Lehigh Sojourn

The Wildlands Conservancy was one of nine organizations in the world to receive a grant totaling over $75,000 from The Coca-Cola Foundation to implement community water partnership projects within the Lehigh Valley and Lehigh River watershed region.

“We are very pleased that our water resource protection work has received national recognition. This opportunity has allowed us to continue our important work,” said Christopher Kocher, president of Wildlands Conservancy.

Wildlands Conservancy will use the grant to implement recommendations made in the Lehigh River Watershed Conservation Management Plan for the protection of the critical water resources of the Lehigh River watershed.

It will also address non-point source related water quality impacts that include Abandoned Mine Drainage related water quality impacts to the Nesquehoning Creek and Lehigh River in Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties, and sediment related water quality impacts to the Little Lehigh, Saucon, Jordan, Monocacy Creeks in Lehigh and Northampton counties.

These stream restoration projects will reduce non-point source pollution, improve water quality and enhance aquatic and wildlife habitat conditions along several tributaries within the Lehigh River watershed in Eastern Pennsylvania.

The educational objectives of the projects are to provide community educational outreach opportunities through the use of these projects as best management practice demonstrations on both public and private lands.

Coca-Cola’s North America Lehigh Valley Syrup Manufacturing plant will also provide volunteer assistance toward implementation of specific, hands-on project related activities including endorsing and promoting the projects and providing volunteer assistance with project site improvements.

5/2/2008