FISH HABITAT & STREAMBANK STABILIZATION PROJECTS PLANNED FOR THE WATERSHED

EXISTING FISH HABITAT – TIOGA RIVER

The Tioga River begins as a small stream on Armenia Mountain in Bradford County. It flows southwesterly until it reaches the Blossburg area where it turns north, ultimately flowing into New York State where it joins the Cowanesque River to form the Chemung River. The Chemung River crosses back into Pennsylvania and joins the Susquehanna River near Sayre, PA.

As recent as the 1970’s, the Tioga River supported Class A wild brook trout populations. Today, due to pollution from Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), the Tioga River, from the confluence of the Morris Run tributary to the Tioga Hammond Dam, can no longer support aquatic life. 

In 2015, the Fall Brook AMD Treatment Plant began treating AMD polluted water from 4 separate AMD discharges on the Fall Brook tributary.  Fish are now migrating in and out of the Tioga River from the confluence of the Fall Brook tributary to the confluence of the Morris Run tributary.  The proposed Tioga River AMD Treatment Plant, scheduled to be on-line by late 2026, will treat the remaining AMD impacting the River, restoring the River all the way to the Tioga Hammond Dam.

This map, provided by the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), depicts tributaries to the Tioga River that are existing Wild Trout Designated Streams (yellow) and Class A Wild Trout Designated Streams (Green).  When the Tioga River AMD Treatment Plant begins treating water, it is expected that fish will naturally migrate in and out of these streams to repopulate the Tioga River.  As River recovery continues and bugs and other macroinvertebrates recolonize, fish will remain in the River channel and repopulate it.

Projects like the recently completed Island Park Fish Habitat/Bank Stabilization Project will be undertaken from time to time by the various partners in River restoration to improve conditions along the Tioga River corridor.

Tioga River At Island Park, Blossburg:

The fish habitat/streambank stabilization project at Island Park in Blossburg, PA has been completed.  Work took place the week of August 19, 2024.  Approximately 200 feet of riverbank was involved in the project which took about one week to construct.  Renee Carey – Executive Director – Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy (NPC) headed up the project which was designed by Trout Unlimited and constructed under the direction of the Tioga County Conservation District.

Funding for this project was provided by donations from:

Tioga County Concerned Citizens Committee (TCCCC)

Hillside Rod & Gun Club

Tiadaghton Chapter of Trout Unlimited (TU)

Williamson Road Foundation

American Legion Post 167

William B Wilson American Legion Post 572

Tioga County Woodland owners Association (TCWOA)

Several private individuals

BHE GT&S through a program administered by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy