TORBERT - The scenic Pine Creek Valley is heating up, and it's not just because of warmer weather.
Gas exploration in the Marcellus Shale is ramping up in the valley, with three water withdrawal projects either underway or soon to begin, increased truck traffic and plans by a company to site offices and water-transfer operations.
Earlier this week, a gas exploration company seeking to withdraw water from the high quality trout stream to hydraulically fracture natural gas well sites voluntarily shut down construction of a coffer dam on the waterway in Watson Township after residents complained about the obstruction, sediment and other issues.
However, the work will now resume.
Pennsylvania General Energy Co., a privately-held company based in Warren, Pa., built what it says is a temporary coffer dam on Pine Creek - classified by Pennsylvania as a high-quality trout stream and known nationally as a fishing destination - to install water pumping equipment at the David Poust property off of state Route 44.Read More
