Taylor Robbins

Hello, my name is Taylor Robbins, and I am the Conservation and Recreation Manager at MWA.

I am from the Connellsville, Pa area and started pursuing a career in conservation when I attended Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA. I have always been interested in science and enjoyed the outdoors, but Cedar Crest showed me how I could marry the two. There I majored in Environmental Conservation and tried to explore the different paths that I could take after graduating. I had summer internships at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Bear Run Nature Reserve, and I had the opportunity to join multiple research labs studying local water quality, Queen Conch and coral reefs in the Cayman Islands and the parental behavior of North American Kestrels.

After graduating in 2019, I eventually started working for Jacobs Creek Watershed Association, a sub watershed of the Youghiogheny, that was also close to home. I worked there for 2.5 years performing water quality sampling, managing conservation projects and planning education and recreation events. Now as the Conservation and Recreation Manager at Mountain Watershed Association, I will be expanding my impact as I maintain abandoned mine drainage systems and conduct water quality sampling in both the Indian Creek and greater Youghiogheny watersheds. You may also see me around on the Indian Creek Valley Trail as I manage new recreation projects and fundraisers.

My favorite place in the Yough watershed currently is Acme Dam. I would frequent this spot a lot during my time at JCWA and think it’s a hidden gem with the amount of wildlife, walking trails and overall beauty. I drive past it on my commute to MWA now and just love how beautiful it looks in the current snow and ice.

I enjoy going on weekend walks and casual bike rides near my residential area as I am a “land” person even though I do love searching for insects and other creatures in our streams.