Mission:
âThe people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvaniaâs 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.â
Pennsylvaniaâs rivers and streams are unique, diverse and more abundant than any other state except Alaska. Our waterways wind through pristine rural countryside, the hills and valleys of small towns, and even through the middle of metropolitan areas. But many of these waterways have suffered extreme loss of wildlife and vegetation.
They have endured decades of industrial pollution, coal mining and poor land use and development. Other watersheds are vulnerable as more housing developments go up, more roads are built and increased non-point source pollutants threaten their stability.
The Western Pennsylvania Watershed Program is a champion of our stateâs tremendous water resources and watersheds. We articulate our commitment to these assets by providing financial support, matching funds for other state and federal programs, and guidance to local watershed and volunteer-based organizations.