Governor's Award for Watershed Stewardship 2001

Juniata Clean Water Partnership
RD #1, Box 7E
Huntingdon, PA 16652

Contact:
Deborah Nardone
(814) 627-5391
(814) 627-5182 (fax)
dnardone@savethebay.cbf.org

Environmental Results:

Watershed-wide GIS database developed.

4 watershed associations formed.

2 regional greenways started.

Named River of the Year for 2001 by Gov. Ridge.

Obtained River Conservation Registry status for the entire Juniata Watershed.

Assessment & Planning
Juniata Clean Water Partnership

Grassroots Support Offers Key to Watershed Success

The Juniata Clean Water Partnership was founded in 1997 to build local capacity to protect, enhance and restore the natural resources in the Juniata River watershed. Today it oversees a 3,400 square-mile watershed, consisting of more than 400 named streams and nearly 6,500 stream miles. With a watershed of this size, the partnership - a coalition of 25 organizations and agencies - knew that a successful watershed plan needed to be driven by the concerns of local residents.

To identify residents' concerns about the environmental and social health of the watershed, the partnership hosted three rounds of public forums, 27 meetings total, at strategic locations throughout the watershed region. A survey distributed to local government officials in nearly 200 municipalities in the Juniata watershed provided a second layer of data, specifically targeting information about local land use, sewer and water-related issues. When asked if they would favor the development of a watershed-wide management plan, 72 percent of the watershed municipalities sent in letters supporting the plan.

The partnership also solicited the expert advice of local, state and federal resource management professionals. Once the plan was in draft form, the partnership continued to involve stakeholders during the review and revision process through press releases, presentations and more public meetings.

When the final Juniata Watershed Management Plan was released in fall 2000, copies were distributed to every library, conservation district and county planning office in the watershed. The final plan also is accessible at www.jcwp.org.

Moving forward, the partnership plans to help communities implement the watershed plan, conduct watershed-wide studies and modeling, as needed, and help establish watershed associations for the tributaries of the Juniata River.

"Having lived in the Juniata watershed for the past 30 years, there has been no other initiative that has gathered the public around the river to learn and discuss its problems and solutions...I believe this process can and will serve as a role model for watershed planning in Pennsylvania, and perhaps across the nation."
John Dawes
Western Pennsylvania Watershed Protection Program and Vice Chairman for the Juniata Clean Water Partnership

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