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Indiana County

Conemaugh Valley Conservancy / Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team

Funded by: LWVPA-CEF WREN Project, Watershed Protection Project 2002-2003
Project Title: Community Outreach Placemat Project
Area(s) to be protected: Kiski-Conemaugh River Basin
Partner(s): Conemaugh Valley Conservancy/Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team & Kiski-Conemaugh River Basin Alliance
Focus: develop a community outreach project based on restaurant placemats
Counties served: Armstrong, Somerset, Westmoreland, Indiana, Cambria County
Grant: $5,000
Contact: Tom Grote, 814-467-0836, email: tfgrote@floodcity.net

Aging Services of Indiana County

Funded by: LWVPA-CEF WREN Project, Drinking Water Source Water Protection Project 2002-2003
Project Title: Indiana County Drinking Water Source Water Protection Campaign
Area(s) to be protected: throughout the county
Partner(s): League of Women Voters of Indiana County, Indiana County Office of Planning and Development, Indiana County Conservation District, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Dept. of Mathematics, Applied Research Lab
Focus: develop a drinking water awareness campaign
Counties served: Indiana County Grant: $5,000
Contact: Peg Malcolm, 724-349-4564, email: pmalcom@yourinter.net, lwvic@yourinter.net

Aultman Rund Watershed recognized as a Groundwater Guardian Community since 2000
Explanation of Groundwater Guardian Award

Community Profile: http://www.groundwater.org/active/community.asp?id202

Contact:
Ken Marshall
AWARE
6122 Rt. 286 W.
Indiana, PA 15701 US

Phone: 724-465-4687
Fax: 724-465-8974
E-mail: nextlife@adelphia.net

Blacklick Creek Watershed Educational Kiosk

Funded by: LWVPA-CEF WREN Project - Watershed Education for Pollution Prevention Projects - 2000

Partners:
Indiana County Parks, Blacklick Creek Watershed Association, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Spatial Sciences Research Center

Area(s) to be protected: Blacklick Creek Watershed

Focus:
The coalition will produce brochures and purchase and install an outdoor grade signboard that will inform Ghosttown Trail users about water quality issues in the Blacklick Creek watershed.
Counties served: Indiana and Cambria counties
Grant: $1,382
Contact: Michael Kuzemchak, 724.463.8636,
email: indparks@stargate.net

AWARE Organization Establishment and Educational Outreach

Funded by: LWVPA-CEF WREN Project - Watershed Education for Pollution Prevention Projects - 2000

Partners: Aultman Watershed Association for Restoring the Environment, and Blacklegs Creek Watershed Association

Area(s) to be protected: Aultman Run Watershed

Focus: AWARE will develop and mail educational brochures and a quarterly newsletter to the residents of the watershed.

Grant: $1,100

Contact: John Somonick, 724.463.0651,
email: services@geolynk.com

Indiana County Watershed Education Alliance

Funded by: LWVPA-CEF WREN Project - Watershed Education for Pollution Prevention Projects - 1999

Focus: The partners will develop a countywide student stream monitoring program to educate about water quality issues and seek solutions to acid mine drainage problems. A watershed education conference will bring students together to share information.

Partners: Indiana Senior High School, Ken Sink Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Indiana County Conservation District, Kiski-Conemaugh River Basin Alliance
Grant: $ 2,440
Contact: Phil Palko, 724-463-8562, Email: PPalko@aol.com

Indiana County Conservation District
Funded by LWVPA-CEF WREN Project - Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Grants - 1997-1998

Coalition Partners: Indiana U. of PA, Dept of Safety Sciences, LWV of Indiana County
Contact: Louis A. Kopczyk, 412-463-7702
Grant: $ 1,050

Focus: For a conference to provide information on environmental issues and support programs to Indiana County municipalities that will enable them to better answer inquiries from the public.

Accomplishments: The conference was held in September 1997 and was targeted at municipalities who are often the first, if not the only, agency contacted before small projects are started. Fifty-four people attended, including personnel representing 18 municipalities. Eleven organizations provided speakers on eight issue/program topics, and eight organizations provided educational exhibits.

The conference was completed using approximately one-half the requested funds and the local project team proposed sponsoring a model meeting for residents, hosted by one of the municipalities with a known water quality problem. This request was approved by the Sponsor. Seventeen residents attended the model meeting for Ernest Borough residents in May 1998. At the model meeting a list of potential community projects was developed using group process techniques. A panel of experts provided feedback on each project's feasibility and suggestions about how to achieve them.

Successes, Obstacles, and Unanticipated Outcomes: Conference evaluations were overwhelmingly positive. Lower than anticipated costs allowed team to propose extending the reach of project activities (described above).