News

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

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…

Heart of the Highlands strikes a good note!

By Colleen O'Neil / October 23, 2025

On the first weekend of October, MWA hosted the Heart of the Highlands Piano Recital at Sparks in the Valley’s event space to raise money for our Rustic Ridge Legal…

Public hearing uncertain for West Newton power plant permit – write a comment! 

By Em Hough / October 21, 2025

Since July 2024, Tenaska’s Title V Operating Permit application has been undergoing technical review by the PA DEP prior to the draft permit being published and available for public comment.…

Caution in Creeks! It’s Brook Trout Spawning Season!

By Colleen O'Neil / October 1, 2025

Did you know that it’s spawning season for the Youghiogheny River watershed’s native trout? Brook trout spawn in the fall, from mid-September through November. They wait for cooler weather and…

Seeking donations & volunteers for Yough Defense Party!

By Colleen O'Neil / October 1, 2025

The Yough Defense Party is MWA’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and this year it’s on November 20 at Falls City Pub in Ohiopyle! We’ll have live music, free snacks,…

MWA protects streams while coal mine appeal moves forward

By Melissa Marshall / October 1, 2025

Mountain Watershed Association (MWA) and LCT Energy, LP (LCT) have reached a “Joint Stipulation as Alternative to Supersedeas” in MWA’s ongoing appeal of the Rustic Ridge #1 mine expansion. This…

Action Alert! Contact the Army Corps of Engineers to Protect the Laurel Highlands from the Rustic Ridge #2 Coal Mine

By Nate Ricketts / September 16, 2025

Comments due by September 24, 2025! In addition to the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s permitting process, the proposed Rustic Ridge #2 mine must undergo a review with the U.S.…

What we Learned from Summer Swim Sampling

By Eric Harder / September 4, 2025

Mountain Watershed Association has conducted bacteria monitoring in the Youghiogheny River Watershed for 15 years.  Our watershed is widely used for recreation and it is apparent that the visitors use…

Rustic Ridge II Mine: Points of Concern

By Colleen O'Neil / September 3, 2025

Project Overview – Rustic Ridge II Mine  On August 20, 2025 at 6:00pm PA Department of Environmental Protection will hosted an informal public conference on the Rustic Ridge II Coal…

A Little Piece of Paradise at Melcroft AMD System

By Colleen O'Neil / September 2, 2025

In August, a strong group of volunteers joined our conservation team to help out with some maintenance and light landscaping at the Melcroft Treatment System. The crew replaced some broken…

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Fracking Operator Seeks Leases from Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County

May 13, 2026

Through a recent “Right to Know” request, MWA learned that the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County (MAWC) was approached to lease large…

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…