned mine drainage has flowed from closed coal mines into the Tioga River from at Fall Brook, Morris Run, and Coal Creek. To support long-term restoration efforts, NPC acquired the Coal Creek property. This key site provides access to the largest mine discharge in the Tioga River watershed. That access is essential to designing and implementing real solutions to clean the water and restore aquatic life.
Blossburg’s rich coal mining history and the ongoing restoration of the Tioga River are coming together! Rivers, Coal & Crafts is an exciting series of community events launching this spring. The series will connect residents and visitors with the land, water, and stories that shape this region.
Through hands-on workshops, craft projects, and storytelling, participants of all ages will learn about the decades-long impacts of Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) on the Tioga River—and how local partnerships are working to restore the Tioga River and its landscape.
Gnolli the Tioga River Gnome takes in the view along Coal Creek. He was created during the first event in the Rivers, Coal & Crafts series—a Make-A-Long celebrating the story of the river at the Blossburg Company Store.
For years, AMD has flowed from closed coal mines into the Tioga River from Fall Brook, Morris Run, and Coal Creek. The AMD includes iron and heavy metals. The Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy (NPC) became involved in the River’s recovery by acquiring the Coal Creek property. This key site provides access to the largest mine discharge in the Tioga River watershed. That access is essential to designing and implementing real solutions to clean the water and restore aquatic life.
As restoration work continues, the Rivers, Coal & Crafts series offers an exciting way for the community and visitors to follow along and get involved! Check the NPC events page for additional event updates.
These events are made possible through funding from:
The first event was a Make-A-Long workshop at the Blossburg Company Store. Participants crocheted and knitted their own Tioga River Gnomes while learning about the river’s story. The project used mini-skeins dyed to represent the river’s restoration journey— 🪨 Grey for coal 🧡 Orange for sulfuric acid 🌊 Blue for clean water 🌱 Green for the return of aquatic plants ✨ and a Speckled skein for the transition in between!
One generous attendee, Donna Lougher, chose to gift their gnome to NPC—and that’s how Gnolli came to be!
Now, Gnolli (pronounced “NOLL-ee”) is the official mascot of the Rivers, Coal & Crafts series. He’ll be traveling to events and restoration sites throughout the year, helping share the story of Coal Creek and the Tioga River!
Follow along on social media with #GnollisQuest to keep up with his journey through coal country and conservation!
Multiple organizations came together with Blossburg Borough for a project to stabilize approximately 300 feet of riverbank along the Tioga River in Blossburg’s Island Park.
If you look at the riverbank in the Park you can see the riverbank has been eroding for some time. The roots of the trees at the edge of the Tioga River are exposed and the trees are getting closer and closer to being undermined.
Before: The roots of the trees at the edge of the Tioga River were exposed and the trees were getting closer and closer to being undermined.
While the Park sits on the banks of the Tioga River there isn’t a lot of safe, easy access to the River itself. The banks are steep and there’s a drop from the top of the bank to the edge of the River.
Some people may be wondering why people would want access to the Tioga River since it’s currently impaired by Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD).
Within the next couple of years the active treatment plant will be up and running and the Tioga River will be flowing with clean water.
Biologists involved with the project expect there to be fish in the Tioga River within a year of the active treatment plant starting operations. This is possible because not all the tributaries to the Tioga River have AMD impacts. There are several trout streams that flow into the Tioga River.
Based on how other Pennsylvania rivers and streams responded to treatment, biologists involved with the project feel fish, including trout, will begin to move from the tributaries they are in now to the Tioga River. At first, they may not spend a lot of time in the River, but as aquatic habitat improves and their food sources can establish, the fish will spend more time in the River.
This project in Island Park is an effort to not only reduce sediment, but to also improve access for anglers, and create fish habitat for the “visiting” fish by using mud sills, log vanes and deflectors.
TU employees install a series of log and rock structures that will not only stabilize the eroding riverbank, but also create fish habitat along this section of the Tioga River.
Log and Rock Structures Stabilize and Create Habitat
Staff from Trout Unlimited (TU) and the Tioga County Conservation District evaluated the site for potential stabilization and fish habitat in November 2022. During the site visit the group determined that Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission approved fish habitat enhancement structures could be used to stabilize the eroding riverbanks while also improving habitat for fish and other aquatic life.
The structures do this as the water flowing downstream comes into contact with the logs used in building the structures. The logs are a hard edge and redirect the flow back towards the center of the river.
“The structures will reduce toe erosion along the banks and maintain the thalweg in the center of the channel.”
The structures are built out of logs and rock. The logs are held in place with rebar and rock provides weight to hold the logs in place, and also provides a surface to regrade to create a sloped riverbank. A sloped riverbank allows higher than normal flows to move up the riverbank and spread out. This will slow down the water which further reduces erosion at the site and downstream.
“We usually are using hemlock or larch logs. People are often concerned the logs will rot away. As long as part of the log is in water, the whole log stays wet. Logs are like sponges that way. A wet log will last longer. The water pushes out the oxygen in the log. Without oxygen it doesn’t decay as quickly.”
Tyler Upham, the Tioga County Conservation District’s Watershed Specialist
Tyler Upham, Tioga County Conservation District’s Watershed Specialist, explains the benefits of using the log and rock structures to stabilize the eroding riverbank.
Island Park holds the high school football stadium, tennis courts (painted with pickleball lines), Little League Baseball fields, softball fields, the pool and splash pad, playground, skate park, and a walking path. This community park is used for Friday night football, the annual Coal Festival, and daily walks. This project will help add to the list of recreation possible in the Park by creating habitat for fish, and better access for anglers.
Island Park is a popular destination for the community of Blossburg. The red star indicates the project site where NPC and partners stabilized a section of eroding streambank and created fish habitat.
“NPC became involved in the Tioga River Restoration when a property critical for treatment was listed for sale. As we learned more about the project we realized the recreational potential for the Tioga River and the need to begin to think about public recreation access. Once there are fish in the River, people will want to fish the River. If there are public access points that make it easy for anglers to get to the River it helps everyone. Blossburg Borough has been a great partner and open to the idea of improving their Park and adding recreation.”
“We’ve been working a long time on getting the Tioga River cleaned up, but it’s not just about clean water. It’s also about having opportunities for the communities along the River to have access and enjoy fishing and swimming once the River is cleaned up. This riverbank stabilization project is a great example of how a lot of partners can do a small part that makes a big project possible.”
Charlie Andrews, president of T4C
Blossburg Borough Council member Jill Nickerson looks forward to the future opportunities the project will bring for the community.
“The river restoration project is a shining example of what we can achieve through collective effort. By restoring the natural beauty and health of the river, we are creating additional recreational opportunities at Island Park that will benefit everyone in our surrounding communities. Whether you love to fish, kayak, or walk along the riverfront, this project will have a positive impact that will be felt for generations to come.”
Trout Unlimited Phil Thomas with TU evaluated the site, developed the design, and is implementing construction.
Tioga County Conservation District Tyler Upham with the District assisted in evaluating the site. He also coordinated the contractor and materials deliveries for the project
Tioga County Concerned Citizens Committee Charlie and Joyce Andrews coordinated communication with other groups in the area to help raise the funding necessary for the riverbank stabilization project.
Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy NPC handled various types of paperwork and permitting. Additionally NPC served as the “banker” for the donations from the other community groups and applied for funds through a grant program.
Financial support for this project is provided by BHE GT&S which is dedicated to the economic, physical and social health of the communities served by BHE GT&S companies. This grant program was administered by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy in commitment to its core mission of conserving Pennsylvania’s diverse ecosystems through science-based strategy, leadership, and collaboration.
Other Information on the Tioga River Restoration
The Susquehanna River Basin Commission’s Tioga River Restoration’s Mine Drainage program is a great place to start.
Thanks to the unwavering support of its members, the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy (NPC) proudly serves a 12-county region across Northcentral PA. This extensive footprint allows NPC the opportunity to champion the environmental wellbeing of the region as a whole, one community conservation project at a time! However, operating within such a widespread area presents its own set of challenges; like being in all places at once or initiating projects in towns where NPC staff or board members do not personally reside.
Yet, NPC’s roots lie in the communal power of town talks, firmly believing that building trust and transparency are essential for any conservation project to be successful!
A prime example of this is the Coal Creek property located in Blossburg. There, staff have been actively participating in Borough Council meetings for over a year and a half. These meetings enable NPC to maintain communication not only with the local community but also with project partners like the Tioga County Concerned Citizens Committee, Susquehanna River Basin Commission, and Kleinfelder engineering. These connections facilitate the sharing of information and ensure that the community’s needs are considered throughout the project.
Tioga River restoration plans outlined for Blossburg community
In 2022, NPC acquired the 216-acre Coal Creek property in Blossburg.
Last month, community members and landowners gathered to learn more about the plans for treating the Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) affecting the Tioga River. Organized by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (BAMR) with input from all partners, including NPC, the community meeting was a significant step in fostering dialogue and transparency.
NPC was asked to moderate the presentations and facilitate the meetings, a testament to NPC’s ongoing outreach. Nearly 80 individuals, including landowners and organization members directly impacted by the project, had the opportunity to learn about the plans.
The meeting provided an overview of the three streams with AMD issues affecting the Tioga River, followed by a “tour” of the proposed treatment system. Attendees gained insights into how each stream – Morris Run, Fallbrook, and Coal Creek – would be contained and pumped to the Active Treatment Plant (ATP), along with details on funding, operations, maintenance, and paperwork requirements for impacted landowners.
Prior to the meeting, NPC addressed rumors circulating within the community, ensuring transparency and trust from the outset. During the question and answer session, concerns ranging from public safety to property usage were addressed.
A notable community need emerged regarding public safety, with the volunteer fire company advocating for the inclusion of hydrants in the system. Their input will ensure quicker response times during emergencies, minimizing potential risks to nearby homes and businesses.
After the formal presentations wrapped up, staff from the various organizations were on hand to answer questions. There was also a complete set of plans available for the engineers to show people and explain, and a series of maps were on display to help people follow the path of the water from the discharge to the ATP and back to local streams.
Jim Green with BAMR (left) listens as a landowner explains a traffic concern.NPC board member, Steve Young (left) reviews the Coal Creek map with a landowner.
Thanks to the NPC membership for their steadfast support in the Coal Creek acquisition and the broader Tioga River restoration efforts. Their membership not only contributes to restoring the Tioga River but also empowers local communities to voice their concerns and inquiries.
The design will be finalized in the next several months. Once the design is wrapped up, the engineers will prepare the bid packets. The hope is that construction will begin in 2025 and wrap-up in 2026. Stay tuned for more updates on how NPC members are helping to restore the Tioga River!
