The agenda for the 2004 Pennsylvania Watershed Conference and Youth Track in Emmaus is packed with tours and sessions of interest to anyone working to improve their watershed.

Early bird registration deadline is September 1 for the Conference which will run from September 30 to October 2.

The Conference theme is “Watersheds: the Air, Land and Water Connection,” and features four tracks – Land Use/Smart Growth, Air Connection, Urban Watersheds, BMP Implementation and Stream Restoration.

Again this year the Conference will include a Youth Track for students ages 13-18 with adult chaperones. The activities for youth not only include educational programs, but also a session on careers in watershed and environmental protection.

Four field trips are planned for the first day of the Conference—a canoe and bike ride on the Lehigh River, a tour through Bushkill Creek Watershed, an abandoned mine drainage tour and a brownfields tour.

Plenary session speakers are scheduled to include: Kathleen McGinty, Secretary for Environmental Protection, Michael DiBerardinis, Secretary for Conservation and Natural Resources and Dr. Douglas Austen, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Go to the 2004 Watershed Conference webpage for more information and to print out a registration form.

8/20/2004