Tag Archives: partnered acquisition

Rivers, Coal & Crafts: Exploring the Past, Celebrating the Future 

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: 

To make these projects possible, NPC is partnering with: 

Meet Gnolli the Tioga River Gnome!

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!

Continued Stewardship: Cavanaugh Access Area

When you support NPC’s conservation efforts, you’re helping to conserve not just land—but the future of that land, too. One recent example of ongoing stewardship comes from the Cavanaugh Access Area, where state land managers are using science-based techniques to care for the landscape.

In March, the Bureau of Forestry conducted a prescribed fire at the Cavanaugh Access Area, located in the Marsh Creek section of the Pine Creek Rail Trail (parallel to Route 6 outside of Wellsboro). This controlled burn was carefully planned and managed by trained staff.

Prescribed fire is a vital tool used to:

  • Control invasive plant species
  • Encourage the growth of young trees
  • Restore native plants
  • Reduce the risk of more dangerous wildfires

If you’re in the area, consider stopping by to see the difference. Look closely at the vegetation in the burned area compared to neighboring sections that weren’t part of the fire. You’ll see the young shoots already starting to emerge—signs of a healthy, regenerating ecosystem.

Thanks to your support, places like Cavanaugh Access remain part of a thriving and resilient landscape.