On July 29, the Water Center at Penn hosted an online discussion between the Ohio River Basin Alliance and Southwestern Pennsylvania stakeholders to talk about the many challenges faced in the Ohio River Watershed, including abandoned mine drainage, legacy pollutants and contaminants, invasive species, habitat destruction, and climate change.

Pennsylvania is the headwaters to the Ohio River whose watershed covers about one-third of the state in Western Pennsylvania, including all or part of 23 counties and 3.5 million people.

The Ohio River is formed at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers at the Point in Pittsburgh.  The other major headwaters tributaries in Pennsylvania include the Beaver River; Clarion River; Conemaugh River; French Creek; and the Youghiogheny River.

Speakers during the July 29 discussion emphasized that the coming together of so many groups to jointly address these challenges is a once-in-a-generation opportunity that must not be missed.

Dr. Harry Stone, the Vice-Chairperson of ORBA, and Jordan Lubetkin, Director of Communications for the National Wildlife Federation and ORBA Healthy and Productive Ecosystems Working Group Lead, led the conversation.

“We know the problems, and now we have the solutions; all that is left is to implement them,” said Dr. Stone.

As an example, Jordan Lubetkin spoke to the need for healthy and productive ecosystems in the Ohio River Basin.

ORBA aims to have completed an Ohio River Ecosystem Restoration Plan by 2022. This will be a visionary and bold science-based and equity-focused restoration plan; any real solution must be grounded in both science and principles of equity and justice.

This is not just about the health of the river, but also the surrounding communities. He put forth the example of water affordability, which has become a serious challenge both in the Ohio River Basin and nationwide.

Click Here to watch the discussion on-demand.

Water Quantity

The Department of Environmental Protection is also at the beginning of the process for updating the State Water Plan to deal with issues of water supply in the Ohio River and other watersheds across the state.  Read more here.

A Call to Action - Get Involved!

In order to successfully implement the plan, ORBA will need significant regional support from hundreds, if not thousands, of partners.

However, it is not only the sheer number of partners which will be important; equally important is representation of all groups in the community, especially historically marginalized communities such as tribal groups, communities of color, and economically disadvantaged groups.

ORBA is actively seeking new members and partnerships in the region. Membership is free and open to all.

For more information or to get involved, please view the following resources:

-- Sign up for ORBA Updates

-- Join the advocacy coalition by emailing: Lubetkin@nwf.org

-- Volunteer for a work group by emailing: Csomerville@orsanco.org

-- Sign up to participate in the Virtual ORBA/ORBE Summit and Symposium Sept. 30 - Oct. 2

What is ORBA?

In 2009, an Ohio River Basin summit was held by ORSANCO, USACE, and the US EPA. A key emerging message was that there was a need for a collaborative strategy to enable the Ohio River Basin to speak with one voice in order to gain leverage, influence, and funding.

This realization led to the formation of ORBA.

ORBA’s focus is on basin-wide water resource challenges from the headwaters of the Allegheny River to the southern extent of the Tennessee River valley.

The Alliance seeks to bring together the strategies and priorities of existing organizations in the basin in a unified and collaborative way.

Membership comprises more than 200 individuals, representing more than 80 organizations, including federal and state agencies, commissions, utilities, businesses, academic institutions, and NGOs.

Over the past year, effort has been focused on developing and getting feedback on a draft Ohio River Basin-Wide Plan. 

This consensus document, due to be approved in August, sets out a vision and high level implementation plan for integrated water management across the entire basin.  Its work is organized around six interrelated goals:

-- Healthy and productive ecosystems

-- Abundant clean water

-- World-class nature-based recreation opportunities

-- Nation’s most valuable river transportation and commerce corridor

-- Reliable flood control and risk reduction

-- Knowledge and education to inform decisions

Visit the U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers’ Ohio River Basin Plan webpage for more information.

Related Articles:

-- Reminder: Sept. 30 - Oct. 2 Virtual Ohio River Basin Summit & Symposium Call For Presentations, Posters; Registration Open

-- DEP Starts Next Round Of Virtual River Basin Committee Meetings On State Water Plan Update

[Posted: August 7, 2020]

8/10/2020