In the rolling hills of Indiana County, Pennsylvania, the Aultmans Run Watershed once told a familiar story of America's industrial past.
Abandoned coal mines and refuse piles left behind bright orange streams—stained by acid mine drainage that killed fish, poisoned water, and turned a vibrant ecosystem into a barren reminder of coal extraction.
But since 2000, a dedicated group of volunteers has been rewriting that story.
Meet AWARE (Aultmans Watershed Association for Restoring the Environment), a 501(c)(3) all-volunteer organization that's proving community power can reclaim and revive what industry left behind.
AWARE's mission is straightforward yet transformative: treat mine pollution, reclaim scarred land, create outdoor recreation opportunities, and clean up community trash.
With no paid staff—just passionate locals—- they've already built three innovative treatment systems that neutralize acidic discharges from old mines, dramatically improving water quality in local streams.
Turning Scars into Trails and Forests
The past year has been a banner one for progress. Thanks to funding from the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program, AWARE is working with our partner organizations to develop a 4.5-mile recreational trail alongside abandoned mine land cleanup in McIntyre, PA.
Imagine hiking or biking through areas once dominated by waste coal piles, now transformed into welcoming green corridors.
In another groundbreaking effort, AWARE completed a 9-acre reforestation project on a former surface mine.
Using the Forestry Reclamation Approach, over 8,000 trees were planted, kickstarting a new forest where none could grow before.
And when it comes to community spirit, AWARE's annual trash cleanup exploded in scale this year.
Partnering with Summit Church, Young Township Supervisors, the Iselin/West Lebanon Fire Company, and the Coal Run/McIntyre Fire Company, more than 25 residents turned out to pick up litter in McIntyre and Coal Run—proving that environmental healing starts close to home.
A Matching Gift Opportunity
Now, AWARE is launching its first-ever fundraising campaign—and there's never been a better time to support their work.
Thanks to a generous matching donation from the GBU Foundation, every dollar you give will be doubled, up to $5,000.
That means your contribution goes twice as far toward building more treatment systems, planting more trees, expanding trails, and keeping communities clean.
Donations must be received by December 31, 2025, to qualify for the match.
It's a rare chance to make a lasting difference in a Pennsylvania watershed that's already on the path to recovery.
You can donate easily online at Aultmans Watershed - Donate or mail a check to: AWARE PO Box 27 Kent, PA 15752
As AWARE's volunteers like to say: by working together, we can continue making meaningful progress toward a cleaner, healthier environment.
In a state shaped by coal, stories like this remind us that the future can be greener—one stream, one tree, and one community cleanup at a time. Will you help write the next chapter?
Visit the Aultmans Watershed Association for Restoring the Environment website for more information.
Related Articles This Week:
-- Foundation For Pennsylvania Watersheds Awards $265,000 In Grants To Support 16 Local Watershed Restoration, Conservation Projects [PaEN]
-- Watershed Profile: Aultmans Run Watershed - From Orange Streams To Green Dreams, Healing An Abandoned Mine-Scarred Watershed In Indiana County [PaEN]
-- Stroud Water Research Center Fall Salt Snapshot Found Most Streams Still Exceeded Chloride Standards Months After Last Road Salt Was Applied [PaEN]
[Posted: December 8, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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