Huff Run

Huff Run flows from the Morges community in Carroll County, into Tuscarawas County and has its confluence in the Conotton Creek just South of Mineral City, Ohio. Huff Run is 9.9 miles long with a 14.1 square mile watershed. Almost all land east of State Route 542 (about 2/3 of the watershed) has been mined for coal and some limestone and clay. Because much of the land mined was not reclaimed, the watershed is plagued with the resulting acid mine drainage. Other pollution issues in the watershed include illegal dumping, poor riparian buffers, raw sewage entering the stream, oil and gas impacts and agricultural impacts.

The Huff Run Watershed Restoration Partnership Inc. (HRWRP) was founded in 1996 by a group of concerned citizens. The HRWRP has partnered with ODNR/MRM, Rural Action, OEPA, Crossroads RC&D, OSM and others to fulfill their mission statement which is "To restore the Huff Run watershed by improving water quality and enhancing wildlife habitat, through community support and involvement."

The Farr Anoxic Limestone Drain, the first passive treatment system in the watershed, was constructed in 2000. Huff Run can also boast of building the first bioremediation system in Ohio with their Linden Restoration Project. They were also awarded a USEPA Targeted Watershed Grant in 2005 for their Belden Successive Alkaline Producing System. At their 10 year anniversary, seven restoration projects have been completed with funding obtained for five more.

To learn more about the HRWRP, visit their website at www.huffrun.org or call 330-859-1050 to reach their office.