The Pennsylvania Environmental Council announced the winners of the Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards Program which were included in the May 30 Digest. But, the finalists selected in that program also deserve recognition for their good work. Here are the last three finalists for your consideration.

The Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and Dominion, celebrate the achievements of nonprofit organizations, businesses, schools, individuals, governments, and community groups that have made significant environmental contributions in the western Pennsylvania region.

An Ecological and Physical Investigation of Pittsburgh Hillsides

Allegheny County

The Hillsides Report is a comprehensive study of the City of Pittsburgh’s wooded steep slopes and is the result of the combined work of the Allegheny Land Trust, Perkins Eastman Architects, and Three Rivers Second Nature. The Report includes research on the economic benefits of urban green space, a summary of ecological functions of urban green space, legal considerations associated with legislating land use, and an analysis of Pittsburgh’s unique aesthetics and urban form.

The Report is a tool box with a variety of strategies and recommendations that City Planning and Council can consider to protect Pittsburgh’s hillsides. It suggests changes to ordinances, creating new partnerships, promoting a new ethic that treats undeveloped green space as the highest and best use, and an acknowledgement that the City has a unique urban pattern among hillside cities. The Report’s recommendations, if adopted, could lead to: protection of green space, a new corps of community volunteer land stewards, protection of wildlife habitat and water quality, and stable or improved property values.

Millbrook Marsh Nature Center, Centre County

The Millbrook Marsh Nature Center in State College sits on a 62-acre site that has been conserved through the collaborative efforts of the ClearWater Conservancy, local governments, and community organizations. Because Millbrook Marsh is a “highly significant” ecosystem, it is an ideal site for the Nature Center, which hosts numerous educational activities for the community and local schools.

Field trips to the Nature Center meet the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology, thus helping local schools meet their goals and expose children to hands-on programming. Other programs for children include Marsh Mondays, Cattail Thursday Theatre, Knee High Naturalists, Wonderful Wetlands Camp, and Fly Fishing Camp. By hosting thousands of visitors each year, the Nature Center is educating the public about the importance of the Millbrook Marsh ecosystem.

Shaver’s Creek Watershed Study

Juniata Valley School District & Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center

Shaver’s Creek Watershed, encompassing 63-square miles in northern Huntingdon County, suffers from two major impacts: thermal pollution and sediment load from agricultural practices. In order to study the watershed more thoroughly, the Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center and the Juniata Valley Elementary School partnered to conduct the Shaver’s Creek Watershed Study. The study followed two main tracts: research of the past, present, and future of the watershed, and establishment of the school-community-watershed connection.

Because there is inherent value in connecting education, the community, and the environment, and because students tend to learn better if their education is relevant, applied, and dynamic, students were asked to participate in the study by conducting water quality tests and studying watershed characteristics. By interacting with their environment and learning more about the place in which they live, students are more likely to become involved in caring for those places now and in the future.

For a complete listing of all of this year’s finalists for the Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards, download a copy of the Finalists Booklet (PDF).

7/8/2005