The 5^th Annual Statewide Watershed Conference in Emmaus attracted over 400 people, including about 100 students, interested in learning more about how to protect their watersheds.

This year’s theme “Watersheds: the Air, Land and Water Connection” gave speakers the opportunity to show how the concept of watershed protection brings together disciplines and concerns that previously were thought of a separate.

Kathleen McGinty, Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, provided the keynote speech for the Friday session highlighting the fact that water, more than oil and other natural resources, will be the most precious commodity of the future that has the potential to cause unrest around the world.

She encouraged students at the conference to think twice about going to areas of the country that seem attractive, but their lack of water means they are being built on a false assumption that water will always be there to accommodate high growth.

McGinty predicted a “boomerang” of growth coming back to Pennsylvania as people and businesses look for water richer areas.

In addition to outlining a list of agency and Administration initiatives on water resources planning, dealing with farm related water quality issues and clean energy portfolio standards, McGinty said DEP is considering a significant reorganization of DEP’s field operations using the watershed model. This approach, she said, will eliminate the “stovepipes” of different permits and planning processes.

McGinty concluded urging conference attendees to contact their legislators and go to Harrisburg to encourage passage of Gov. Rendell’s Growing Greener II environmental spending proposals.

Speakers throughout the program talked about developing and enhancing the partnerships needed for a watershed initiative to be a success and initiatives underway with a variety of organizations to improve the sustainability of watershed groups, like through the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers and the Passing Go program by the Eastern Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation.

The Wildlands Conservancy helped host and produce the conference with the help of dozens of volunteer organizers, non-profit, governmental and business sponsors. Visit the conference webpage for more on who was behind organizing this special event.

10/1/2004