On June 16-17 community leaders from across the state gathered in Carlisle to share lessons learned from their successful 2008-09 Water Resources Education Network funded projects and to hear tips for carrying out new projects in 2009-10.

But the most important aspect of the WREN meeting is the networking and sharing that occurs when 80 passionate water educators get together.

Joining WREN Project Leaders in Carlisle were representatives from water systems actively developing source water protection programs as well as Department of Environmental Protection Source Water Protection staff from the regional offices.

The agenda featured Katherine Baer, Senior Director of American Rivers; John Hines, DEP Deputy Secretary for Water Management; Vicky Benetti from EPA Region 3's Office of Drinking Water and Source Water Protection and Brenda Barrett, Director of DCNR's Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

Other highlights included an update on Marcellus shale gas drilling and drinking water by Bryan Swistock of Penn State, how to talk about stormwater to the general public from Jeanne Clark of PennFuture. and several other speakers who are leaders in water communication.

For many water suppliers the highlight of the meeting was hearing from Dave Warne, Assistant Commissioner for the New York City water system, talking about the many projects the city has underway to protect its reservoirs in the Catskills, the headwaters of the Delaware River.

Julie Kollar, WREN Program Director put together an incredible agenda for the conference. Attendees regularly report that hearing from important players in the water education field and sharing stories with fellow water educators from across Pennsylvania is a major benefit of receiving a WREN grant.

The conference agenda and speakers' presentations will be posted on the WREN website.