EBENSBURG, Pa. -- The Conemaugh River winds its way through Cambria County for miles before flowing into waterways and watersheds to the west. It has more than 100 coal discharges from deep mines that were abandoned a long time ago. And county officials said all that acid mine drainage has really rendered the river useless. That's why they're making it a priority to clean it up.

"It wasn't that anybody did anything illegal. Most of those mines, we were fighting WWII and trying to win a war. The nation was in a crisis situation and our coal helped fuel the steel mills and construct the armaments we needed to win WWII," said Cambria County Conservation District Manager Robert Piper.

Piper said that's why the Conservation District has started the "Super 7 Strategy". They've pinpointed seven of the largest discharges, which are the source of 80 percent of the pollution, including one near Saint Michael that alone contributes 28 percent.

"These large discharges almost have to be cleaned up through active treatment, like a water treatment plant," said Piper.

Piper said it is a task that won't be easy or cheap. While Cambria County can't afford to build a water treatment plant, there is more money available now for long-term environmental improvements, so county officials are working to secure some of that funding. They said they can make changes now that will lay groundwork for the future.

"Other areas of the country are losing their water supplies, and finding their water supplies contaminated. If we take action now, we could be prepared to offer high quality of life and economic development opportunities that otherwise might not be available," said Cambria County Commissioner P.J. Stevens.

Piper said cleaning they are also hoping that after they get it cleaned up, they could bring a fishery into the Little Conemaugh wWtershed.