PennFuture staff spent Tuesday and Wednesday of this week with more than 240 people from up and down the Delaware River Watershed in PA, NJ, DE and NY. The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed (CDRW) conference that we've been talking up on this blog was the second time advocates and aficionados of clean water in the watershed have gathered. Here are some highlights of what you missed at the fabulous Historic Hotel Bethlehem. But fear not -- there's plenty you can do to get involved.
Collin O'Mara, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation,
gave a luncheon address and reiterated how important the Delaware River Watershed is to the nation and beyond. "It's globally significant, and we need to think of it as such," said O'Mara. He further noted that this region of abundant wildlife and natural resources, and its concurrent economic benefits, faces the threat of over one million acres of wetlands at risk. Our own CEO, Cindy Dunn, introduced Collin and noted PennFuture's representation of NWF in Pennsylvania since 2009.- Hands-on time: Attendees chose from five field trips, and I had the chance to visit a great spot in nearby Easton: The Nurture Nature Center. This organization was originally founded to address and educate about flooding, a reality the Lehigh Valley has endured numerous times just in the last decade. Among their excellent offerings in a restored building that housed a 1914 theater is the Science on a Sphere exhibit. You really must experience this interactive NOAA- and National Weather Service-designed feature in person, though you can catch a preview in the adjacent photo.
- Our colleague, staff attorney Mike Helbing, was among the presenters in the conference sessions. He addressed different ways of
addressing cumulative impacts under Pennsylvania law, framing it thusly: "You can think of
environmental damage from cumulative impacts as the proverbial 'death by
a thousand paper cuts.'" The presenters offered in-depth looks at these impacts and solutions in combined urban-suburban waterside areas which characterize parts of the watershed.
It's a good feeling to be part of a growing and enthusiastic collaborative, and we anticipate much more progress to come. We salute the efforts of CDRW director Kim Beidler in organizing a great conference along with the coalition steering committee that includes our colleague, PennFuture Federal Policy Director Joy Bergey.
PennFuture's commitment to this watershed --- and waterways across Pennsylvania --- will continue, and you can look for more news and actions here on what's next. That's a wrap from Bethlehem!
Kate Gibbons is northeastern Pennsylvania outreach coordinator for PennFuture and is based in Wilkes-Barre.
Fall foliage along the great Lehigh River in eastern Pennsylvania is a sight to see. This month, combine great views while you attend a conference for broad collaboration on the restoration and protection of the Delaware River Basin at the 2nd annual Delaware River Watershed Forum in Bethlehem on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 21-22.
We've written about the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed (CDRW) in this blog before (organizations are welcome to apply to join). Join PennFuture and groups from across the watershed at the historic Hotel Bethlehem to hear success stories about engaging communities, enhancing the quality of life, restoring habitat, mitigating flooding, and creating jobs.
Sessions will include:
- Best practices for restoration, education, and protection
- Building new constituencies from recreation
- Partnerships to create source-to-sea watershed conservation
Great field trips featured:
- Visit the site of a flood-driven dam removal that benefits ecosystem restoration
- Get a behind-the-scenes tour of Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve
- Explore native woods restoration and learn the history of the Delaware & Raritan Canal
For more information or to register online:
http://bit.ly/DelawareWatershedForum or contact Kim Beidler, kim.beidler@njaudubon.org, (609) 392-1182. Limited scholarships available!
The
Coalition's mission is to unite organizations and enhance their
capacity to advocate for protecting and restoring the Delaware River
Basin. PennFuture is a steering committee member of
the CDRW as part of its work on various watersheds and water quality
issues. Psst: we'll be among the panelists at the Forum, too!
Kate Gibbons is PennFuture's northeast Pennsylvania outreach coordinator and is based in Wilkes-Barre.
