The final Conservation and Management Plan for the Beaver River in Beaver and Lawrence counties was released this week by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.

In 2004, PEC received funding from DCNR to complete a Rivers Conservation Plan for the Beaver River corridor.Comments from public meetings and an Advisory Committee were used to develop recommendations in the Plan.

The project had several goals--

-- To evaluate the potential development impacts of existing community zoning ordinances;

-- To assess the relationship of historical flooding patterns and development patterns; and

-- To outline a broad range of project and policy recommendations for County, regional, and local governing bodies as well as other community stakeholders to implement and effectively manage future conservation efforts.

The plan includes a variety of recommendations--cleaning up illegal dumpsites along the river, promoting development within existing infrastructure service areas, and creating safe river access locations.

The plan, created as part of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Rivers Conservation Program, addresses local and regional conditions and concerns about the river while embracing a variety of conservation initiatives.

Assessments of the area's sensitive natural resources, land use, and infrastructure patterns, historical flooding, and public policies form the basis of the plan. From this information, a range of projects and policies are outlined for regional stakeholders.

In addition to the two counties, 27 municipalities have jurisdiction within the Beaver River corridor study area.

A copy of the plan is available online.

10/10/2008