Public review of the Middle West Branch Susquehanna River Conservation Plan, developed by a partnership between the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy, continued this week in the last of several public meetings in Lock Haven.

The draft Plan covers Centre, Clearfield and Clinton counties and the stretch of the river from Moshannon Creek to Farrandsville on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, the “missing link” area between the Upper West Branch Rivers Conservation Plan and the Lower West Branch Rivers Conservation Plan.

The Plan was put together with the help of a special steering committee that included local and county officials, watershed groups and other residents of the area to help identify resources and opportunities in the study area.

Rivers Conservation Plans inventory the environmental, cultural and economic features of a watershed to identify problems and opportunities related to a watershed as an environmental and economic resource. The plan does not affect private property rights.

When half of the 13 municipalities in the Plan area adopt resolutions of support for the Plan, the Middle West Branch will be placed on the Rivers Registry maintained by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Listing on the Registry will also make the area eligible for grants to implement recommendations in the Plan.

Public comments are due by November 1.

Another round of public meetings is planned for January on the final plan, after recommendations and changes are considered from the initial public review.

A copy of the draft Conservation Plan is available online. For more information contact Leanne Beck, Pennsylvania Environmental Council at 717-230-8044, ext. 15 or send email to: lbeck@pecpa.org .

NewsClip: Ambitious Study of Susquehanna River Unveiled

River Plan Outlines Potential for Region

10/14/2005