Pittsburgh, Pa. – March 11, 2024 – Many people love the beauty and tranquility of Lake Erie. Pennsylvanians annually flock to its shoreline to watch sunsets, boat, fish, swim and partake in many activities and adventures. But in the midst of all of the natural beauty and recreational opportunities are... Read More
Mill Run, Pa. – March 11, 2024 – Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, Western Pennsylvania’s only site on the UNESCO World Heritage List, reopens Saturday, March 16, 2024, for its 61st tour season. Since opening to the public for its first house tour in 1964, Fallingwater has welcomed a diverse range... Read More
For the third time in as many decades, the beautiful and dynamic Allegheny River has been named Pennsylvania’s River of Year by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers. The accolades, given in 1994, 2017 and 2024, are a testament to... Read More
Pittsburgh, Pa. – December 21, 2023 – The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy announced today the purchase of conservation easements to permanently protect and limit development on two forested properties, totaling 163 acres, within the Ligonier Valley of Westmoreland County. One of the easements is on approximately 33 acres in Cook Township... Read More
Pittsburgh, Pa. – December 18, 2023 – The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy announced today the permanent protection of 460 forested acres in Keating Township, McKean County. The Conservancy acquired the land from the Collins Pine Company, a sustainable forestry and wood products operator in the PA Wilds. The Conservancy will own... Read More
Invasive species are a major threat to Pennsylvania’s native plants and animals. Introduced to an area outside their native range, invasive species compete with native species for space and resources. They can alter habitats, impact the economy and introduce disease. Amy Jewitt, WPC’s iMapInvasives program coordinator with the Pennsylvania Natural... Read More
Pittsburgh, Pa. – December 4, 2023 – The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy announced today the permanent protection of 410 acres of steep forested slopes and riparian forest in Somerset County that safeguards water quality and wildlife habitat along Clear Run Creek, a tributary to Laurel Hill Creek. The Jefferson Township property... Read More
Dams, undersized culverts and sedimentation are no friends to fish, hellbenders, mussels and other aquatic organisms. When stream-dwelling creatures can’t move upstream freely, “There’s very limited intermingling of genetics in that ecosystem,” says Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Watershed Manager Greg Schaetzle.  “A limited genetic pool lends itself to genetic weaknesses and... Read More
To protect the biodiversity of the ecosystems from invasive species on our nature preserves and across the region, says Brian Daggs, invasive plant ecologist with WPC’s Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, the Conservancy takes a multi-pronged approach by participating in: Education and public engagement, especially through the iMapInvasives annual invasive species... Read More
Pittsburgh, Pa. – Nov. 2, 2023 – The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and BHE GT&S are now accepting proposals for the 2024 Watershed Mini Grant Program, which provides financial assistance to watershed groups and organizations across the region. The watershed mini grants can be used to support projects in three areas:... Read More