PENNSYLVANIA AML & AMD NETWORK
AML-Connect
A Complete Platform Guide
Knowledge Base · Resources & Media · Community · Forums · Working Groups
aml-connect.org · Operated by EPCAMR
OVERVIEW
What is AML-Connect?
AML-Connect is the shared knowledge and coordination platform for Pennsylvania's abandoned mine land and acid mine drainage community.
1
Preserves institutional knowledge
Structured guides, procedures, and reference articles that stay accessible when people move on.
2
Connects practitioners statewide
Forums, working groups, and a member directory linking watershed organizations, agencies, and partners.
3
Makes resources findable
A curated library of reports, templates, fact sheets, and datasets — reviewed and linked to KB articles.
5,600+
stream miles impaired
by acid mine drainage in PA
220,000+
acres of abandoned
surface mine land
$11.3B
federal AML investment
authorized through 2036
500+
PA AML/AMD organizations
in the network directory
THE PROBLEM
Why this platform exists
"The best knowledge in this field doesn't always live in a document — it lives in the experience of the practitioner who has been maintaining the same treatment system for fifteen years, or the watershed coordinator who knows exactly which DEP contact to call."
Knowledge walks out the door
Staff and volunteers turn over. Without a shared system, institutional knowledge disappears with them.
Resources are scattered
Reports, templates, and monitoring data live in email threads, shared drives, and individual computers.
The network is invisible
Organizations working on the same problems across PA often don't know each other exist.
SITE STRUCTURE
Three content sections, one community layer
KNOWLEDGE BASE
"How do I do this?"
Written guides, procedures, explainers, and reference articles organized by topic. Read on the site — no download needed. Publicly accessible, no account required.
RESOURCES & MEDIA
"What materials are available?"
A tracked library of reports, templates, fact sheets, datasets, photos, videos, and maps. Download, view, and use. Linked to relevant KB articles.
COMMUNITY
"Who can answer this?"
Forums, working groups, member directory, and activity feed. Post questions, share knowledge, coordinate with others. Registration required — free.
Public access (no account): Knowledge Base, Resources, and Media are fully visible to anyone. Account required: Forums, working groups, member profiles, and contribution workflows.
NAVIGATION
Getting around AML-Connect
AML-Connect.org
About
Community ▾
AML Knowledge Base
Resources
Media
News
Contact
Community menu
Forums, Groups, Members, Activity — all here
AML Knowledge Base
The primary content hub — all categories, search
Resources
Reports, templates, datasets, fact sheets
Media
Photos, videos, maps, presentations
Tip: The KB, Resources, and Media sections are fully accessible without an account. Use Community → to access forums, groups, and the member directory once you have registered.
SECTION 1
Knowledge Base
The written record
of PA AML/AMD practice.
How to find, read, and navigate the Knowledge Base
KNOWLEDGE BASE
What the KB is — and what it is not
The KB IS:
✓
Written guides, procedures, and explainers — meant to be read on the site
✓
Searchable across all article titles and content
✓
Organized into 8 categories with recommended reading sequences
✓
Publicly accessible — no account, no login required
✓
Cross-referenced with Resources, Media, and relevant forum threads
✓
A living document — updated as knowledge grows
The KB is NOT:
✕
A file download library — that is Resources & Media
✕
A regulatory database or legal guidance system
✕
A place for time-sensitive announcements — that is News
✕
A Q&A forum — post questions in the forums; answers may later become KB articles
✕
A replacement for hands-on technical assistance
KNOWLEDGE BASE
The eight categories
1
AML and AMD Basics
What AML and AMD are, how they form, environmental and community impacts. Start here if you are new to the field.
2
Watershed Tools and Methods
Watershed assessment, water quality monitoring, biological and physical sampling, field procedures. Largest category.
3
AML Reclamation & AMD Treatment
Passive and active treatment systems, O&M guides, land reclamation, neutralizing acid, removing metals.
4
Organizational Development
Building and sustaining watershed organizations. Nonprofit structure, funding sources, capacity, admin templates.
5
Policy and Governance
PA AML/AMD funding programs, legislative context, IIJA investment, perpetuity and set-aside programs.
6
Environmental Education
Training programs, educational resources, outreach approaches, nature and education centers.
7
Community Development
Community engagement, watershed partnerships, public involvement strategies.
8
AML Network
The PA AML/AMD network — key organizations, how to find help, WPCAMR, POWR, DEP, OSMRE.
KNOWLEDGE BASE
Inside a category — how to navigate
NAVIGATION SIDEBAR
▸ Using AML Connect
▸ AML and AMD Basics
Start Here ← you are here
What is AMD?
How AMD is Formed
Impacts of AMD
▸ Watershed Tools
▸ Org Development
▸ Policy & Governance
AML AND AMD BASICS — START HERE
Table of Contents
Recommended Reading Order
Related Resources
Questions? Ask in the Forums
Abandoned mine land and acid mine drainage are two of Pennsylvania's most persistent environmental challenges — and two of the most misunderstood. This category covers the foundations: what AML and AMD are, how they form, what they do to streams and communities, and why they matter.
Recommended Reading Order
1. What is AMD?
2. How AMD is Formed
3. Impacts of AMD
4. AML Basics
aml-connect.org/aml-knowledge-base/aml-and-amd-basics-hub/
KNOWLEDGE BASE
Inside an article — anatomy of a KB page
Home › AML Knowledge Base › AML and AMD Basics › What is AMD?
WHAT IS AMD?
2 min read
Table of Contents
What is AMD?
The Four Components of AMD
Low pH (High Acidity)
High Metal Concentrations
Elevated Sulfate
Related Pages
Source & Last Reviewed
Summary
Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) is water contaminated by contact with the physical environment created by past coal mining. It is Pennsylvania's single largest source of nonpoint source water pollution and is characterized by four main components: high acidity, elevated metal concentrations, elevated sulfate levels, and excessive suspended solids.
Sections
H2/H3 headings break the article into scannable chunks
Related Pages
Links to prerequisite and next-step articles at the bottom
Source + Date
"Source and Last Reviewed" note on every article for provenance
Crosslinks
Links to relevant Resources, Media, and Forum threads inline
KNOWLEDGE BASE
Finding what you need — search and browse
Search...
SEARCH
All ▾
Search Tips
Use plain language terms
"passive treatment" not "SAPS" if you don't know the acronym
Try broader terms first
"monitoring" before "macroinvertebrate sampling protocol"
Browse if search misses
Each category has a Start Here page — use it as your map
Use "All Categories"
Or filter to a specific category if you know where to look
Related Pages help
Every article links to related articles — follow the thread
Popular Docs — where to start
→ Financial Assistance
→ AMD Treatment Overview
→ Neutralizing Acid Overview
→ Assessing the Watershed Hub
→ Mapping Your Watershed
→ Organize a Watershed Partnership
→ Funding Sources
→ The Watershed Approach
SECTION 2
Resources & Media
Curated materials
ready to use.
Reports, templates, fact sheets, datasets, photos, videos, maps
RESOURCES
The Resource Library — what it contains
AML-Connect Resource Library
Curated reports, datasets, templates, fact sheets, and reference materials that support abandoned mine land restoration and AMD work across Pennsylvania.
BROWSE BY CATEGORY
⚖️ Policy, Funding & Governance
⚙️ AMD Treatment & O&M
🌊 Watershed Assessment
🤝 Network & Education
📋 Templates, Tools & Data
📣 Outreach & Orientation
PA DEP 2026 AML/AMD Grant Program Guidance
Comprehensive PA grant guidance covering eligibility, scoring criteria, risk matrix for passive treatment systems, IPC requirements, and AMDTreat report requirement.
Guide
Open →
O&M Fact Sheet — Anoxic Limestone Drain (ALD)
One-page O&M fact sheet for Anoxic Limestone Drains. Covers system purpose, routine inspection tasks, warning signs, who to call, and recordkeeping.
Fact Sheet
Open →
AMDTreat 6.0 Beta Software
Cost estimation and sizing tool for AMD passive and active treatment systems. Required by PA DEP AML/AMD Grant Program.
Tool
Open →
Share a Resource →
MEDIA LIBRARY
The Media Library — visual and multimedia content
AML-Connect Media Library
Photos, videos, presentations, maps, and data tools related to AML and AMD work in Pennsylvania.
🗺️
Data Hub & Maps
PA AML & AMD Inventory Dashboard, EPCAMR Regional Indicators App, e-AMLIS, SRBC Mine Drainage Portal, Datashed
🎥
Videos
Training videos, recorded sessions, field documentation, and AMD system walkthroughs
📊
Training & Presentations
Workshop slide decks, conference presentations, AMR Conference archives 2011–2025
📍
Maps & GIS
Site maps, watershed maps, GIS layers, and spatial data visualizations
📸
Photo Collections
Site photos, treatment system photos, event documentation, AMD and Art program imagery
THE KNOWLEDGE CONTINUUM
How KB, Resources, and Media work together
📖
KNOWLEDGE BASE
"How do I do this?"
Written articles — read on the site. Procedures, guides, explainers, and policy context.
→ Organized by topic and category
→ Searchable across all articles
→ Cross-references Resources and Media
→ Publicly accessible
📁
RESOURCES & MEDIA
"What can I download or use?"
Files and tracked materials. Reports, templates, fact sheets, photos, videos, and datasets.
→ Categorized and reviewed
→ Linked from relevant KB articles
→ Submitted through intake form
→ Submit your own via /submit-resource/
💬
COMMUNITY
"Who knows the answer?"
Discussions that become documentation. Forum answers that get promoted back into the KB.
→ Post questions in 8 forum boards
→ Strong answers become KB articles
→ Documents shared go to Resources
→ The platform improves with every exchange
links to →
feeds back into →
SECTION 3
Community
Where the network
connects, asks, and shares.
Registration, profiles, forums, working groups, member directory
COMMUNITY
Creating your account and setting up your profile
Registering (2 minutes)
1
Visit /register/
Create an account with your name, email, and password. Open to anyone working on PA AML/AMD issues.
2
Check your email
Look for an activation email. Click the activation link to confirm your account.
3
Log in
Use your email and password at /login/ to access your account.
4
Complete your profile
Add organization, role, region, and network segment. Helps others find you.
aml-connect.org/register/
Your Member Profile
Name and Organization
Who you are and where you work — how others will find you in the directory
Network Segment
Choose: Practitioner, Agency Staff, Technical Provider, Community Leader, Educator, Researcher, Funder, or General Public
Region or Watershed
Helps members find you geographically. Your county or watershed name works.
Bio / Description
A brief note about your work, systems you manage, or areas of interest
Profile Photo
Optional — helps connect a name to a face in forums and the directory
Why it matters: A complete profile makes the member directory genuinely useful. The more context you add, the more likely someone looking for expertise in your watershed or system type will find you.
COMMUNITY — FORUMS
The eight discussion forum boards
Announcements
Platform news, resource additions, KB updates, and event notices. Read-only — replies go in General Discussion or Site Feedback.
read-only
General Discussion
Questions, observations, and conversations that don't fit a specific board. If you're not sure where to post, start here. Introductions welcome.
Monitoring and Methods
Water quality monitoring, biological and physical assessment, sampling protocols, field equipment, and data interpretation for AMD-affected streams.
Treatment and Reclamation
Passive and active AMD treatment design, operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting. ALDs, wetlands, SAPS, settling ponds, limestone channels, land reclamation.
Programs and Funding
PA DEP AML/AMD Grant Program, DCED AMDATP, OSMRE AMLER, WPCAMR FACTS, Foundation for PA Watersheds, and other funding opportunities.
Technical Help
Specific problems needing direct assistance. Treatment troubleshooting, data tools like Datashed or AMDTreat. Admin aims to respond within 48–72 hours.
Capacity and Admin Support
Organizational development, admin templates, grant writing, nonprofit management, and shared services questions.
Site Feedback
Suggestions, bug reports, and questions about AML-Connect itself. Post what's broken, missing, or confusing. Platform priorities discussed here.
COMMUNITY — FORUMS
How to post an effective question
Four elements of a good forum post
1
A clear, specific title
Describes the actual problem. "ALD performance dropping in winter — increased acidity at outflow" not "Help with my treatment system"
2
Context
Your watershed, system type, site situation. How long has this been happening? What changed recently?
3
What you've already tried
What you've looked at, who you've asked, what you've found in the KB. Shows you've done the groundwork.
4
Your specific ask
What you actually need. A recommendation? A contact? A method? A second opinion? Be explicit.
✕ Weak title
"Help with my treatment system"
✓ Strong title
"ALD performance dropping in winter — increased acidity at outflow"
How forum knowledge grows the platform
→ You post a specific, well-framed question
→ The network responds with experience and context
→ Admin identifies threads with stable, reusable guidance
→ That guidance becomes a KB article — accessible to everyone
→ Future users find the answer without having to ask
COMMUNITY — WORKING GROUPS
Working groups — focused coordination spaces
What a working group is
Working groups are focused coordination spaces for practitioners working on shared topics. Each group has a charter, dedicated discussion threads, and a defined purpose that connects back to the rest of the platform.
Unlike forums — which are open Q&A — working groups are for sustained coordination on specific shared problems.
How to join
Go to Community → Working Groups. Browse available groups. Click Join on any public group. Private groups require an invitation from the group steward or admin.
What happens in a group
→ Share documents → they go into Resources
→ Produce a report → enters the Resource Library
→ Develop a protocol → becomes a KB article
→ Record a meeting → goes to Media Library
aml-connect.org/groups/
Possible working groups
Core Visioning Cohort
Private
Founding partners and core network organizations shaping AML-Connect's direction during the launch phase.
Monitoring and Data Working Group
Public
Volunteer monitors, conservation district staff, and assessment practitioners sharing field methods and monitoring data.
Treatment and O&M Working Group
Public
Practitioners maintaining passive AMD treatment systems — O&M experience, troubleshooting, and lessons learned.
Programs and Funding Coordination
Public
Grant writers and program managers sharing updates on PA AML/AMD funding programs, deadlines, and application guidance.
COMMUNITY
Member directory and activity feed
Member Directory
The member directory lists all registered members of AML-Connect. Browse and find practitioners across the PA AML/AMD network.
What you can do
→ Find practitioners working in your region or watershed
→ Identify conservation district contacts and agency staff statewide
→ Connect with others managing similar treatment systems
→ Browse by name, organization, or last active date
→ Follow members whose contributions you want to track
→ Send a direct message to any member
aml-connect.org/members/
Activity Feed
The activity feed is a live stream of what's happening across AML-Connect — the fastest way to see what the network is working on and where the active conversations are.
What appears in the feed
New forum posts and replies
See questions being asked across all boards
Group updates and activity
Working group discussions and outputs
New member joins
Who has recently registered on the platform
Resource and media contributions
New materials added to the library
Profile updates and connections
Network members connecting with each other
aml-connect.org/activity/
SECTION 4
Contributing
Sharing what
your organization knows.
How to submit resources, media, and contribute to the platform
CONTRIBUTING
Submitting resources and media — one form, two destinations
All submissions — resources and media alike — use the same intake form at /submit-resource/
Admin routes to the correct section based on what you submit. If you're not sure which section your material belongs in, submit it and note what type of file it is — admin will handle the rest.
Resources
"What reference material would someone download and use in their work?"
Reports, datasets, templates, fact sheets, grant guides, checklists, and reference documents with a source, date, and purpose.
Examples:
PA DEP grant guidance · O&M fact sheets · watershed assessment templates · admin templates · OSMRE technical guides · monitoring protocols
Media
"What reference material would someone download and use in their work?"
Photos, videos, audio recordings, presentation decks, maps, diagrams, and downloadable visual documents primarily meant to be viewed or displayed.
Examples:
Site photos · treatment system photos · training videos · maps · AMR Conference presentation slides · EPCAMR outreach materials
aml-connect.org/submit-resource/
CONTRIBUTING
What makes a valuable submission — and what happens after
Characteristics of a valuable resource
✓
Clearly titled
The title immediately tells a reader what it is and what it covers.
✓
Named source
From a named organization, agency, or author. Provenance matters.
✓
Current
Within the last five years unless it's a historical reference. Older materials should be noted as such.
✓
PA AML/AMD relevant
Directly applicable to practice in Pennsylvania — not just general watershed content.
✓
Most wanted
O&M guides · monitoring protocols · grant documentation · fact sheets · assessment templates
What happens after you submit
1
Admin reviews within the weekly maintenance cycle
2
Determines whether it goes to Resources or Media section
3
Renames the file to site naming conventions
4
Enters it in the resource database with full metadata
5
Uploads and verifies the file link or URL
6
Crosslinks it from relevant Knowledge Base articles
7
Notifies you when it's published and live
Questions about a submission? Post in the Capacity and Admin Support forum, or email info@aml-connect.org directly. Response time: within 48–72 hours.
SECTION 5
Getting Help
Every question
has a defined destination.
Where to go for different types of help on AML-Connect
GETTING HELP
Where to go — a routing guide
Technical AML/AMD question
(treatment, monitoring, reclamation)
→
Post in the correct forum board
Monitoring and Methods · Treatment and Reclamation · Technical Help · Programs and Funding
aml-connect.org/forums/
Organizational help
(grants, budgets, nonprofit admin, reporting)
→
Get Help page + intake form
Submit a description of what you need. Admin triages and connects you to the right resource or support.
Capacity and Admin Support forum
Platform question or bug
(something broken, confusing, or missing)
→
Site Feedback forum or email
Post in Site Feedback at /forums/site-feedback/ or email info@aml-connect.org. We aim to respond within 48–72 hours.
info@aml-connect.org
Looking for a specific resource,
template, or fact sheet
→
Resource Library — Browse by Category
Use the category sidebar at /resources/ to filter by topic. Submit a resource if you have something that belongs.
aml-connect.org/resources/
YOUR FIRST STEPS
Getting started on AML-Connect
1
Register and activate your account
aml-connect.org/register/ — two minutes. Check your email for the activation link.
aml-connect.org/register/
2
Complete your member profile
Add your organization, role, region, and network segment. Edit at any time from your account menu.
Your profile — upper right menu
3
Browse the Knowledge Base in your area
Start at /aml-knowledge-base/ and choose the category most relevant to your work. Use the Start Here page for each category.
aml-connect.org/aml-knowledge-base/
4
Explore the Resource Library
Browse by category at /resources/. Download anything useful. If you have a document that belongs here, submit it.
aml-connect.org/resources/
5
Post in a forum or introduce yourself
Go to General Discussion and introduce yourself — your organization, watershed, and what brings you here.
aml-connect.org/forums/
6
Join a working group
If there's a group that matches your work — monitoring, treatment O&M, or programs — join it at /groups/.
aml-connect.org/groups/
AML-Connect Quick Reference
aml-connect.org · info@aml-connect.org · @amlconnect on Bluesky and X · Operated by EPCAMR
Knowledge Base
/aml-knowledge-base/
· 8 topic categories
· Search across all articles
· Start Here pages in every category
· No account required
Resources
/resources/
· Browse by category
· Download reports, templates, fact sheets
· Submit your own via /submit-resource/
· Linked to KB articles
Media
/media/
· Data Hub & Maps — live dashboards
· Videos and training materials
· Photos and presentations
· Submit via /submit-resource/
Forums
/forums/
· 8 topic boards
· Post questions, get answers
· Admin responds within 48–72 hours
· Good answers become KB articles
Working Groups
/groups/
· Join public groups at /groups/
· Coordination spaces with charters
· Group outputs go into Resources/KB
· Private groups by invitation
Member Directory
/members/
· Browse registered members
· Find by region or watershed
· Direct messaging available
· Complete your profile to be found
Questions or feedback? Post in the Site Feedback forum at aml-connect.org/forums/ · Email: info@aml-connect.org