For more than a decade-- 12 years to be exact-- the docks of the Gateway Clipper Fleet have been filled during the Ohio River Watershed Celebration with people enthusiastic about the exciting improvements to aquatic habitat and water quality throughout the Ohio River Watershed.

Click Here for photos from this special event.

The event was held on September 19 onboard two cruise ships, in order to provide the opportunity for both youth and adults to enjoy the rivers while learning about the initiatives to restore and sustain one of the most valuable environmental resources of the region – the Ohio River Watershed. 

On the adult cruise alone, about 280 adults mingled and heard presentations and looked at over 45 displays from local watershed groups, conservancies as well as government, business and industry highlighting how we are all “Working Together for Clean Water.”

Aboard the 3 Rivers Queen, about 250 students and parents were a part of the Imagination Cruise.  Thanks to the staff of Jennings Environmental Education Center who coordinated multiple presenters to give the more that 200 students and their parents an understanding of the importance of maintaining our watersheds.

Both the Gateway Clipper Fleet boats were at capacity.

We were also honored to have special guest speakers to welcome the crowd and to provide positive and encouraging support: Acting DEP Secretary Christopher Abruzzo; Kristin Carter, Assistant PA State Geologist; Colonel Bernard Lindstrom, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Commander Lindsay Weaver-Marcenelle, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit - Pittsburgh; and Rich Fitzgerald, Allegheny County Chief Executive. 

To celebrate the return of fish to many of our streams, a handmade ceramic fish by a local artist was presented to each of our special guest speakers.

Post Contest Winners

Each year a poster contest takes place that highlights the positive efforts and impacts of small local groups in addressing watershed issues.  Cash prizes are awarded to the watershed groups in four categories (1st place - $500; 2nd place - $250). 

This year’s winners were---

-- Most Innovative Program:  Evergreen Conservancy; Shade Creek Watershed Association;

-- Best Overall Display: Washington County Watershed Alliance; Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team;

-- Best Partnership Effort:  Westmoreland Cleanways; Crooked Creek Watershed Association; and

-- Community Education & Outreach: Paddle Without Pollution; Independence Conservancy.

Environmental Award Winners

This year’s Environmental Awards were Gary Stokum, Washington County Conservation District (government); Tom Risley, Life Cycle Engineering (business); Elizabeth Klevens, Elizabeth Klevens Mosaics (individual); and accepting the Environmental Conservation Award for Range Resources, Mike Mackin.

For an extra special treat, we all had an opportunity to view many Alternative Fuel Vehicles in the upper parking lot before proceeding to registration.  The vehicles included a Honda Civic, a Chevy Volt, and a propane van. 

In addition, Range Resources brought a new bi-fuel CNG truck.

Also on display was one of the fleet of Veterans Taxi, a relatively new company in the area which hires military veterans as drivers.  PA American Water also demonstrated their “Puddles” vehicle as well.

On the dock before sailing there was an opportunity to observe a working model of a lock-and-dam presented by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  This was a good preparation for us as we would “lock” through the Emsworth Dam. 

Fish and Boat Commission had a Stream Mat to demonstrate the fish in the streams, Westmoreland Cleanways showed us how to make paper, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Burgh Bees, DCNR Bureau of State Parks and the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation also had informative presentations.

On board, Dennis Tubbs, Fish and Boat Commission, gave the Keynote presentation - “Where Are We?” and introduced the various watershed representatives with displays and described the location of each watershed within the Ohio River Basin. 

Dennis also awarded certificates to groups attending the event for the last 10 years – these were Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team and Slippery Rock Creek Watershed Coalition. 

Also receiving awards for five years were – Cowanshannock Watershed Association, Crooked Creek Environmental Learning Center, Independence Conservancy and Shade Creek Watershed Association.

Andy McAllister, WPCAMR, had us “Thinking Outside the Box – a New Use for AMD,”  Tim Danehy, BioMost, Inc. and Bruce Leavitt, Consulting Hydrologist presented “Sustainable Watershed Technologies,” and Dr. Lutitia Clipper, Peoples Natural Gas, and Tom Risley, Life Cycle Engineering, presented “Preserving the Integrity of Our Inland Waterways.” 

We want to thank all of our presenters for their very interesting and informative talks.

We especially want to thank all of our Sponsors & Partners who so very generously donated both funding and time to make this event possible and free-of-charge to those interested in joining in the celebration.

 Sponsors and partners included: DEP Environmental Education Grant; CONSOL Energy; Range Resources; EQT Three Rivers Regatta; Foundation for PA Watersheds; Anonymous; David E. Hess, former Secretary of DEP, Seneca Resources; PA American Water; Peoples Natural Gas; Municipal Authority of West View; Weavertown Environmental Group; Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh; Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh; Dominion Foundation/ Western PA Conservancy; UPMC; Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities; American Water Works Association-SW PA Section; PA Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.; PlasTie LLC; BioMost, Inc.; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency--Wheeling Office; Southwest PA Commission; DEP SW Regional Office; Fish and Boat Commission; Jennings Environmental Education Center; Charlie Cooper; Bob & Sylvia Danehy; and Stream Restoration Inc..

The ORWC Steering Committee members are: Maggie Hall, Anne Daymut, Joe Dinkel, Ryan Falcone, Marcia Reinstadtler, Barrie Gibbs, Sylvia Danehy, Dave Plank, Amy Miller, Manny Miller, Tish Clipper, Brian Schimmel, Denny Tubbs, Barb Kushner, Diana Stares, Lauren Eckels, Sandy Egley, Sarah Koenig, Deb Storch, Mandy Smith, Miranda Crostley, Kristie Niekamp, Rick Price and Margaret Dunn.

We had a glorious day on the Ohio River!

(Written by the good folks at Stream Restoration, Inc.)

10/28/2013