MORRIS - After years of being considered "lifeless" because of acid mine drainage pollution from abandoned coal mines, Babb Creek may be taken off the endangered streams list, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. In celebration of that, a special event hosted by Trout Unlimited and the Babb Creek Watershed Association and others is set for Saturday.
The stream's nearly 20-year recovery began with a single limestone diversion well at Lick Creek, which received discharges from several abandoned deep mines just south of Arnot, and now has seen more than $4 million from Antrim Mining, which ceased mining operations in 1990.
The Saturday event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 9 a.m. at Alumni Hall, Room 307, on the campus of Mansfield University, with a welcome by Trout Unlimited National, spokesman Rebecca Dunlap said.
"Trout Unlimited National has been hosting abandoned mine drainage tours this summer and the Babb Creek is number four of six," Dunlap said.
Following the welcome, there will be a brief presentation about what acid mine drainage is and then Dr. Bob Ross, secretary of the Babb Creek Watershed Association, will talk about the history of mining and how it came to pollute Babb Creek, Dunlap said.
After the education session, attendees will be taken by bus to a picnic luncheon at Nessmuk Lake. Afterward, they will receive a tour of passive and active treatment systems used in the restoration of the watershed, Dunlap said.
"The passive treatment system at Babb Creek has been one of the largest passive treatment systems, using limestone and compost. There also is an active system in Antrim, which is an actual chemical plant that adds lime to the water," she said.
A ribbon cutting and awards ceremony creek side at 3 p.m. will cap off the day's events.
One bus, which holds 50 people, will be available for those interested in attending the all-day event, which ends at 4 p.m. at the university, so it is important to call 748-4901 to register, Dunlap said.
For more information, visit www.wbsrc.com/babbcelebration.html.
