lwvpa-cef 226 forster street harrisburg, pa 17102-3220 permit no. 420

LWVPA-CEF226 Forster StreetHarrisburg, PA 17102-3220

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PaidPermit No. 420Harrisburg, PA

Water POLICY NEWSSpring 2007Pennsylvania Water Resources Education Networkhttp://wren.palwv.org/ & www.drinkingwaterwise.org

Water Policy News is published three timesa year by the League of Women Voters ofPennsylvania Citizen Education Fund for theWater Resources Education Network(WREN) Project. Funds for Water PolicyNews and the WREN Project are providedby the PA Department of EnvironmentalProtection.The WREN project provides funding forlocal groups engaged in water educationprojects and communications links betweengroups and individuals interested in improv-ing local policy making for water resourceprotection. Local and statewide activities thatfocus on water resource education will behighlighted in each issue of Water PolicyNews.Articles about water education activitiesare solicited from the readers of WaterPolicy News. Send newsletter items to Edi-tor: Edith Stevens, RR 1, Box 1550, Cresco,PA 18326, estevens@ptd.net.To receive this free newsletter or inquireabout the resources available from theWREN Project, visit http://wren.palwv.org,or call the LWVPA at 1-800-692-7281 orwrite them at 226 Forster St., Harrisburg,PA 17102. Please send address changesto the LWVPA office.

Calendar . . .

June 13 Doylestown, PAProtecting Public Drinking Water:Source Water Protection SolutionsSponsored by WRENInfo at www.drinkingwaterwise.org

June 25-27 Vail, CO2007 AWRA Summer SpecialtyConference -- Emerging Contami-nants of Concern in the Environ-mentVisit: www.awra.org

Aug 8-9 Portland, ME2007 Northeast Water ScienceForumPharmaceuticals and Personal CareProducts: State of the ScienceVisit: http://www.neiwpcc.org/ppcpconference/index.asp

Aug 20-23 Phoenix, AZ6th Annual North American SurfaceWater Quality Conference andExposition (StormCon’07)http://www.forester.net/sc.html

Aug 27-29 Williamsburg, VAWetlands 2007: Watershed Strate-gies to Protect and RestoreWetland’s Ecological and SocialServicesVisit: http://aswm.org/calendar/index.htm#symp

June 21-22 Camp Hill, PA

Radisson Hoteland Conference Center

WREN Wrap-up andOrientation Meeting

Infosherenehess@yourinter.net

October 9-11 Toledo, OHStormwater Institute 2007Sponsored by the Center for Water-shed Protection www.cwp.org

Oct 15-18 Atlantic City, NJ10th Annual Wetlands & Water-sheds Workshop.Organized by the Wetlands & Water-sheds Work Grouphttp://www.wetlandsworkgroup.org/

Oct 31-Nov 2 Lake Buena Vista, FL27th International Symposium ofthe North American Lake Manage-ment Society, “Understanding theScience of Lake Management”http://www.nalms.org/Conferences/Orlando

November 12-15 Alberquerque, NM2007 AWRA Annual Water Re-sources ConferenceVisit: www.awra.org

November 29-30 Lakewood, COGroundwater Foundation Confer-enceVisit: www.groundwater.org

May 18-22, 2008 Atlantic City, NJ6th national conference, Monitor-ing: Key to Understanding OurWatersSponsored by the National WaterQuality Monitoring Council (NWQMC)For info: http://acwi.gov/monitoring/

Printed on recycled paper

Spring 2007

Funded by the PA Deparment of Environmental Protection Published by the League of Women Voters Citizen Education Fund

Newsletter of the League of Women Voters PA-CEFWater Resources Education Network Project

Volume 16 No. 2

POLICY NEWSWhat's New ... FESTIVALS, CELEBRATIONS AND MORE

▲ Dewey has been greeting about1200 third and fourth graders atHydromania in the Lehigh Valley forthe past seven years. Hydromaniawas created by the Lehigh ValleyWater Suppliers.

▲ Dewey traveled to Monroe Countyto help kick off WaterWaze, the firstannual student Watershed Festivalhosted by the Monroe County Water-shed Alliance. 350 sixth gradersparticipated.

▲ 1000 sixth graders took part inFayette County's sixth Children'sWater Festival in Divito Park. A redtail hawk is a popular visitor.

▲ Eighth graders from the East PennSchool District enjoy a presentation atWatershed Awareness Day, hosted bythe Lehigh Co. Conservation Districtand Emmaus Boro. 2007 marked thesixth year of this event.

▲ Blair Co. Conservation Districtand Altoona City Authority hosted asecond public festival at a local mall.

▲ Stream "bugs" are always apopular exhibit at Clearfield County'sConservation Celebration, held in thefall with 400-500 attending.

New TechnicalAssistance Program forSource Water Protection

Community Water Systems willsoon be able to get help in developinga local Source Water ProtectionProgram (SWPP) through a contrac-tor provided by PA DEP under anew program called the SourceWater Protection Technical AssistanceProgram – or SWPTAP.

Programs developed with the helpof the contractor must meet theminimum elements that DEP isdeveloping for Source Water Protec-tion Programs including education,delineation, emergency response,contingency planning, protecting newsource sites and managementstrategies such as ordinance develop-ment. The SWPTAP will start in July.

Water systems that applied for, butdid not receive, source water protec-tion grants will be the first invited toutilize the new program. DEP fieldstaff will refer a majority of theparticipating systems to the program.It is anticipated that about 50 systemsmay receive assistance in a year.

SWPTAP replaces the earlier SourceWater Protection grant program;however all current grant fundedprojects will continue according totheir individual grant agreements.

For more information, contactJohn Van Zant,jvanzant@state.pa.usor 717-772-4048.

Water Resources Education NetworkAwards Grants to

22 Community BasedWater Resources Education Projects

Source Water Protection (SWP) Projects(funding provided by the Pennsylvania Department of EnvironmentalProtection by virtue of the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996, section1452 (State Revolving Loan Fund for Drinking Water SWP)

Blair Co Conservation District, Blair Co: $4700 willhold the Blair County Water Festival in May 2008, hold“The Wonder of Water” poster contest in local schools,and make presentations to students about the importanceof protecting the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River,the source water for the county’s drinking water supply.Contact: James Eckenrode 814-696-0877x5,jeckenrode@blairconservationdistrict.org

Brodhead Creek Regional Authority (BCRA), MonroeCo: $5000 will create a children’s section in the “Dr.Waters” interactive and educational website(www.drwaters.org) which will promote actions citizenscan take to protect the Brodhead Creek. Contact: MichaelReisenwitz 570-421-3232, swpedu@ptd.net

Dushore Borough, Sullivan Co: $5000 will use educa-tional equipment, informational brochures, a schoolsponsored poster contest, water supply area identificationsigns, and storm drain stenciling to educate students andcitizens about the importance of protecting the groundwa-ter which serves as Dushore’s drinking water source andthe surface waters that supply drinking water to othercommunities. Contact: Scot Sample 570-928-8020,dushwate@epix.net

Pennsylvania Resources Council, Delaware Co: $3000will hold two workshops for residents of Marple Town-ship and the Borough of Swarthmore to educate aboutstormwater management and pollution issues emphasizinghow the use of rainbarrels can minimize polluted runofffrom entering the area’s drinking water source, CrumCreek. Contact: Sue Cochrane 610-353-1555x232,cochrane@prc.org

Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education,Philadelphia Co: $5000 will provide watershed educationto high schools in Philadelphia that includes in-class lessonson nonpoint source pollution and its intersection withdrinking water supplies, a field trip to observe the breadthof watershed issues that impact the source water, creationof posters, and a service learning project aimed at increas-ing awareness about urban watershed issues. Contact: GinRanly 215-482-7300x129, vranly@schuylkillcenter.org

Shermans Creek Conservation Association, Inc.(SCCA), Perry Co: $5000 will use a portable display, anEnviroScape model, lesson plans, and Farm*A*Systseminars to demonstrate to students and adults in BlainBorough and Jackson Township how their actions in theBower’s Run watershed can impact the source of theirdrinking water and what they can do to protect it. Con-tact: Linda Sieber 717-582-3376, lssieber@comcast.net

Shinglehouse Borough Water Dept., Potter Co: $5000will work jointly to install Water Supply Area signs, demon-strate groundwater models, and distribute source waterprotection brochures in a continued effort to educateCoudersport, Oswayo Valley, and Port Allegany studentsand citizens about the importance of protecting thegroundwater which serves as the source of drinking waterfor households in these three municipalities. Contact:Deborah Resig 814-697-6711,shinglehouseoffice@frontiernet.net

Ulysses and Covington-Karthous-Girard Area Munici-pal Authorities, Clearfield & Potter Co: $4000 will workjointly to install Water Supply Area signs, demonstrategroundwater models, and distribute source water protec-tion brochures in a continued effort to educate residents inthe Northern Potter and Whitesville School Districts andthe Clearfield school district and surrounding townshipsabout the importance of protecting the groundwater thatprovides the drinking water to these communities. Con-tact: Betty Jo Hilfiger, Jack Reese 814-848-7551,ulyssesboro@verizon.net

Volant Borough, Lawrence Co: $5000 will educatecitizens and students about how they can help protect thehigh quality groundwater and wells that provide theBorough’s drinking water with demonstrations of theEnviroScape and Groundwater Simulator models inschools and at events such as the Volant Water Festival andby distributing to local restaurants quantities of the winningplacemat from a design contest in the schools. Contact:Jeff Staul 724-662-4706, volantborough@zoominternet.net

Warren Co Conservation District, Crawford, Erie &Warren Co: $5000 will conduct the “Green Tip of theWeek” television commercial campaign to educate citizensin Warren, Crawford, and Erie counties about the stepsthey can take to protect and improve the watersheds theylive in thereby protecting the sources of their drinkingwater. Contact: Jean Gomory 814-563-3117,jean.gomoroy@pa.nacdnet.net

York Co Parks Foundation Charitable Trust, York Co:$5000 will design an educational display and mural of theCodorus Creek watershed, including streams and otherwatershed features that will educate viewers how public

drinking water can be protected both by citizens’ individualactions by water supplier commitment to protecting thesource. Contact: Tammy Klunk 717-840-7227,parks@york-county.org

Watershed Education Projects(funding provided by the Pennsylvania Department of EnvironmentalProtection (PADEP) Nonpoint Source Management Program throughSection 319 of the federal Clean Water Act)—total awards: $50,000

Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring(ALLARM), Cumberland Co, $4000, will produce anddistribute advertisements in print, on air and through othermedia and events that encourage Carlisle homeowners andbusinesses to maintain lawns and automobiles and managepet waste in ways that will minimize nonpoint sourcepollution in Letort Spring Run. Contact: Julie Vastine 717-245-1565, vastine@dickinson.edu

Birchwood Lakes Community Association, LakeManagement Committee, Pike Co, $5000, will provideprinted materials and conduct a series of informationsharing meetings to teach Birchwood Lakes Communityresidents and residents of other lake communities in theDingmans Creek watershed how nonpoint source pollu-tion can be decreased by installing native plants around thelakes, maintaining septic systems properly, and using healthypractices to care for lawns and automobiles. Contact:Charles Ritson 570-828-2111, chasrits50@netzero.com

Borough of Media, Delaware Co, $5000, will design andmail to all Media households a calendar illustrating themunicipality’s accomplishments and commitment tostormwater management and the steps Media residents cantake to reduce nonpoint source pollution in Ridley andChester Creeks. Contact: Jeffery Smith 610-566-5210x242,or Marcia Tate marciatate@comcast.net

Bucks Co Planning Commission, Bucks Co, $5000, willcoordinate a guided bus tour to showcase innovative beststormwater management practices that municipal officials,engineers, planning commission members and developerscan implement to reduce nonpoint source pollution in theUnami, East Branch, Tohickon, Delaware River (Northand South), Neshaminy, Little Neshaminy, Pennypack, andPoquessing watersheds. Contact: Rea Monaghan 215-345-3267, remonaghan@co.bucks.pa.us

Bushkill Stream Conservancy, Northampton Co, $5000,will hold workshops for homeowners in PalmerTownship’s Millrace neighborhood to raise awareness ofthe Township’s existing protective measures and to teachresidents the actions they can take to further reducenonpoint source pollution in Bushkill Creek. Contact:Sandra Merwarth 610-253-4467, shepherd21@rcn.com

Lebanon Co Conservation District, Lebanon Co,$3350, will hold workshops to educate homeowners andbusinesses in Lebanon Co how the use of rainbarrels canreduce the amount of nonpoint source pollution enteringthe waterways of the Co. Rain barrels will be provided atan affordable rate to attendees completing the workshop.Contact: Stephanie Harmon 717-272-3908x4,stephanie.harmon@pa.nacdnet.net

Monroe Co Conservation District, Monroe Co, $3350,will hold workshops to educate homeowners and munici-pal officials in Monroe Co how the use of rainbarrels canreduce the amount of nonpoint source pollution in theBrodhead, Tobyhanna, Aquashicola, Pohopoco, Cherry,Bushkill Creeks, and Delaware River atersheds. Rainbarrels will be provided at an affordable rate to attendeescompleting the workshop. Contact: Patricia Attardo 570-629-3060, pamccd@ptd.net

Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Delaware,Chester, Montgomery and Bucks Co, $5000, will develop aguide and hold workshops to educate public worksdepartment staff and commercial property owners inDelaware and Montgomery Counties on the inspection,operating, repair and retrofit procedures for stormwatermanagement facilities that are necessary to minimizenonpoint source pollution in the Delaware and SchuylkillRivers. Contact: Gwyn Rowland 215-592-7020x109,growland@pecpa.org

Pike Co Conservation District, Pike Co, $4800, willdesign and distribute an 8 page full color newspaper insertencouraging residents of Pike Co to take steps to protectsurface and groundwater resources in the Upper DelawareRiver watershed from the effects of nonpoint sourcepollution and to be supportive of Pike Co’s continuingefforts to protect its natural resources in the face of rapidgrowth. Contact: Michele Ulmer 570-226-8220,mulmer@pikepa.org

Strawberry Hill Nature Center and Preserve, AdamsCo, $4800, will create and distribute a Watershed Guidedesigned to educate visitors to the Nature Center andresidents of the Monocacy watershed about how properpet waste management, gardening and lawn care practicesand other daily activities can prevent nonpoint sourcepollution in Middle Creek. Contact: Yvonne Werzinsky717-642-5840, yvonne@strawberryhill.org

Wildlands Conservancy, Carbon Co, $4700, will hold aworkshop to educate municipal decision makers in CarbonCo and those who advise them on land use matters aboutmanaging stormwater in ways that will minimize theimpact of nonpoint source pollution in the Lehigh Riverwatershed. Contact: Camille Lore 610-965-439,clore@wildlandspa.org