Upon learning of the Juniata River’s selection as River of the Year, Jeffry Kloss, Bedford County Planning Director and JCWP Chairman, said, “We are honored that the Juniata River has been recognized as Pennsylvania’s Feature River of the Year. Members of the Juniata Clean Water Partnership have worked in concert with watershed residents for the past three years to plan for the protection and restoration of this valuable resource. Through the efforts of many concerned citizens, we expect the ‘Blue Juniata’ to remain a source of pride for our communities for years to come.”

By Kristin Ragley

For the past three years, diverse civic and governmental organizations and volunteers have been coming together and meeting in the forum of the Raystown/HBT Greenway Partnership. The group’s collective purpose remains true to this day: envision, plan, and implement a greenway from Bedford to Huntingdon along the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River. You may be asking, “What is a greenway?” or “What is to be accomplished by this greenway?” Although each and every greenway corridor differs in its specific purpose, the general definition follows: A greenway is a corridor within which natural, historical, and recreational resources are conserved and may be utilized by the public. The Greenway Partnership focuses on all of these significant resources by implementing many individual community improvement projects including historical interpretation of the Huntingdon & Broad Top Railroad, design of the Raystown River Trail and its access points, abandoned mine drainage remediation, formation of land trails, and natural resource conservation.

In addition to individual project successes, the greenway project has been supplemented by a $45,000 PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) grant that is being administered by the Southern Alleghenies Conservancy (SAC) and managed by the JCWP. The main purpose of the grant is to complete a greenway feasibility study and plan for the Raystown/HBT Greenway. The study will do the following:

• provide a comprehensive inventory of existing resources within the corridor;
• determine the natural, historical, recreational, social, and economic values of the existing corridor and proposed greenway;
• outline, determine feasibility of, and plan ongoing and potential projects along the entire corridor;
• provide a vast toolbox of information directly aimed at accomplishing the Raystown Greenway.

Two rounds of public meetings, one in the spring and one in late summer or early fall, will be held to ensure that the feasibility study recognizes improvement projects that the public wishes to occur along the Raystown. Above and beyond the actual study, the JCWP and the Greenway Coordinator, Kristin Ragley, will be assisting organizations in the Greenway Partnership to implement current and proposed projects, as well as educating community members about the Greenway and how it benefits them directly.

If you know of a forum in which Kristin may give a presentation about the Raystown/HBT Greenway, please let her know. She will be happy to talk with individuals, local governments, and civic organizations about the project and the study. Kristin is looking forward to working with the Greenway Partnership, the JCWP, and you on the conservation and improvement of the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River!

The next Raystown/HBT Greenway Partnership meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 13^th, 10 a.m., at the Coal Miners Museum in Robertsdale. All are invited to attend! Also, look for Greenway public meeting announcements in the next JCWP newsletter. If you have any comments, suggestions, or questions, please feel free to contact Kristin at the JCWP office or e-mail her at: kragley@jcwp.org.

(Kristin is the new Raystown/HBT Greenway Coordinator. Prior to accepting this position, Kristin served as Greenway Coordinator for the Kiski-Conemaugh River Basin Alliance, Windber, PA and has completed four DCNR greenway feasibility studies along a total of 240 river miles. Welcome aboard, Kristin!)

Back to the Top

The First Annual Juniata Watershed Summit was held on October 28 at Juniata College, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. The purpose of the Summit was to provide a forum to discuss environmental concerns among residents and policy makers in the Juniata Watershed and to learn about projects that are happening in the area.

Department of Environmental Protection Executive Deputy Secretary David E. Hess helped kick off the Summit by noting that watershed conferences and workshops attracted more than 4,500 people this year. This number shows how the commitment to watershed protection has taken off.

The Summit’s keynote address, “Lifelines, the Case for River Conservation,” was given by Tim Palmer, well known author, photographer, and outdoor adventurer. The presentation examined the alarming condition of rivers in today’s world, and reported on the success of citizens in restoring them. Through the use of many beautiful slides, Palmer built a case for the importance of preserving these vital river ecosystems.

According to Deb Nardone, Juniata Watershed Coordinator for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the primary goals of the Summit were to educate individuals who wanted to become involved in a watershed organization, to provide training to existing watershed groups on how to be more successful, and to work on developing partnerships among these groups. These goals were accomplished in part by the Summit’s eight training sessions.

Training sessions offered at the Summit included: Charting the Future of Your Community, Community Outreach and Message Development, Watershed Science 101, Getting the Funds You Need: An Introduction to Grant Writing, How to Organize a Watershed Association, Land Use Planning and Zoning 101, Learning Juniata GIS, and How to Work Effectively with Your Local Government.

The Summit also featured a five-member panel discussion designed to highlight success stories from around the watershed and around the world. Panelists gave brief descriptions of proactive environmental initiatives their groups had worked on and then answered questions from members of the audience. Dan Dunmire (Village Pride), Len Lichvar (Yellow Creek Coalition), Sarah Miller (Friends of Sinking Valley), Dan Pryor (Millennium Legacy Trail), and Jaroslav Tesliar (People and Water NGO, Slovakia) were the panelists, presenting projects such as watershed planning, greenway corridor initiatives, acid mine drainage reclamation, and stream restoration.

Funding for the Summit was provided by a PA DEP Growing Greener Grant, the Western PA Watershed Protection Program, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and DCNR.

(Parts of this article were written by Bonnie Swinehart and have been reprinted from the November 3, 2000 edition of Watershed Weekly, the online newsletter of the Environmental Fund for Pennsylvania, also supported by GreenWorks TV and the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers.)

Back to the Top

Sitting down to talk honestly with one’s neighbors about water related issues is not always possible. At the Juniata Watershed Summit, however, participants had the opportunity to do just that. Participants spent some of the afternoon in discussion groups that were broken down by subbasin. Each of these groups was made up of residents of one of the watershed’s subbasins: Raystown Branch, Frankstown Branch, Little Juniata, Standing Stone/Shaver’s Creek, Aughwick Creek, Kishacoquillas Creek, and Tuscarora Creek. The purpose of the session was to discuss subbasin concerns, share needs, and report current successes. Many people who attended enjoyed this informal setting because they could talk with others who shared their enthusiasm and concern for the Juniata.

If you attended a breakout group and would like a copy of the notes that were taken or if you could not attend the Summit and would like to see what your neighbors discussed, the JCWP can help! The subbasin notes are available on the JCWP’s web page at www.jcwp.org.

Back to the Top

By Deborah Nardone

In the last two newsletters, we began a series of articles about how to organize a watershed association. Topics included finding partners, holding a meeting, developing a mission statement, choosing a name, writing bylaws, and recruiting a board of directors. This article focuses on the next important steps: developing a case statement and an action plan for your organization.

A case statement is exactly what the name implies—a statement making the case for your organization and your cause. Developing a case statement is not only important for your organization to do at the beginning, but also as the organization ages and evolves. Your organization may have many different opinions about what could be included, but, at a minimum, a case statement should be clear and concise and should detail what particular need your organization seeks to meet, what your mission statement is, and what your long-term objectives are. Over time, your case statement can evolve to include topics such as successes to date, programs you have developed, and major financial supporters. For ease of understanding, all of this information should fit on no more than a few pages.

By including this information, your case statement provides clarity and uniformity for your organization. This information will serve as the foundation for all your promotional efforts, such as creating brochures, writing grant proposals, and submitting press releases. A clear case statement also ensures that you and your board convey a consistent message when speaking to the public, developing educational materials, working with the press, or fundraising.

Mission                 Why the organization exists

Goals                   What your organization hopes to accomplish

Objectives            How you can accomplish the goals

History                 Which objectives you have already accomplished and what successes
                           you have had (track record)

Structure               How the group is organized and governed (Who are its officers? Do you
                            have members?)

Developing an Action Plan

So, how do you begin? Initially, your organization should strive to set up some short-term goals. As your organization matures and achieves a number of successes, establishing your long-term goals will be easier.

1. List the desired outcomes for your group.
2. Prioritize these outcomes in order of importance.
3. From your list of outcomes, determine how you would achieve each outcome (what actions could you use to implement the outcome).

By determining which outcomes are most important, you can choose which actions to take first. This will aid your group’s thinking on what worthy ideas must be left out and why. Then, revisit your actions; your group will need to provide more information about each proposed action.

Determine:

Be sure to keep the number of key goals manageable. A young organization’s action plan should usually have about three to five key goals. Regularly revisit your goals and actions at meetings to determine how your actions are proceeding. You may want to establish a plan coordinator—someone who reviews the progress toward implementation on a regular basis and provides a brief update at each board meeting. Whatever method you choose, make sure that your group is disciplined in priority setting, especially during the first year.

Remember: When everything is a priority, nothing is a priority! Your action plan should serve as a road map for your organization. By keeping focused on your goals, you’ll quickly be on the road to success!

If you are interested in forming a watershed group and would like additional information or assistance, please contact the Juniata Clean Water Partnership. We will be happy to assist you!

~The next newsletter will feature part IV of this series: The pros and cons of incorporating and obtaining 501(c)(3) status for your organization.~

(Some information in this article was provided by Starting Up, A Handbook for New River and Watershed Organizations, published by River Network.)

Back to the Top

The word sojourn is defined as “to dwell in a place temporarily.” Therefore, river sojourn might be defined as “to dwell on a waterway temporarily.” Many people will have that opportunity this summer.

As part of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ June Rivers Month, the Juniata Clean Water Partnership will host a weeklong sojourn down the Juniata River. Beginning Saturday, June 2, paddlers will enter the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River, just below Raystown Dam, to embark on a 97-mile journey down the beautiful, blue Juniata for 8 days. The journey will end in Duncannon, at the confluence of the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers. A kickoff celebration will be held at Raystown Lake the evening of Friday, June 1, to begin Rivers Month.

If you choose to attend, you’ll get the chance to meet fellow paddlers, explore the river, and camp at many different places along the way. Various programs will be scheduled each night, from local presentations on history, geology, and culture, to campfire sing-a-longs, to folk music performances.

Anyone can attend for one day, a few days, or the whole week. While many bring their own canoes or kayaks, there will be opportunity to rent from local outfitters as well. Registration fees have not been determined yet but should not go higher than $25/day or $150/week.

We hope you’ll join us and celebrate everything the Juniata River has to offer!

Huntingdon County contains both human and nature-dominated habitats. As our boroughs and developed areas expand, the proportion of land dominated by nature declines. Without careful planning, important natural areas can easily be lost. The Huntingdon County Commissioners have requested the development of a natural heritage inventory as recommended by the recently adopted Huntingdon County Comprehensive Plan, “Continuity Through Conservation II.”

The Huntingdon County Commissioners, on December 12, 2000, adopted a resolution in support of the county natural heritage inventory. In western Pennsylvania, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy performs these inventories. The resolution requests the Conservancy to prepare the inventory on behalf of the county. Major funding for the inventory will come from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Department of Community and Economic Development.

Both the Huntingdon County Comprehensive Plan and Juniata Watershed Management Plan recommend the development and protection of land use patterns in accordance with natural resource capabilities in order to preserve the land for all living organisms. Any fair assessment of land capability needs to evaluate habitats and ecosystems in addition to the more traditional assessment of geology, soils, topography, and hydrology. In order to assess land capability, local government and other interests must know the location and importance of critical habitats.

The natural heritage inventory identifies and maps known natural features—floral, faunal, and geologic. The report provides maps of the best natural communities (habitats) and all the known locations of animal and plant species of special concern (endangered, threatened, or rare). Written descriptions and a summary table of sites accompany each map. It is hoped that the natural heritage inventory will help to achieve a balance between growth and development and conservation of natural resources.

Persons desiring additional information about the inventory should contact the Huntingdon County Planning and Development Department at (814) 643-5091.