THE SPRING CREEK WATERSHED ATLAS

“Bellefonte is now a great railroad center, and trains are arriving and departing continually, connections being made in all directions.” So proclaimed the Democratic Watchman, one of the community’s weekly papers, in its September 9, 1885, edition. The Watchman noted that two trains running the length of the Bald Eagle Valley in each direction made daily stops in Bellefonte, as did two trains that made round trips from Lewisburg via Penns Valley and Lemont. A train originating at Snow Shoe, on...

There is a rich collection of historic houses in the Spring Creek Watershed, some of them more than 200 years old.  They range from individual properties located on or near Spring Creek or its tributaries to those included in the historic villages and towns that evolved from original small settlements.  They are significant through their architecture and through the role they played in the settlement and development of the Watershed, so significant that they have been recognized and included in...

The early economy of central Pennsylvania was closely tied to harnessing flowing water to power mills and forges. Gristmills, the focus of this report, use millstones to grind grain into flour that fed the people settling the Spring Creek Watershed. Even though the early industries, including flour milling, were very important to Centre County's inhabitants, little information about them remains. Perhaps these mills were taken for granted as they were replaced by more modern technology, and pass...

Water Demand

Water is essential to life as we know it.  We can survive for weeks without food, but for just a few days without water. 

         Municipal water providers, even in communities as small as a few thousand inhabitants, deliver potable water to our homes for just a few dollars per thousand gallons.  Because it is inexpensive and seems abundant, we are profligate in its use.   A typical Pennsylvania family consumes between 50 and 60 gallons of water per person each day. (In State Co...

The Pennsylvania State University owns and operates a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) that is located at 501 University Drive in State College Borough, Centre County.  Penn State’s WWTP has been in operation since the early 1900’s, and provides sanitary sewer service to a majority of the University Park Campus and a small portion of the State College Borough in the College Heights District.  Map 1 shows the current Sewer Service Area for the Penn State WWTP. 

Map 1. Sewer Service Area...

This article is in preparation. 

This map shows the location of the Ridge Overlay Zone that protects source-water on Tussey Mountain in Ferguson Township.  This source water is ultimately pumped from the Thomas and Harter Well Fields of the State College Borough Water Authority.