The steering committee for the Conewago Creek Watershed Conservation Plan has scheduled a round of meetings in November to gather public comments as part of the process to develop a draft Rivers Conservation Plan for the watershed.

The Conewago covers almost half of both Adams and York counties and includes 50 municipalities.

The meetings will be held November 8 in Biglerville, November 15 in Hanover and November 22 in Dover. (Click here for details.)

The Plan is being put together with the help of a special steering committee that includes local and county officials, watershed groups and other residents of the area to help identify resources and opportunities in the study area. The plan will not affect private property rights.

Residents are also being given the opportunity to submit their own ideas and comments on a special survey form.

The project is sponsored by Watershed Alliance of York County, Watershed Alliance of Adams County, York and Adams County Conservation Districts, York and Adams County Planning Commissions, the Greater Hanover Alliance, the Departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council is acting as the project manager.

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.

When half of the 50 municipalities in the Plan area adopt resolutions of support for the final Plan, the Conewago will be placed on the Rivers Registry maintained by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Listing on the Registry will make the area eligible for grants to implement recommendations in the Plan.

The next meeting of the Conewago steering committee will be held on October 24 in the East Berlin Community Center. A timeline of planning activities is also available online.

For more information contact Leanne Beck, Pennsylvania Environmental Council at 717-230-8044, ext. 15 or send email to: lbeck@pecpa.org .

10/14/2005