Independence Conservancy has launched an all-new website highlighting its stewardship of the Raccoon Creek Watershed in Western Pennsylvania.  The website also offers the public a new opportunity to review and comment on the Raccoon Creek Watershed Conservation Plan.

Executive Director Vicki Michaels urges visitors to participate in the Raccoon Creek Watershed Conservation Plan, the latest partnership effort between the Conservancy and Raccoon Creek Watershed Association.

“Our goal is to develop a vision for the future of the watershed based on what people value the most about the places they live, work or play. How can we balance the economic benefits of new industries while preserving the green and quiet that makes Raccoon Creek so special?” said Michaels. 

Residents can share their input by taking the Citizen Survey.

Plan organizers are hosting a series of public informational meetings throughout the Raccoon Creek Watershed. All begin at 7:00 p.m., and feature light refreshments:

-- July 23 at the Cross Creek Township Building on Clark Avenue north of Avella in Washington County;

-- July 25 at the Raccoon Township Municipal Building on Route 18 in Beaver County; and

-- July 30 at the Pepsi Road House on Route 18 near First Niagara Pavilion in Washington County.

The Raccoon Creek Watershed Plan is a non-regulatory document intended to develop strategies for State Water Plan 20D to balance the interests of agriculture, industry, housing, recreation, resource extraction and conservation by compiling a concise, easily-read and useful repository of the region’s natural, historic, cultural and recreational assets while emphasizing opportunities for economic growth.

Margaret Dunn of Stream Restoration, Inc., called Independence’s new website “…the absolute best watershed/conservation organization website I have ever seen. It’s engaging, entertaining, educational and beautiful. Extremely well-done!”

Thanks to the creative vision of the designers at OpenArc LLC in Beaver, PA, the site tells Independence’s story in two different formats – a page-based layout for desktop viewers, and a scrolling tour through a virtual Raccoon Creek Watershed, a trip best taken on hand-held devices.

Both layouts use responsive web design to adapt automatically to the size of the viewer’s screen.

What Your Bucks Can Buy is executive director Vicky Michaels’ favorite feature on the new site. “A lot of what we do isn’t very flashy. It’s dirty, nasty, behind-the-scenes work that benefits everyone, but its costs are not well understood. What Your Bucks Can Buy puts the value of donations on human terms. We literally show you how we can put ten dollars to work, or ten thousand, to clean up Raccoon Creek.”

Strong partnerships have always been a key to Independence Conservancy’s work. The new website features a special section devoted to the Raccoon Creek Watershed Association, and provides links to other watershed/outdoor/conservation organizations active in Beaver, Washington and Allegheny Counties.

The Plan is funded by an $89,900 grant from the Department of Conservation & Natural Resources with $15,000 in matching support from the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds.

Development of the Plan is a cooperative effort between the Washington County Conservation District, Independence Conservancy, BioMost and the Raccoon Creek Watershed Association with support from the planning commissions and conservation districts in Beaver, Washington and Allegheny Counties.

7/22/2013