History
In 1742 John Fraser (frontiersman) built a cabin along the creek. He may have been the first Anglo-American settler west of the Allegheny Mountains. Turtle Creek was named by George Washington during his travels to the Pittsburgh area during the French and Indian War. He noted in his journal of his travels a stream with a large number of turtles basking, which is the present-day Turtle Creek. Turtle Creek no longer has any turtles living in it, although cleanup efforts are underway. The coal mines in Export, Pennsylvania, had runoff from their spoil banks flow directly into Turtle Creek, thus making it too acidic to support life. Current cleanup methods include dumping large amounts of lime chips, in an effort to neutralize the pH level of the water, making it hospitable for aquatic life again.
Read more about this topic: Turtle Creek (Monongahela River)
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