Signs of Warmer Weather - Snakes and Violets. Photo: Karen Hohman

Highlighting the importance of maintaining clean waterways through responsible water management is the goal of Watershed Awareness Month in Pennsylvania, said Rep. Bill Adolph (R-Delaware), prime sponsor of House Resolution 711.

“The state’s natural water system is important to the environment and the economy,” said Rep. Adolph, Majority Chairman of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. “We need to focus more attention on how best to keep these waters clean, and emphasize opportunities to join or start a local watershed group to help with the cleanup.”

Pennsylvania has 83,000 miles of rivers and streams with eight distinct river basins, including Lake Erie, Ohio River, Genesee River, Susquehanna, Delaware, Potomac, Elk and Northeast/Gunpowder.

Rep. Adolph said more than 10,762 miles of streams and rivers in Pennsylvania are so impaired that they do not meet current water quality standards.

“The countless volunteers who form our many watershed organizations are so important in the cleanup of our rivers and streams,” said Rep. Adolph. “The hours of work these volunteers give to repair the riverbanks and maintain stream quality is vital.”

Studies have shown that local watershed groups are a cost-effective investment in environmental cleanup for the state. In fact, for every $1 invested by the state, watershed groups have matched it with $1.25 of their own funds, more than doubling the Commonwealth’s investment.

Session Schedule

The Senate returns to session on May 22 and the House has a non-voting session on May 8 and returns to regular session on June 5.

On the Hill

· On the Senate, House Agenda

· Senate/House Bills Moving/Introduced

· Toxicologist Says Women, Children Not at Increased Risk Due to Eating Fish in PA

· House Committee Hears Update on State Water Planning, Local Protection

· Joint Senate/House Agriculture Hearing on 2007 Farm Bill Issues

Other News

· CBF Names Educator of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award Winers

· Brook Trout Population Reduced in 70% of Historical Habitat in PA

· Targeted Watershed Grants Empower Partnerships in Chesapeake Bay Restoration

· State College Beneficial Water Reuse Project Wins National Award

· PUC Celebrates National Drinking Water Week, “Be Water Wise”

· Save the Date! September 21 Fifth Annual Ohio River Watershed Celebration

· Results Released for 2005 Oyster Shell-Planting Program in Delaware Estuary

· Washington County Children’s Groundwater Festival Set for May 17

· Workshop on Public Notification, Emergency Response for Water Systems Set

· ClearWater Conservancy Hosts Mother’s Day Wildflower Walk May 14

· 2nd Annual Wild Resource Festival Set for May 20

· 2006-07 Wild Resource Conservation Program Grant Applications Due June 30

· Applications Due Sept. 29 for DCNR Conservation Partnership Grants

· Deer Management Assistance Program Applications Due July 1

· Harrisburg Falcon Eggs Begin to Hatch!

· PUC Has Limited Success Reducing 129% Electric Rate Increase in Pike County

· Energy Harvest, PA Energy Development Authority Grant Applications Due July 14

· Workshops in Elk, Allegheny Counties to Help Business Owners Cut Energy Costs

· Summer Ozone Season Begins in Pennsylvania

· EPA Recognizes Health Philadelphia Organizations for Protecting the Environment

· GIS and Community Demographics Workshops in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia

· Out-of-State Waste Disposed in PA Down for 4th Year in a Row

· Hard to Recycle Collection Event in Pittsburgh May 20

· Pennsylvania NRCS Office Has New Director - Craig Derickson

See & Hear

· How You Can Protect Our Watersheds - Part I

Go To the Watershed Awareness Month Events Section

Go To: PA Environment Digest Calendar Page

5/5/2006