Wingfield Pines is a great place to get away, but it also serves a greater purpose.

It is located on 80-acres of the Chartiers Lake Flood Plane on the Chartiers Creek in Allegheny County.

This land has been used for many different purposes.

The first owner was a farmer until the land inevitably flooded. In the 1940’s industry arrived to strip mine. Once the coal was depleted from the land it was later turned into a swim club and then a golf course.

In 2001 the Allegheny Land Trust purchased the land.

For better and for worse, previous owners made their mark of the land. There are both natural and man-made wetlands from the golf course era. But not all of the changes were pleasant. Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) into Chartiers Creek was a big problem.

The master plan for solving the AMD crisis was created by three University of Michigan Grad Students. With the help of local environmental groups, they were able to create a unique passive treatment system.

Occupying 20-25 acres of the park, the system uses a series of ponds and gravity to filter the iron-laden mine drainage.

It takes 48 hours for the drainage to flow through the system; which eliminates 99% of iron oxide in the river.

Not only is this system innovative, but extremely effective. 43 tons of iron oxide is mitigated before flowing into the river each year.

Three Habitats: Riparian Corridor, Wetlands and Forested

Species:

Birds:

Fish:

Reptiles and Amphibians:

• American Bullfrog
• Painted Turtle
• Garter Snake
• Eastern American Toad
• Northern Water Snake
• Black Rat Snake

For more information on Wingfield Pines visit:

Allegheny Land Trust Website