Landowners and residents are invited to attend a community meeting Nov. 4

Waterford Township, Pa. – Oct. 12, 2019–Landowners, residents and business owners within the Trout Run watershed are invited to attend a community meeting Nov. 4 to discuss the start of a study to improve water quality and soil health along Trout Run, an Erie County tributary within the French Creek watershed.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is hosting this meeting from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Fort LeBoeuf Legion Post 285 on 120 West 4th Street in Waterford, Pa.
With the help of landowners, Erie County Conservation District and other local conservation partners, the Conservancy’s watershed conservation staff will study Trout Run and develop a guide with recommended solutions to restore the streambank, promote clean water and improve farmland through sustainable agriculture practices. Once the guide is developed and approved, in approximately a year, stream restoration projects will be eligible for funding.

Trout Run is classified as a PA Department of Environmental Protection High-Quality stream containing wild trout and is a tributary to LeBoeuf Creek. The creek is within the French Creek watershed, which is renowned for the number and diversity of freshwater mussels and fishes.

Adam Cotchen, a Conservancy watershed scientist, says excess nutrients and fertilizers from agricultural operations and sediment from eroding streambanks are the leading causes of reduced water quality in the Trout Run watershed. He says improving the water quality in Trout Run also supports aquatic life in French Creek. “The goal of this project is to provide funding and technical assistance to farmers and landowners to make strategic improvements through sustainable farming and enhanced stream management practices,” Adam said.

Landowners in the watershed are encouraged to attend the meeting to learn more about the study and become involved to ensure Trout Run is available to future generations. Complimentary refreshments will be provided. For more information about this community meeting, please call 724-471-7202, ext. 5108 or email acotchen@paconserve.org.

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About the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy:
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy enhances the region by protecting and restoring exceptional places. A private nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1932, WPC has helped to establish 11 state parks, conserved more than a quarter million acres of natural lands and protected or restored more than 3,000 miles of rivers and streams. The Conservancy owns and operates Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which symbolizes people living in harmony with nature. In addition, WPC enriches our region’s cities and towns through 132 community gardens and other green spaces that are planted with the help of more than 11,000 volunteers. The work of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is accomplished through the support of more than 9,000 members. For more information, visit WaterLandLife.org or Fallingwater.org.

Media Contact:
Carmen Bray
Director of Communications
412-586-2358
cbray@paconserve.org