News

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

Rasler Run Stewardship Project Expands!

By Colleen O'Neil / July 24, 2024

Last year, MWA conserved nearly 200 acres of land along Rasler Run, a tributary to Indian Creek. This spring, we added 55.7 adjacent acres to this property, a purchase made…

Welcome to Our New Team Members!

By Colleen O'Neil / July 17, 2024

The staff at Mountain Watershed Association is growing again! Join us in welcoming two new community organizers, Em and Chantelle, to the team. Both of our new members are passionate…

A new chapter for James

By Colleen O'Neil / June 28, 2024

We’ll miss you, James! Our beloved community organizer, James Cato, is moving on to pursue his MFA in creative writing at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, one of the most prestigious…

Community fun at Family Field Day!

By Colleen O'Neil / June 26, 2024

Our second annual Family Field Day at Laurel Hill State Park was a great success! Local and visiting families, totaling over 100 people, enjoyed a free day of paddling, fishing,…

Our best ICV Trail Golf Scramble Yet!

By Colleen O'Neil / June 12, 2024

Four years ago, our Indian Creek Valley Trail committee suggested holding a golf scramble to raise money for the trail. Our organization does lots of outdoor activities, but very few…

Putting the Dead to Rest: Why Legislation to Halt Zombie Mines Is Essential

By Madison Hinkle / June 11, 2024

On April 11, 2024, Pennsylvania Congressman, Matt Cartwright, introduced two bills in the U.S. House to assuage issues associated with “zombie mines,” coal mines that no longer produce coal, but…

Did you miss it? Rustic Ridge Town Hall Recap

By Colleen O'Neil / May 29, 2024

On May 14, the MWA Advocacy team (including two on-staff attorneys), staff from Jacobs Creek Watershed Association, and members of the Rustic Ridge Action Committee joined about 30 residents of…

Welcome to our Summer AmeriCorps Members!

By Colleen O'Neil / May 29, 2024

We have two awesome new Summer AmeriCorps members at MWA this year! We’d like to wish them a warm welcome to our team! Carlee Shreve (Education and Outreach): Carlee was…

MWA Receives $30,000 in Education Funding

By Colleen O'Neil / May 28, 2024

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has awarded MWA a grant to continue expanding our outdoor education programs in the Youghiogheny River watershed! Over the past 30 years, we’ve provided…

193 Fewer Tires in the Yough!

By Colleen O'Neil / May 28, 2024

On May 18, we held our first River Cleanup of the year on the Youghiogheny River in West Newton, PA! MWA hosts river and roadside cleanups in the Youghiogheny River…

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MWA Board Member Donates Yough Patrol Boat!

June 17, 2026

We’d like to officially introduce our first official Youghiogheny River Patrol Boat! Longtime MWA member (and volunteer Board of Directors member) Ken…

Rustic Ridge 1 and Expansion Deep Mine:  Protect Your Property with Pre-Mining Surveys

June 17, 2026
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Recently, our team had the opportunity to review the most recent proposed 6-month mine maps associated with the Rustic Ridge 1 and…

Our comment on the Homer City Data Center Pipeline

June 1, 2026
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On May 12, MWA stood in solidarity with Concerned Residents of Western Pennsylvania (CROW) and community members from Indiana County at a…

Trail Tuesday Summer Schedule

May 29, 2026

Every summer we host guided walks on the Indian Creek Valley Trail on Tuesday evenings. The long-awaited Trail Tuesday schedule for this…

Small Grants for Grassroots Groups Available!

May 28, 2026

Since 2014, the Direct Support Fund (DSF) has provided small grants to grassroots groups working toward environmental justice in Appalachia and the…