The article “Murrysville library program will focus on Turtle Creek’s history, recovery” (June 25, TribLIVE) stated that in the early 1970s, members of the Turtle Creek Watershed Association began working with the University of Pittsburgh and the state to make the stream more hospitable for aquatic life. An earlier Trib article noted that one of the worst mine drainages is into Brush Creek, which flows into Turtle Creek, in Irwin.
I live downstream from Irwin, and I have had a large turtle (1 foot across) come into my yard from Brush Creek to eat the fish in my pond several times. The turtle was orange from the creek. Also I have had great blue herons, mallard ducks and Canada geese come into my yard from the creek. So the association must be making some headway.
Brush Creek is doing well, but a problem with Turtle Creek is that the Army Corps of Engineers built steep cement sides for flooding stabilization, which doesn’t help wildlife but helps to prevent people’s homes from being flooded.
Susan Stiles
North Huntingdon