News

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

Recreation in the Yough: Is Bacteria a Concern?

By Eric Harder / March 11, 2020

Mountain Watershed Association has been dedicated to clean water for over 25 years. We believe the path to cleaner water uses science, education, and advocacy. Our extensive water sampling program…

MAX Environmental Hazardous Waste Expansion Part I

By Tyler Cannon / February 27, 2020

January 30th Community Meeting On January 30th, 2020, MAX Environmental Services, Pennsylvania’s largest Class C hazardous waste facility, held a voluntary public meeting to inform the community members of Yukon,…

Source Water in the Highlands

By Eric Harder / January 22, 2020

The sources of water throughout our area seem abundant.  In fact, Pennsylvania has the highest stream density and second only to Alaska for total stream miles in the country with…

A Hike in the Headwaters

By Hannah Spencer / January 17, 2020

On January 11, it was a beautiful 70-degree day. As peculiar as it sounds to be walking directly in the stream, following Indian Creek up into its headwaters, in mid-January,…

A Winter Welcoming

By Hannah Spencer / December 6, 2019

Hi! My name is Hannah Spencer and I’m the new Outreach Coordinator at Mountain Watershed. I’m delighted to be (virtually) introducing myself as a part of the organization and a…

Fracking Company Largely Ignores Central Issues At Hearing

By Ryan Clover / November 11, 2019

On November 5th, 2019, the Orphans’ Court of Allegheny County held a hearing on the freshwater pump station which Huntley & Huntley Exploration, now Olympus Energy, operates in Blythedale Park. Protect Elizabeth Township, a group of concerned community members, challenged Huntley & Huntley’s use of public parklands as a private water withdrawal pump station for fracking infrastructure.

Power Plant Host Agreement Coming to Light

By Tyler Cannon / October 25, 2019

Recently, members of Elizabeth Township were able to review the draft versions of the “Host Community Agreement” and “Sanitary Sewer Facilities Contribution Agreement,” which are contracts between Allegheny Energy Center…

24 million gallons withdrawn from Yough for fracking in Elizabeth Twp

By Ashley Funk / October 24, 2019

The peaceful waters of the Yough near West Newton have had a new look and sound since this summer.  A temporary pump has been set up to allow Olympus (previously…

Invest in the Future of the Community

By Jena Shaffer / September 13, 2019

Mid-Year, 2019 Dear Friend of the Watershed, Please join us in protecting, preserving and restoring the Indian Creek and greater Youghiogheny River watersheds. Your donation to the Mountain Watershed Association,…

Huntley & Huntley Allowed to Postpone Public Hearing on Fracking Infrastructure in Public Park

By Ashley Funk / September 11, 2019

Next week’s hearing to determine whether Huntley & Huntley Energy Exploration has illegally used public lands for fracking operations will be postponed until November 4, 2019.     The Allegheny County…

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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…