Started by Lancaster Conservancy in 2017, Water Week is about to mark its 10th anniversary with over 60 water-themed events hosted by more than 40 partners from June 5-13, 2026.
“Lancaster Water Week began on the shores of the Conestoga River as a celebration of Lancaster County’s streams, rivers, and natural resources. From the start, it has supported project implementation while sharing our community’s history and commitment to these special places,” said Lancaster Conservancy President & CEO Fritz Schroeder.
“Lancaster has made tremendous progress toward caring for our waterways, and Water Week continues to highlight those everyday efforts, inspiring people of all ages to get involved. Whether you’re planting pollinator seeds or a native tree or striving to learn more about your watershed, every action matters.”
Lancaster County is home to over 1,400 miles of streams and rivers, and according to the 2026 Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Report, over 90% of them are impaired.
This means they may be unable to support healthy populations of aquatic life, they may not be a safe source for drinking water, or they may be unsafe for recreation like swimming or fishing.
As rainwater travels over roads, lawns, parking lots, and farm fields, it can pick up harmful pesticides, fertilizers, litter, and soil, which then pollute and muddy our streams and rivers.
However, there is an incredible effort underway throughout Lancaster County to clean up and protect these waterways, which is highlighted each year during Lancaster Water Week.
The over 60 events during this year’s Water Week include hiking and biking tours of waterway and wetland restoration projects, opportunities to learn about underwater life, paddles on the Conestoga and Susquehanna Rivers, volunteer opportunities, educational experiences for kids, workshops on creating rain gardens, film screenings, trivia, and more.
“It takes a community to heal a stream, which is why Water Week offers something for everyone. Whether you are a family with young kids, a city resident, business owner, farmer, person of faith, or simply a caring community member, there is a way for you to learn more and take action for our streams and rivers,” said Kelly Slippey, community event coordinator at Lancaster Conservancy.
Over the first nine years of Lancaster Water Week, thousands of attendees have participated in more than 300 Water Week events.
The Conservancy, in partnership with the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership and Octoraro Native Plant Nursery, has given away over 10,000 free native trees and shrubs, which help to protect waterways by filtering polluted stormwater before it enters streams and rivers while also providing wildlife habitat.
And with the support of Water Week sponsors, over $300,000 has been contributed to the Lancaster Clean Water Fund and grants which fuel clean water projects.
The Lancaster Clean Water Fund is managed by the Lancaster County Community Foundation and the Lancaster Clean Water Partners.
Partners
“None of this would be possible without our sponsors and partners. Together, we are making real, measurable progress,” said Schroeder.
The 10th annual Lancaster Water Week is made possible thanks to presenting sponsor High Foundation.
“Water Week is more than a celebration – it’s a powerful demonstration of what our community can achieve when we come together with purpose. In just one week, dozens of activities and organizations bring people together around a shared vision to protect and restore our waterways. High Foundation is honored to support Water Week on its 10th anniversary," said Robin Stauffer, president/CEO of the High Foundation.
Other Lancaster Water Week 2026 sponsors include: The Campbell Foundation, Brookfield Renewable N.A., Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Lancaster County Community Foundation, Eurofins, Flyway Excavating, Inc., Fulton Bank, Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority, Commonwealth Financial Associates, Nimblist, Inframark, City of Lancaster, Jacobs, Landis Homes, Constellation Energy, Stroud Water Research Center, Lancaster County Conservation District, LandStudies, Sickman’s Mill Outfitters, and Octoraro Native Plant Nursery.
Lancaster Water Week 2026 is additionally made possible thanks to a subaward of a Lancaster Clean Water Partners grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency, Chesapeake Bay Funders Network, and the Chesapeake Bay Program.
Financial and technical assistance for this project was also provided by National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways.
Chesapeake Gateways inspires and helps people discover, experience, and connect with the natural and cultural heritage and recreational opportunities of the Chesapeake Bay and the rivers, landscapes, and communities across its watershed.
Visit the Lancaster Water Week 2026 webpage for the entire schedule of activities.
[Posted: June 1, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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