News

Scroll down for an update on our conservation work, our ongoing campaigns, our upcoming events, our volunteer opportunities, and press.

Shannon Compton Well Pad Meeting – Key Takeaways

By Nate Ricketts / January 27, 2026

On January 20, MWA held a community meeting regarding a plan to build an unconventional gas well pad off of Jim Mountain Road in Mill Run, PA. About two dozen…

PA DEP Grants Public Hearing on Tenaska Westmoreland’s First-Ever Title V Operating Permit Draft; Residents, Stakeholders Invited to Voice Concerns 

By Em Hough / January 27, 2026

Air dispersion modeling conducted by the Environmental Health Project showing the average distribution of emissions from the facility.

Shannon Compton Well Pad – Next Community Steps

By Nate Ricketts / January 7, 2026

On December 1, 2025 the Erosion and Sedimentation (E&S) permit for the Shannon Compton well pad on Kooser Road, Springfield Township, Fayette County was approved by the Pennsylvania Department of…

Bad Data: What to Know About Homer City’s New Plant

By Nate Ricketts / December 14, 2025

On November 18, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection approved the air quality plan for the proposed 3200-acre Homer City Energy Campus, which, if constructed, would become the largest fracked…

Winter in the Watershed: Squirrel houses and color-changing critters

By Colleen O'Neil / December 8, 2025

In the winter, most people end up staying inside a bit longer than usual, curling up on the couch with a good book or movie, and layering up when they…

Fayette County organizations team up to build mutual aid network

By Colleen O'Neil / November 25, 2025

Mountain Watershed Association has received grant funding to support Fayette County’s rural mountain communities. The funding will be used to support local food banks, establish a drinking water aid program,…

Mountain Pines zoning appeal denied (again)

By Stacey Magda / November 4, 2025

At long last, we have an update on the pending Mountain Mines Appeal regarding Diamond Properties, LLC vs. Fayette County Zoning Hearing Board and Mountain Watershed Association.  If you need…

Forgotten History – the Town of Indian Creek

By Colleen O'Neil / November 3, 2025

When I want to be deep in nature and far away from other people, I like to go for a long run in the Indian Creek gorge. Today I’m feeling…

Some TLC for the ICV Trail!

By Colleen O'Neil / October 23, 2025

For the past several years, the Indian Creek Valley Trail from Champion to Jones Mills has been a little rough. This 1.7-mile section serves as a link between the ICVT…

Community action – spreading awareness about Laurel Highlands well pad proposal

By Colleen O'Neil / October 23, 2025

Our community organizers held a well-attended meeting at Laurel Ridge State Park on October 9 to share information about a pending permit review for an unconventional shale gas well (also…

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Blue Hole Creek still polluted, but no further action from PA DEP (ACTION ITEM)

April 30, 2026

A whole year after MWA learned about lead pollution in Blue Hole Creek in Forbes State Forest, this once-pristine stream remains contaminated…

Your Water Bill Could Go Up — Here’s What That Letter Really Means

April 27, 2026
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Recently, many Indian Creek Valley Water Authority (ICVWA) customers opened their mail and found a “Rate Impact Notice” about possible future rate…

MWA Files Appeal After $2.8M Cut to Mine-Damage Protections

April 21, 2026
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MWA has filed an appeal challenging a decision to cut millions of dollars in financial protections for damage from underground coal mining…

Happy Egg Season! What’s About to Hatch?

April 10, 2026

It’s my favorite time of year! EGG SEASON. No, not just Easter egg hunts. But the time of year where some birds…

The Vernal Pool, a Salamander Nursery!

April 3, 2026

I’ve been seeing a ton of social media posts about vernal pools, but, what are they?  What is a vernal pool? It’s…