From WPC President Larry Schweiger
Growing Greener - Next Steps
Far too many Pennsylvania communities have inherited a legacy of mine drainage--polluted rivers.

In this issue...Advancing a Sound Conservation Policy
by WPC Executive Vice President Cynthia Carrow
WPC understands that government action occurring through legislation, regulations and planning has direct impact on WPC’s mission.

On the cover...
Partnerships Help Shore Up Largest Undeveloped Tract on Lake Erie
Pennsylvania's 60-mile stretch of shoreline on Lake Erie's great inland sea is perhaps the most unique feature of the state's varied landscape.

A River (The Clarion) Runs Through It
by Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis
In order for Pennsylvanians to enjoy and appreciate their rivers to their fullest potential, public access to the rivers and their forested corridors is essential.

 

"A Fallingwater Homecoming" Exhibit opens at the Bear Run Interpretive Center
by Sarah Cleary, Fallingwater Curator of Education
When I moved here in 1990, I quickly learned to never explore the western Pennsylvania countryside without a full tank of gas and a detailed county map.

 

Come Garden with Us… as a Garden Steward… as a Community Cultivator
“So often, we think of ‘giving' in monetary terms but there is so much more to give. Volunteering is a great way to channel individual talents, skills, and energy into something that is really meaningful to people and the community. Our knowledge, skills, attitude, and life experiences are unique and we have the opportunity to share them with others.” Mike Woshner, WPC Community Conservation Volunteer Garden Steward

Deer- A Crisis in Penn's Woods
By Cindy Adams Dunn, Director, Office of Education, Communications and Partnerships, DCNR
Both are Pennsylvania hallmark scenes: against autumn's flaming backdrop, a herd of deer slips from the forest at dusk to feed.

 

Environmentally Friendly Agricultural: The Real “Health Food”
by Tolif Hunt - Project Coordinator, Sideling Hille Creek and Agricultural Specialist
Increasingly, western Pennsylvanians have begun to ask the important questions of where does my food come from and how was my food produced?

Natural Heritage Inventory Uncovers New Species in Huntington County
by Beth Brokaw - Ecologist

The recently completed County Natural Heritage Inventory (CNHI) for Huntington County revealed a freshwater mussel species and three plant species (one pictured at left, photo by WPC's Robert Coxe) previously undocumented in the county.

WPC and the Lorenzis forge a “win-win” transaction for land conservation
Lisa and Jim Lorenzi felt a strong connection to the woodland they owned in Brentwood Borough and wanted to protect its natural values.

Creating A Lasting Legacy—Bequests to Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
You can create a lasting conservation legacy that will impact western Pennsylvania for generations to come.

Why Does Public Policy Matter?
by Katherine Smitherman, Director of Public Policy
Environmental policy consists of various laws, regulations, programs, and resource management plans at the local, state and federal level.

Dear Dr. Conservation
It occurs to me that I have heard the term “endangered species” and I think I could even name a few that I've read about like the bald eagle, Florida panther and some river mussels. But how does an animal get labeled “endangered?" Who makes that decision?

Watershed Assistance Center Offers Free Delivery to Grassroots Organizations
In its three short years of existence, the Watershed Assistance Center has assisted more than 200 different groups with more than 1,000 requests for technical assistance.

Out of the Woods and into the Cities: A perspective on endangered species recovery
By Charles Bier, Director, Natural Heritage Program
Late in the afternoon, the entire room must have been filled with bleak faces, not a pleased or encouraged crowd. Can you imagine the demeanor and atmosphere on that day in 1965 when a worldwide gathering of biologists and conservationists at the University of Wisconsin had to file their conference report on the status of certain “top of the food chain” bird populations in North America and elsewhere in the world?

WPC's Volunteer Land Stewards supported by REI
by Tami Campbell, Land Stewardship Coordinator
The WPC Land Steward Volunteer Program was implemented in 1998 to augment staff capacity to monitor and implement management activities.

Go to the cover story...