News

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

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

By Colleen O'Neil / 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 with lead and heavy metals. Yet the PA…

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

By Melissa Marshall / 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 increases. Because it mentioned potential bill increases of…

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

By Melissa Marshall / 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 near the Pennsylvania Turnpike. On March 6, 2026,…

Happy Egg Season! What’s About to Hatch?

By Lindsey Waugaman / 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 have already found their mates and are laying…

The Vernal Pool, a Salamander Nursery!

By Lindsey Waugaman / 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 a small, temporary, low-lying area that can fill…

Celebrate Earth Month with MWA!

By Colleen O'Neil / April 3, 2026

April is Earth Month, an annual time of celebration and action for the good of the planet. If you’re looking for a way to make a difference this month, MWA…

DEP Holds Long-Awaited Public Hearing on Tenaska Westmoreland’s Title V Operating Permit Draft

By Colleen O'Neil / March 4, 2026

After over an year and a half of organizing by local residents and environmental groups, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) hosted a hearing on Tenaska Westmoreland’s air quality…

Use Caution with Unsolicited Property Offers

By MWA Board Member / February 23, 2026

Spam comes in many forms these days. Recently, community members have reported getting unsolicited land offers from random text messages, phone calls, and even handwritten letters. If you get a…

2025 Year in Review

By Colleen O'Neil / February 19, 2026

2025 tested our commitments and our stamina. Our communities faced a barrage of emerging threats: lead contamination in Blue Hole Creek, federal funding cuts that stripped many of their basic…

Opinion: Pennsylvania should not be a sacrifice zone for billionaires to play with AI and crypto

By MWA Board Member / February 3, 2026

By Kurt Limbach, Mountain Watershed Association Board member and Bolivar, PA resident The proposed power plant at the site of the old Homer City coal electric plant will be three…

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Summer is for swimming!

March 6, 2014
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We need your help! Suggest your favorite swim hole in the Yough watershed for sampling this summer!  We have received funds from…

OSM determines timbering on Curry site is related to mining

March 5, 2014
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The backstory… We’ve been wrangling with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Amerikhol Mining over erosion & sedimentation issues on…

House to Vote on Endangered Species Bill as Early as March 10

February 27, 2014
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The following is an except of a letter prepared by the Pennsylvania Campaign for Clean Water‘s Exceptional Value Workgroup (of which MWA…

Thousands Call on Chevron to Apologize for Pizza Coupons

February 26, 2014
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Pizza doesn’t mean never having to say you’re sorry. When one of its gas wells exploded in Dunkard Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania,…

Drilling in North Huntingdon Community Parks

February 25, 2014
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Drilling OK’d in Braddock’s Trail and Oak Hollow Parks On Wednesday, February 19, by a vote of five to two, the North…