DRYerson Festival to focus on protecting feeder streams near Ryerson park
WIND RIDGE – Protecting the streams of Ryerson Station State Park will be the rallying cry Saturday afternoon during the 10th annual DRYerson Festival.
Getting out in nature to celebrate “our park, our streams, our future” is part of the mission by Center for Coalfield Justice, a nonprofit organization that fights for environmental injustices in Southwestern Pennsylvania and takes on industries that impact communities and natural resources.
For nine years, the festival, co-sponsored by the Sierra Club and other local environmental groups, brought the community together to pressure governing agencies to restore Duke Lake after it was drained in 2005. The lake’s dam developed cracks that the state blamed on nearby longwall mining. Restoration plans were shelved last July when it was discovered the dam area is still subsiding.
New plans to construct other water features such as fishing and paddling ponds and places for kids to splash have been discussed, along with improving the existing swimming pool and keeping the North Fork of Dunkard Fork of Wheeling Creek stocked for fishing.
But without adequate water flow, many of these ideas could be impacted, Coalfield Justice deputy director Veronica Coptis said. The park’s historic iron bridge is still a favorite place to bring the family on opening day of trout season and stand shoulder to shoulder to fish the tributary of Wheeling Creek.
“I remember catching my first fish here – a blue gill,” Coptis said as she pointed upstream from the deck of the bridge.
Just beyond the park, Poland Run, a major feeder stream, is now being undermined by the Bailey Mine expansion.
“That is a serious threat to this stream and it has me worried,” she said. “This is one of the few places that is easy for families to get to and I spent a lot of happy times here growing up. I would hate to lose it.”
Coalfield Justice Director Patrick Grenter is worried longwall mining near the streams could affect fishing opportunities.
“People interested in learning more about what they can do to help prevent this from happening, and having a good time in the process, should come to DRYerson Festival and meet those in the front lines of the fight to save our park,” he said.
Musician and activist Tom Breiding will perfrom and there will be free refreshments, games and raffles from 1 to 4 p.m.
For more information about Coalfield Justice or to volunteer at DRYerson Festival, search for the group on Facebook or visit www.coalfieldjustice.org.