Can you make a call for Pennsylvania’s highest quality streams today?
The Senate is poised to vote on House Bill 1565 which will eliminate the current buffers rule in Pennsylvania’s Clean Streams Law. This rule requires forested buffers to be maintained around our highest quality streams when new permitted activities occur. Any effort to eliminate or modify 25 Pa. Code Section 102.14 will inflict considerable harm on our communities and our most exceptional streams.
Streams with high quality or exceptional value designations are among the best in the Commonwealth. They contain exceptional water quality and unique aquatic communities. Many support populations of threatened or endangered species. Some provide important habitat for our native eastern brook trout, a species whose available habitat is rapidly decreasing due to development and subsequent pollution. These streams are important ecologically, and many also provide important quality-of-life and recreational benefits for nearby communities as well as the thousands of visitors who flock to Pennsylvania each year to take advantage of our exceptional natural amenities. These streams deserve our protection.
TAKE ACTION: Please take a moment to call your Senator TODAY and ask that s/he vote NO on House Bill 1565. Find your senator at this link.
We are fortunate to have many high quality and exceptional value streams in the Yough watershed. High quality and exceptional value streams in the Yough watershed which could be affected include the headwaters of Indian Creek, Meadow Run, Morgan Run, Johnson Run, the main stem of the Yough, Laurel Run & Middle Fork, Laurel Hill Creek, and countless others. Please call today.
Talking points from the Delaware Riverkeeper Network:
Forested buffer zones reduce pollution that harm humans and aquatic life, decrease flood damages, prevent erosion, enhance in-stream ecosystem services that further reduce pollution, and increase property values. The endless number of services buffers provide preserve the quality of our most cherished waterways and protect our communities. Scientific research has repeatedly shown that no other best management practice works as effectively as forested buffers at protecting our waters.
Supporting any bill that defeats or diminishes the requirement for buffers on any or all Pennsylvania streams will clearly put the priorities of the development industry above the needs and safety of Pennsylvania’s citizens. Current Chapter 102 regulations are not overly burdensome and already include exceptions for a wide variety of situations.
Current Chapter 102 regulations only require a 150 foot buffer for Exceptional Value and High Quality streams. These provisions only apply to new development/redevelopment projects involving over 1 acre of earth disturbance and already provide exemptions for agriculture, timber harvesting and a number of other activities. Chapter 102 also provides for a number of exceptions such as when existing site conditions make compliance not appropriate or feasible.
Please stop allowing developers to externalize their cost and make Pennsylvania citizens pay for the extensive damage inflicted. The real cost of destroying riparian buffers happens when erosion undermines roads and bridges, when water quality degradation increases water treatment costs, and when small frequent storms cause extensive flood damages.
October 15, 2014 Update: Unfortunately the Senate passed HB 1565 with a vote of 27-22. To view the roll call please click here. Thank you for your efforts.