Watershed
Description
The Huff Run watershed is 14.1 square miles and drains into Conotton Creek. The eastern segment of the watershed consists of gently rolling hills and broad valleys. The topography of the southwest segment is characterized by more steep, hilly terrain with slopes approaching 40% on non-mined and 70% on mined areas. The valley along the lower course of Huff Run is filled with unconsolidated sediments that are 100 feet thick in areas.
State Route 800 and State Route 542 are the two major roadways within the watershed. State Route 800 lies on the western end and runs through Mineral City, the watershed's only incorporated town. Residents within the municipal limits utilize a public water supply.
The economic base of Huff Run was agricultural until the completion of the Tuscarawas Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1854, when it shifted to industrial. By 1880, there were at least twenty mines producing Middle Kittanning (No.6) and Lower Kittaning (No.5) coal. Most of these mines were worked out and abandoned by the 1930's.
After 1950, with the availability of large earthmoving equipment, the area was surface mined, most of which was left unreclaimed. Surface operations have decreased since the 1970's and today, there are 4 active coal permits within the watershed.
Clay mines and oil & gas wells have also been extensively developed within the watershed. Lower Kittaning clay was mined underground and used in the production of bricks. Early oil & gas wells were drilled to depths of 1200 feet, into the Berea sandstone and later to depths of 5200 feet, into the Clinton sandstone. Map records indicate that there are 138 producing and 30 plugged "Clinton" wells in the Huff Run watershed.
Land Use
The historic land use was predominately agriculture, strip mining and oil & gas production.
Woodland 43.0
Cropland 15.4
Vegetative, unreclaimed mineland 15.0
Reclaimed in grass 5.8
Active mineland 4.4
Barren unreclaimed 3.9
Urban / Town 3.6
Tree Farm 0.9
Other 8.0
Almost a third of the Huff Run watershed has been affected by mining activities.
