News

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

Welcome Our New Direct Support Fund Committee Members!

By Ashley Funk / September 9, 2019

Mountain Watershed Association is celebrating the 5 year anniversary of our Direct Support Fund, with big changes in the works! Since 2014, Mountain Watershed Association has been distributing small grants…

Court to Decide If Fracked Gas Water Withdrawal Can Be Built In Public Park

By Jena Shaffer / August 29, 2019

On September 18, 2019, a hearing will be held at the Allegheny County Orphans Court to determine whether a portion of Blythedale Park in Elizabeth Township can be used for…

2019 Summer Newsletter

By Jena Shaffer / August 27, 2019

The 2019 Summer edition of MWA Territory Newsletter has been released. Stories of the Gorge Celebration, a list of upcoming events, as well as staff updates can all be found…

Yet Another Hazardous Spill into the Yough

By Tyler Cannon / August 23, 2019

UPDATE: The DEP has released an estimate of 1,500 gallons of the 4,650 gallons carried by the truck have leaked from the truck. DEP also stated that the truck was carrying wastewater which…

A Celebration in the Gorge

By Jena Shaffer / August 12, 2019

More than 70 trail lovers attended the August 7 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the completion of the Gorge section of the Indian Creek Valley Trail in Mill Run, Pennsylvania. The Indian…

More Drilling May Jeopardize Drinking Water for 130,000

By Jena Shaffer / August 5, 2019

Since 2011, 52 wells have been drilled by CNX Resources Corporation, CONSOL’s gas division, within the immediate vicinity to Beaver Run Reservoir, the drinking water source for 130,000 people throughout…

Ohiopyle-Laurel Highlands Maps For Your Next Adventure

By Jena Shaffer / July 29, 2019

Purple Lizard Maps, an independent cartographic design firm out of Central Pennsylvania, has created an amazing map of Ohiopyle and the Laurel Highlands. It has everything that you’ll need for…

Welcome Tyler!

By Jena Shaffer / July 18, 2019

We are excited to welcome a second Community Organizer to our team, Tyler Cannon. Tyler grew up in southern West Virginia and studied horticulture, geography, and other subjects at West…

Goal Reached- The Gorge Is Finished!

By Jena Shaffer / June 28, 2019

Mountain Watershed Association, the Indian Creek Valley Trail Committee, and many trail supporters have been hard at work over the past several years raising funds to complete the Gorge section…

A Summer with MWA

By Jena Shaffer / June 19, 2019

Summer 2019 is proving to already be packed full of water sampling, activities, and events for MWA and staff. Fortunately, we have three additional AmeriCorps Members for the summer to…

Row rect Shape Decorative svg added to top

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
|

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
| |

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…