2004 Goals - Conserving the natural and cultural heritage
of western Pennsylvania

Conserve land, water, and living resources for future generations through protection, restoration, and scientific study

• Conserve 2,500 acres of ancient old growth forests and prairie grasslands that support native migratory birds, shorelines, and habitats of ecological significance.
• Advance the protection of privately held lands through conservation easements.
• Assist 20 new agricultural operations with stream bank fencing and riparian habitat protection. These best management practices improve water quality of streams by reducing pollution caused by soil erosion and fertilizers from farming.
• Continue to manage the detrimental impact of invasive exotic species and begin restoration in the Lake Pleasant watershed.
• Help private landowners and communities in western Pennsylvania chart and protect their most important biological resources through responsible planning. Conclude County Natural Heritage Inventory studies for Clearfield and Huntingdon Counties; continue studies in Blair, Cambria, Somerset, Greene, and Crawford Counties; begin studies in Fulton, Potter, Venango, Warren, and McKean Counties.
• Complete the second annual “State of the Stream Report on the Health of French Creek” focusing on the health of freshwater mussel and fish communities.
• Release the first report from the Aquatic Natural Community Classification Project, which will help the scientific community and research managers to have a deep understanding of water chemistry, aquatic species and their habitats.

Preserve special places where natural and historic heritage of western Pennsylvania can be experienced.

• Develop a long-range plan to ensure the preservation and protection of Fallingwater ® and its landscape well into the future.
• Complete the waterproofing of Fallingwater's terraces and flat roofs.
• Redesign Fallingwater's main entrance to create a safer entry for visitors, while minimizing the impact on the Bear Run Nature Reserve where the house is sited.
• Reestablish the Kaufmanns' flower cutting garden at Fallingwater to provide fresh flowers for the house and to interpret using recycled water for irrigation.

return to top

• Inspire a conservation ethic through volunteer actions
• Train 25 new volunteer land stewards to help protect properties.
• Engage more volunteers and local organizations to take part in community revitalization and greening projects.
• Create new opportunities for volunteering at Fallingwater ® that foster the appreciation of how the natural world and Fallingwater intertwine.

  return to top

• Help communities in Mercer, Beaver and Washington counties establish new gateway gardens.
• Continue to collaborate with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to establish attractive gateway gardens in towns and cities throughout western Pennsylvania.
• Help communities identify, plan and maintain their community green spaces through an expanded Community Conservation Stewardship Services program.
• Establish an ongoing educational program at Fallingwater ® for college architecture students to explore site interpretation and design process.
• Advance Fallingwater as a model for integrating landscape and architecture, sustainability, preservation, good design, and an interdisciplinary understanding of place.
• Create new resources for teaching about Fallingwater with an interdisciplinary approach that also keys in to academic standards. These resources include a curriculum guide and CD, and online resources.
• Develop educational exhibits at the new “Barn at Fallingwater,” premiering with “A Fallingwater Homecoming,” a tribute to the local community's role in the creation of the house.
• Offer visitors to Fallingwater the added convenience of making tour reservations online via WPC's web site.

return to top

• Raise awareness of the importance of forest conservation, agricultural best management practices, and healthy watersheds.
• Maintain federal and state funding for wildlife and private stewardship.
• Provide long-term funding for Pennsylvania's farms, forests, waterways and wildlife habitat by actively participating in the Pennsylvania Alliance for Restoration and Conservation.
• Continue efforts to obtain funding for community revitalization efforts through the reauthorization of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) and the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund.
• Make Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program data available for wider use by all private and public sectors for community planning.

return to top

• Continue to sharply focus WPC's human and fiscal resources on our conservation efforts, while maintaining lean and efficient administrative operations.
• Maintain current high ethical standards and practices.
• Continue to operate using prudent fiscal policies.
• Conserving the natural and cultural heritage of western Pennsylvania
• Inspiring a conservation ethic through education and volunteer actions
• Collaborating with communities
• Advancing public policy and public funding for conservation
• Maintaining a healthy organization

return to top