Southwestern PA Water Network Hosts Sept. 28 Confluence At Mingo Creek - A Celebration Of Watersheds In PA's Ohio River Watershed

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Network invites watershed volunteers and stream champions from throughout the Upper Ohio River Basin to the second basin-wide convening of water advocates. 

The free celebration and networking picnic, the Confluence at Mingo Creek, A Celebration of Watersheds will take place on September 28, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Pavilion No. 5 in Mingo Creek Park in Washington County.  

Picnic BBQ and food provided by local caterers.

Through hands-on activities and participation attendees will learn popular tools for watershed stewardship and celebrate the dedication and hard work of volunteers.  

The gathering is an opportunity to directly engage in activities of monitoring and learning; to connect with individuals and organizations dedicated to water stewardship; and to share strategies for assessing and stewarding streams through the Upper Ohio River Basin. 

The program starts promptly at 11:00 a.m. and the picnic includes activities that support the work of watershed volunteers and stream stewards.

There will be a panel highlighting how watersheds are helping watersheds through coalitions and mentoring.  

Speakers include John Wenzel of the Conemaugh Valley Conservancy, Tali MacArthur of the PA Organization of Watersheds and Rivers, and Lisa  Di Bartolomeo, West Virginia Rivers, and leaders from the Washington County Watershed Alliance.  

This panel will also solicit good governance and resource sharing ideas and recommendations to streamline the work of volunteer stream stewards.

Most of the day will be for attendees to directly engage in activities of monitoring, learning, and sharing that can be taken back to local watersheds throughout the Upper Ohio River Basin. 

A selection of activities include:

-- The Shenango Climate and Rural Environmental Study Team (SCREST) will have their “Climate Cards” and demonstrate them as a tool to spark conversation about climate change across the Basin;

-- Artists from the Creatives for the Climate will bring the Climate Playground kit of activities, including an extreme weather kit and crumbled paper watershed exercises, for kids and their adults to directly engage with what impacts watersheds and streams.

-- Macroinvertebrate hike to the adjacent stream (Waterproof shoes are recommended) and microscopes to observe prepared specimens.

-- The Izaak Walton League, Harry Enstrom Chapter, will have saline and nutrient test kits and leaders to demonstrate how to use them. 

-- A “Hall of Knowledge” of programs, funding, and stream assessment tools such as Keep PA Beautiful Waterway Stewards and West Virginia’s Stream Partners programs;

-- The Water Network will share and demonstrate its visual Watershed Directory

Information on the Ohio River Restoration Plan and the Basin Alliance’s upcoming Summit in Pittsburgh at the end of October and other organizing events scheduled for early 2025.

The Confluence at Mingo Creek Planning Group includes the Washington County Conservation District, West Virginia Watershed Network, Pennsylvania Organization of Watersheds and Rivers, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Watershed Manager, Southwestern District, Penn State Extension Watershed Stewards Program, and the Allegheny County Conservation District.

Join the Confluence on September 28 to celebrate watersheds and water stewardship and work towards a brighter future for the Upper Ohio River Basin.  

Click Here to register.

Visit the Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Network website for more information on programs, initiatives, other upcoming events and how you can get involved.

Resources Link:

-- Southwestern PA Water Network To Host Confluence At Mingo Creek - A Celebration Of Watersheds Sept. 28 In Washington County  [PaEN]

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[Posted: September 18, 2024]  PA Environment Digest