On April 25, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn joined the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and members of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps Norristown crew planting trees along the waterway at Big Elk Creek State Park in Chester County to create wildlife habitat and improve local water quality and biodiversity. The planting is part of a more than 300-acre restoration project at Big Elk Creek State Park that was added to the state park system in 2022. Earth Day is April 22 and Arbor Day April 26. “Earth Week is the time to think about the difference each of ..read more

On April 22 - Earth Day - Heights Philadelphia and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency formally announced a new partnership to support Heights’ mission of creating student pathways to college and careers, especially for low-income, Black and Brown, and first generation to college students.  Furthering Heights' vision that all students achieve economic mobility through education and career success, the EPA will now offer opportunities for students supported by Heights in college programming and 19 School District of Philadelphia high schools to learn and gain first-hand experience i ..read more

On April 23, leaders from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Philadelphia Water Department, and Partnership for the Delaware Estuary  joined to celebrate Earth Week and highlight a new ad campaign, ‘Trash Free Waters Begin with YOU!’ appearing throughout the city at multiple SEPTA and PATCO stops. Focusing on the importance of keeping litter off streets and out of waters, EPA Deputy Regional Administrator Cathy Libertz, PWD Commissioner Randy E. Hayman, and PDE Executive Director Kathy Klein remarked on the importance of partnerships, the big impact of small actions, and the role ..read more

On April 25, four state agencies, legislators and two land conservancies celebrated portions of the Turtle Creek watershed in southeastern Union County being removed, or “delisted” from the federal Clean Water Act impaired waters list.  The participants included the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources joined the Fish and Boat Commission, Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Sen. Scott Martin (R-Lancaster), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy, and the Chesapeake ..read more

The Philadelphia Solar Energy Association, in partnership with DEP, published a new Go Solar and Save Toolkit for schools. The Toolkit details the process in ten steps, provides access to all the new federal tax credits, grants and loans available, provides a sample Request for Proposal (RFP), and two powerful proformas.  One proforma is for a Power Purchase Agreement and the other is for Direct Ownership, to help schools run the numbers in a range of scenarios to decide how to optimize the benefits of solar for any school.   The Toolkit was developed by the Philadelphia Solar ..read more

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is now accepting presentation proposals for the 2024 Chesapeake Watershed Forum on October 18-20 in Shepherdstown, WV.  The deadline for submissions is May 19. The theme for this year's Forum is-- Making It Last - Proven Tactics For Building Enduring Projects, Partnerships And Organizations.” With this year’s theme, the Alliance seeks to showcase the projects, partnerships, and organizations that have continued to flourish for at least five years after establishment.  The Alliance hopes to learn about scientific research, technology, alternative ..read more

The Lancaster Conservancy and many partners will hold the 8th Annual Lancaster Water Week on June 7 - 15 to celebrate the 1,400 miles of streams and rivers in Lancaster County. Lancaster Water Week features over 60 events as we paddle, explore, volunteer, and take action as a community to protect our streams and rivers for the future! These waterways are the source of drinking water, drive economic and agricultural growth, and allow us to escape into nature to fish, paddle, and swim.  Many of these beautiful streams are polluted, but there is an incredible effort underway to bring them ..read more

Join the Lancaster County Master Watershed Stewards, in partnership with the Lancaster Conservancy, on a June 13 bike tour of the watersheds of the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. The tour will highlight various watershed features, trail history, and geologic history.  The tour is an out-and-back bike ride from the East Donegal Township Riverfront Park to the Fishermans Wharf Trail access at the northern terminus in Falmouth.  The trail is 100% paved, and the total mileage is approximately 15, including stops along the way and a water break. The tour w ..read more

Registration is now open for Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional  Level 1 training and certification. Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional is a voluntary, regional credential for professionals who design, install, and maintain sustainable landscapes in the Bay watershed. For this session we will offer the course in both a fully in-person format, and a hybrid, online/field format. Both options balance highly interactive course content with a field day.  Click Here for the schedule. Registration is a 2-step process: apply online, await approval, then return to the website to pay a ..read more

“The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.” -- Article I, Section 27 Pennsylvania Constitution  [It’s Not A Suggestion] House next voting day April 29, 30, May 1, 6, 7, 8, 20, 21, 22, June 3, 4, 5 -- Committee Schedule Senate next voting day April 29, 3 ..read more