The team preparing the watershed conservation plan for Connoquenessing Creek in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, and Lawrence counties is inviting residents to public meetings in September to share your future vision for the watershed.

The meetings will be held on

· September 12 at the Butler Junior High School cafeteria from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm;

· September 14 at the Harmony Museum’s Stewart Hall from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm;

· September 19 at the Ellwood City Borough auditorium from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm; and

· September 27 at the Mars Public Library Community Room from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.

The watershed conservation plan, which is being developed by Western Pennsylvania Conservancy in cooperation with the Connoquenessing Watershed Alliance, local municipalities, agencies, and individuals, will is developed through a locally-driven planning process, which create a vision for the watershed community.

The plan focuses on the natural resources (land, water, and biological), cultural resources (historical and recreational), and socio-economics of the watershed, and makes recommendations based on public input to conserve or enhance its valuable assets.

The goals of the Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation Plan are to actively engage the watershed community while addressing water-quality concerns, promote sound planning, protect the cultural and historical resources of this diverse rural-urban watershed through education and recreation opportunities, and to acknowledge the relationship between humans and their environment.

Funding for the plan is provided by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Community Conservation Partnership Program.

For more information, please contact Carla Ruddock at the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Freshwater Conservation Program at 724-459-0953 ext. 107 or send email to: cruddock@paconserve.org .

9/1/2006