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History

During the 150 year existence of the anthracite industry, over five billion tons of anthracite was mined from deposits underlying a relatively small surface area of Northeastern Pennsylvania. This area measured approximately 484 square miles. This area, called the Northern Anthracite Coal Field, is the largest in the nation and was exploited to supply eighty percent of the world's anthracite coal. Peak production was reached in 1917, when nearly 100 million net tons of coal was produced. In 1947, when the world turned to other fuel sources, the mines began to close, creating serious economic, social and environmental problems. These included high unemployment, social fragmentation and environmental degradation. The landscape, with its abandoned strip mines, culm piles, and industrial era cities, is a reminder of the region's contribution to American industrial development and presents challenging opportunities for urban and community forestry initiatives. Today, diversified and service related industries have replaced mining as the basis of the economy. Industrial and office parks have been built throughout the valley in hopes of attracting much-needed jobs. Historic landmarks and the natural beauty of the region, attract thousands of visitors. However, much of the lower Lackawanna and Susquehanna watersheds remain degraded from coal mining activities. Few "natural" areas in the anthracite region are representative of their original splendor. Impacts along the Lackawanna River have been particularly severe where nutrient poor, acidic culm and ballast were used to build railway corridors. These soils are incapable of supporting native plant communities that buffer and protect the river. As mines were abandoned, underground mine pools formed which fed acid mine drainage into local water sources. This drainage decimated local fish populations, stained the riverbeds orange and ravaged wetlands. Acid mine drainage, erosion, sedimentation and poor land use practices, have all contributed to the continued impairments to local water quality. Only recently has this begun to change. Strip mine sites typically have little or no topsoil to support revegetation. Large expanses of culm, a low quality coal waste material with a pH ranging from 2 to 4, contributes to metal toxicities in transplanted vegetation on such sites. The dark colored nature of bare culm-based soils; and often course texture; reduces water availability, and can cause heat girdling of regenerating saplings at the soil line, further preventing the regeneration on pioneer species indigenous to the area. Despite this, many natural areas within the anthracite region have regenerated with limited diversity and are much more healthy environments today. The thin topsoil layer developed in primarily, grey birch dominated successional communities, now hides the raw wounds of the landscape in many places. These sites provide opportunities for urban and community efforts if soils properties, plant selection and long-term care are addressed during the planning stages. Knowledge gained through past successful and unsuccessful urban and community forestry efforts, provide a much sounder basis for restoration of these sites, which, have in recent years, become much more valuable for open space, green space and recreational use. When initially funded in 1994, program representatives began working with civic leaders and partners in Northeastern Pennsylvania to identify regional challenges that urban and community forestry efforts could meet. A steering committee assumed the task of defining and establishing goals and objectives for the program. At the time of the formal signing of the NEPA UCF Appropriations Bill in December 1994, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Urban and Community Forestry Program (NEPA UCFP) had developed a Request for Proposal (RFP) that responded to issues and challenges identified by over 50 individuals representing natural resource, non-profit, planning, academic and governmental organizations throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. Today, the NEPA UCFP is recognized for its on-the-ground efforts, partnership building, and community-focused approach to community focused natural resource planning. The program is authorized to provide financial and technical assistance in helping to develop, plan and implement community forestry initiatives through the planting, protecting, and care of trees, open space, greenways, roadsides, and in parks and forested areas throughout the region.

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