Pathfinders Resource Conservation and Development

Mccrea Abstractpathfinders Rcand D Is Partnering With the Mahaska County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Iowadepartment of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality (the Division) Toaddress Acid Mine Drainage From the Mccrea Abandoned Mine Land Site. the Site Poses a Water Quality Resourceconcern. This Concern Stems From High Sediment Loads Coming From Dangerous Barren Spoil Piles Left From Previouscoal Mining Activity and Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) From Uncontrolled Runoff at the Site.the Mccrea Reclamation Project Is Located Approximately 1.5 Miles South West of the City Beacon, Iowa. Theapproximately 28.2 Acre Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Site Was Mined Prior to 1977. the Reclamation Project Willeliminate the Coal Mining Features That Present a Danger to the Health and Safety of the Public and Resultingacid Mine Drainage. the Site Is 2 Miles From the Des Moines River, Which Is Actively Used for Recreation and Thecurrent Condition of the Site Negatively Impacts an Un Named Tributary of Drainage Ditch Number 2. This Drainagethen Flows Southwest Into a Small Unnamed Tributary Which Flows Into the Des Moines River. the Goal of Theproject Is to Reclaim the Project Area to Alleviate Aml Priority Features and Establish a Permanent Seeding Tostabilize the Site.the Site Design Re Establishes Pre Mining Drainage Patterns Including One Small Drainage Ways and Wetlands.according to the Project Design, Construction Will Abate All the Hazardous Abandoned Mine Land Features. Theconstruction Contract Will Clear, Re Grade and Re Vegetate Approximately 28.2 Acres Using the Hybrid Design Forreclamation. This Method Uses Conventional Reclamation With Terraces, Tiles, and Intake Risers. Then There Willbe Sections of the Project That Will Use Natural Regrade, Where the Engineer S Design Mimics Functions of Naturallandscape That Would Evolve Over Time. This Approach Reclaims Land by Designing Natural Landscape With Stabilityagainst Erosion Built Into the Site and Water Is Allowed to Travel Where It Would Travel Naturally. There Alsowill Be 1.7 Acres of Wetlands Constructed on Site to Help With the Treatment of Amd, and Sediment Control Beforeleaving the Site. the Iowa Aml Program Has Overseen More Than 53 Similar, and Successful, Reclamation and Amdremediation Projects.no Individual, Business or Political Subdivision Has Any Legal Responsibility to Reclaim the Site. Watershedcooperative Agreement Program (WCAP) Funds Will Be Matched by State and Local Funds to Complete the Mccreareclamation Project. Pathfinders Rcand D Will Work With the State of Iowa S Aml Program to Reclaim the Site. Fundswill Be Used for Earthmoving, Water and Soil Neutralization, and Seeding Activities to Eliminate the Acid Minedrainage Originating From This Site. the Total Reclamation Construction Cost Is Estimated at 730,300.00. Totalproject Costs Are Estimated at 832,763.00.UPON Completion of Reclamation, Wildlife Habitat and Recreational Opportunities Will Be Enhanced, Providingeconomic and Health Benefits to All Iowans. Reclamation Will Directly Benefit Water Quality and Soil Health Onthe Site, as Well as, Improve Water Quality and Soil Health in Adjacent Waterbodies and Fields in the County Overtime Through the Interconnectedness of the Water Cycle and Soil Systems.