The Coldwater Heritage Partnership announced the award of over $35,000 in grants to local organizations to protect and conserve Pennsylvania’s coldwater stream habitats.

The Somerset Conservation District recently completed a reassessment of the Stonycreek River indicating the $10 million investment in acid mine drainage abatement projects over the last decade has resulted in substanital improvements.

The Department of Environmental Protection invited comments this week on a proposed Total Maximum Daily Load watershed plan for Stoney Run Watershed in Westmoreland County.

On World Water Day, March 15, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., the Environmental Club of New Hope-Solebury High School and The Jonathan D. Krist Foundation will present "Know H2o: Water Heroes on Tour," a multimedia event addressing the issues threatening local watersheds and water supplies throughout the world.

The public is invited to attend a public meeting on the Spring Creek Canyon Master Plan in Centre County sponsored by the project's Steering Committee and the ClearWater Conservancy on March 31 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology in Pleasant Gap, Pa.

The Fishtown Shad Fest is an event for the entire Philadelphia region that celebrates the return of shad fish to the Delaware River.

Glen J. Abrams of the Philadelphia Water Department will speak on “Green Stormwater Design: Putting Nature Back into the City” on March 24 at the Friends of the Wissahickon office in Chestnut Hill, Pa.

The Department of Environmental Protection plugged 173 abandoned oil and gas wells that were found in 11 counties across the state during 2008.

ClearWater Conservancy awarded over $7,800 to 15 local schools for spring 2009 field trips to Millbrook Marsh Nature Center, the most the program has awarded in a single semester since the project’s inception.

The Westmoreland Conservation District is offering a second-level course on the principles of good forest stewardship on March 28, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the District’s headquarters on the Donohoe Road in Greensburg.

The Nature Conservancy and 51 national, regional and state land conservation and outdoor recreation groups this week released a report which documents the decline of two major federal land conservation programs and the need to restore federal funding to protect America’s public lands.

Sayers Reservoir still may be locked in winter's icy grip, but work crews are confident their just-completed habitat improvement project at Bald Eagle State Park soon will prove a warm-weather boon to fish, not to mention the anglers who seek them at the popular Centre County waterway.

Game Commission officials this week outlined detailed plans for conducting a controlled burn on the Scotia Barrens on State Game Land 176 in Patton Township, Centre County, to improve habitat conditions within this unique ecosystem.

ClearWater Conservancy is offering an opportunity to witness and explore a distinctive and temporary habitat when it hosts its Adventures in Conservation event at the Scotia Barrens on March 26 from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Municipalities, community planners and watershed groups looking for grant funding can help find guidance on the application process during one of two upcoming workshops in northwestern Pennsylvania.

Time to think about organizing your watershed, roadside, park or community cleanup to be part of the Great American Cleanup of PA, this year running from April 25 to May 9.

Pittsburgh's young filmmakers will debut their original environmental-oriented documentaries at the 5th Annual C.A.U.S.E. Challenge High School Film Festival at the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m.

The March issue of the EE Connections newsletter from the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education is now available online. This month's features include:

The Department of Environmental Protection this week awarded nearly $300,000 to seven municipalities to help develop plans to reduce climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions in Allegheny, Bucks, Butler, Centre, Crawford and Delaware counties.

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency announced this week 50 buildings in the Philadelphia-area achieved the prestigious Energy Star efficiency label in 2008. Energy Star buildings are among the top 25 percent of facilities nationwide for energy performance.

The newly-expanded Keystone HELP energy conservation loan and rebate program requires the use of approved contractors to install qualifying Energy Star HVAC and other energy conservation measures funded through the program.

Four webinars will be available starting March 9 to update Keystone HELP-approved energy conservation contractors on the expanded Keystone HELP Program.

In a plan filed with the Public Utility Commission this week, PECO is seeking approval to purchase 6 megawatts of solar renewable energy credits as part of the company’s ongoing fulfillment of the state’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards.

A new study by Carnegie Mellon University's Green Design Institute found shopping online via Buy.com's e-commerce model reduces environmental impact with 35 percent less energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions than what is produced in the traditional retail shopping model.

Dual catalysts may be the key to efficiently turning carbon dioxide and water vapor into methane and other hydrocarbons using titania nanotubes and solar power, according to Penn State researchers.

Two former manufactured gas plant sites in Montgomery County are now ready for recreational and residential development.

As Game Commission wildlife biologists continue to monitor bat hibernacula, the number of sites where bats have been confirmed infected or dying from White Nose Syndrome has risen to six.

Registration is now open for Pennsylvania's Statewide Conference on Transportation, Heritage and the Environment to be held May 19-22 in Harrisburg. The Conference also includes the 30th Byways to the Past Conference.

Join the PA Environmental Council for the annual gala celebration in honor of the recipients of the 2009 Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence.

The Department of Environmental Protection announced it will eliminate its Daily E-News Service sent by email, but will retain the weekly email update. The change will take place March 12.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of bid opportunities for several projects:

It's that time of year again when the hearts of young peregrine falcons turn to love and everyone can watch nature's renewal online through webcams on the peregrine falcon nest on the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg and the nesting sites in Pittsburgh sponsored by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Peregrine Falcon Recovery Project.

Spring has almost sprung and it's time to think about planting the garden and sprucing up the outdoors. This week PA Environment Digest puts the Spotlight on how you can learn about the advantages of landscaping with native plants.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published notice of execution on another Marcellus Shale drilling area.