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January
2002
Water
Policy News
Newsletter of the Water Resources Education Network
In this Issue
WREN Grant Funding Available for
2002-2003 Water Resources Education Projects
Who: Coalitions (two or more partners) of local or regional
organizations such as civic groups, governmental entities (including
municipal authorities), and other public interest organizations.
What: Projects that educate the community and build community
awareness of how to protect and improve its drinking water source waters
or its watershed. Projects should include activities that enhance cooperation
between citizens and municipal officials and private organizations.
Grant award: up to $5,000 for each project.
When: Proposals accepted until 4:00 pm, Wednesday, April 3,
2002. Successful proposals announced by May 15, 2002; Funding covers
activities during July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003.
Other: Successful projects must send at least one member to
the June 13 & 14, 2002 Orientation Meeting in Boiling Springs, Cumberland
Co. PA. Objective: to network with other projects and to learn about
resources available. There is no cost to the applicant to attend.
You can access the full copy of the
Grant Application Package on this site, please call 800 692-7281
or email WREN at wren@palwv.org.
WREN Projects Educate Community
Residents
PA CleanWays of Lawrence County
On November 17, 2001, volunteers for this Lawrence County project turned
out for four hours to cleanup the Hawthorne Road "dump site".
The Hawthorne Road site was selected for clean-up because a small stream
flows through the site and empties into the Beaver River, the drinking
water source for numerous communities. The cleanup day was the initial
step for a Placemat Contest.
A video of the morning clean up will be used to show the direct relationship
between illegally dumped trash and our drinking water. For the placemat
contest, interested young people must view the video and then create
a drawing emphasizing drinking water protection. The winner will receive
a $100 savings bond and their original art will appear on placemats
distributed to Lawrence County restaurants. Information regarding the
effects of illegally dumping trash in our waterways, water conservation
efforts and the proper management of household hazardous waste will
also appear on the place mats.
For additional information on this project contact Jerry Zona at 724-654-2129.
South Middleton Bubbler Foundation
Four workshops were held during October and November focusing on the
source of the community's drinking water, how to protect drinking water,
what critters can tell us about water quality and a tour of the South
Middleton Municipality Water/Sewer Authority Plant. The tour began with
the well-head and ended with the final discharge of purified sewage
into Yellow Breeches Creek and how the remaining solid wastes are decomposed
naturally using tall plants.
Additional components of the project include training teachers to use
groundwater simulators and Enviroscapes for classroom demonstration
and developing a Citizen Volunteer Monitoring program to examine stream
health.
For more information about this project contact Teresa Shakespeare at
717-243-7954.
Delaware River Greenway
On Thursday, May 30, 2002, approximately 400 students and residents
of the Delaware River Greenway will be found along the banks of the
Delaware River from Trenton to as far north as Easton. Cleanup of both
sides of the river, islands and bottom, for almost 55 miles, will be
the focus of the fifth annual Project River Bright.
On December 14, Project River Bright was honored at the Delaware River
Greenway Partnership's 12th Annual Forum for its successful work to
preserve and enhance the Delaware River for enjoyment by everyone.
For more information on this project contact Carrie Martin at 215-862-4385.
Groundwater Foundation
Honors Washington County's Joan Jessen, Recognizes 10 Pennsylvania Communities
Long time water advocate, Joan Jessen, of McMurray, Washington County
was recognized at the 2001 Groundwater Foundation conference, held this
year in Pittsburgh, November 14-16. Joan is the founder of the Washington
County Groundwater Coalition and was instrumental in that group's transformation
into the Washington County Watershed Alliance.
The Groundwater Coalition hosted the first Children's Groundwater Festival
in Pennsylvania, im 1995, and this year will sponsor its seventh annual
Festival. The Watershed Alliance, the first of its type in Pennsylvania,
has sponsored projects leading to the formation of eight watershed associations
in Washington County.
The activities that the groups have undertaken to promote understanding
of water resources are awe-inspiring, including visiting every classroom
of the 1200 sixth graders who attend the Festival each year to introduce
them to some of the water concepts they'll learn more about later; offering
home water testing; mounting displays at malls and fairs, producing
brochures, pamphlets, vidoes and newsletters; and organizing watershed
bus tours. Joan received the Edith Stevens Groundwater Educator Award,
named for the first recipient of the award, WREN Team Member, Edith
Stevens.
Pennsylvania Groundwater Guardian Communities
Congratulations to ten Pennsylvania communities who were awarded the
Foundation's annual "Groundwater Guardian" designation for
their activites to protect their water resources.
They include: Allegheny County; Aultman Run Watershed in Indiana County;
Carbon County, Kutztown Borough in Berks County; Lebanon County, Mars
Area School District in Butler County; Villages of Number Five Mine
and London in Mercer County, Shrewsbury Borough in York County, Telford
Borough in Montgomery County, and Washington County.
The PA Rural Water Association and WREN received recognition as "Groundwater
Guardian Affiliates."
Policy Corner
Water Resources Legislation Introduced
Bills have been introduced in both the House and Senate to further the
water management goals that came out of the Water Forums sponsored by
PA DEP across the state last spring. HB2230 and SB1230 provide for updating
the State Water Plan, including identifying critical water planning
areas, water well construction standards, a water conservation program
and registration of water withdrawals over 10,000 gallons per day to
collect better data on water use. The bills are supported by DEP and
are expected to get a lot of attention in the coming months.
For more information on the issues surrounding water resources management
in PA, contact the WREN Resource Center (1-800-692-7281) and request
the publication, Water Use and Water Rights in Pennsylvania. Pub#9804
New Comprehensive Storm-water Management Policy
PA DEP is proposing to update its stormwater management program using
existing authority, by encouraging, and sometimes requiring, minimization
and infiltration of stormwater flows in order to reduce pollutant loadings
to streams, recharge groundwater and enhance stream base flow. New and
revised county Stormwater Management Plans, required by the existing
Stormwater Management Act (Act 167), will include these water quality
and quantity protections with implementation up to municipalities.
The new policy is another recommendation coming from the Water Forums
held this spring. Forum participants urged that stormwater be considered
a resource. Comments on the Policy will be accepted until Jan 28.
For a copy of the policy, contact Kimberly Chism, 717-787-5267, kchism@state.pa.us,
or online, www.dep.state.pa.us
(directLINK "Comprehensive Stormwater Policy)
Resources
Groundwater, Pennsylvania's Cool Resource
(PA Dept of Environmental Protection, 2001, 27 pp)
Information and educational demonstrations relating to groundwater for
teachers and students in grades 9-12.
Available from Trudy Troutman, 717-783-3795, ttroutman@state.pa.us
How to Form Your Own Watershed Organization
A FactPack from PA Organization of Watersheds and Rivers, includes a
booklet, resource list and a 20 minute video. Available for $16 from
POWR, 717-234-7910 or order online at http://www.pawatersheds.org/resources/factpacks.htm
State of the Bay 2001
(Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 2001, 6 pp)
Outlines the current environmental status of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Available from CBF, jhood@savethebay.cbf.org,
888-savebay or online at www.cbf.org
Protecting and Restoring America's Watersheds: Status, Trends and
Initiatives in Watershed Management
(US EPA Office of Water, 2001)
Examines successful watershed approaches and provides recommended actions
for policy makers and watershed groups.
Available online at www.epa.gov/owow/protecting
Working in Urban Watersheds: Industry Analyses
(Sustainable Conservation, 2000, 50 pp)
Describes the environmental impact of urban watershed pollution and
automotive recycling in particular.
Available from Sustainable Conservation, 415-977-0308 or online at
www.suscon.org
Agricultural Pesticides: Management Improvements Needed to Further
Promote Integrated Pest Management,
(General Accounting Office, 2001, 36 pp.)
Reports that pesticide use has risen despite USDA's commitment to integrated
pest management. The IPM program has serious management problems.
Available from GAO, 202-512-6000, Report number GAO-01-815, or online
at http://www.gao.gov
Environmental Indicators of Water Quality in the U. S.
(US EPA Office of Water, 2001, 28 pp.)
Describes the nation's water resources, human activities, and natural
events, as well as their impact on water quality and trends over time.
Available free from the National Small Flows Clearinghouse. shipping
charges apply. Call NSFC at 800-624-8301 or 304-293-4191, and request
item #GNBLGN13. , email, nsfc_orders@mail.nesc.wvu.edu.
Guide to Developing a Source Water Protection Plan
(PA DEP, 2002) Contact Jen Bandura, 717-772-4044, jbandura@state.pa.us
Web site to Bookmark
www.stormwatercenter.net
a Resource Center for Stormwater Managers sponsored by The Center for
Watershed Protection, provides technical assistance on stormwater management
issues which can be downloaded at no cost.
Christiana Borough Wins Source
Water Protection Award
Congratulations to Christiana Borough in Lancaster County which received
US EPA Region III's first Source Water Protection Award.
The Christiana Borough Authority, which manages the water system for
the Borough, has promoted source water protection in many ways. The
Authority purchased a farm where their wells are located and now can
protect the surrounding area. After determining their wellhead protection
areas (WHPA), the Authority performed a contaminant inventory by meeting
with all property owners within the WHPA and providing them information
on the importance of protecting their sources of drinking water. Borough
officials met with farmers in the area on best management practices
and gave them suggestions on how to use natural fertilizers when applicable.
The Authority posted signs throughout their WHPA alerting travelers
about the presence of the protection area and how to notify emergency
personnel if a contamination event should occur. Christiana Borough
works with adjacent municipalities, including Lancaster County, on land
use planning and its effect on drinking water sources.
"We know that the health of our community depends upon clean drinking
water so we are committed to protecting the sources," explains
Borough Manager LaVerne D. Rettew.
EPA Region III established the annual awards program in 2001 to recognize
communities that are taking steps to protect their drinking water sources.
For information on how to apply, or nominate someone, for the 2002 award,
please contact PA DEP, Joe Lee, joslee@state.pa.us
or Pat Bowling, pbowling@state.pa.us
, or Steven Maslowski at EPA Region III, maslowski.steven@epa.gov.
To contact Christiana Borough, call Evan Fields, 610-593-5199.
This newsletter is a project of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania
Citizen Education Fund - WREN. Funded by a grant from the PA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
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