On June 26, 2001, a ceremony was held in Harrisburg to honor the recipients of the first annual Governor's Award for Watershed Stewardship.  Four groups operating within the Juniata watershed received awards: the Juniata Clean Water Partnership, Muddy Run Watershed Association, Southern Alleghenies Conservancy, and the Western Pennsylvania Watershed Protection Program.

   The Governor's Award was created to recognize conservation groups, municipalities, and others who are actively involved in watershed projects in Pennsylvania.  At the ceremony, Governor Ridge said, "I am pleased to congratulate the winners of the 2001 Governor's Award for Watershed Stewardship.  These individuals and organizations are reclaiming abandoned mine lands, protecting and restoring our valuable watersheds, and reaching out to our communities to educate them about the importance of Pennsylvania's natural resources."

  This year, twenty-five winders were chosen in four categories: partnerships; assessment and planning; protection and restoration; and demonstration, education, and outreach.  The Juniata Clean Water Partnership won for assessment and planning, while the Muddy Run Watershed Association, the Southern Alleghenies Conservancy, and the Western PA Watershed Protection Program Received awards in the partnerships category.

   The Juniata Clean Water Partnership was recognized for its watershed management planning process.  The Juniata Watershed Management Plan was completed in Fall 2000 and outlines prioritized projects needed to improve and preserve the Juniata watershed.

   The Muddy Run Watershed Association, located in Huntingdon, was formed to deal with stormwater detention facilities and stabilized miles of streambank.  Says Michelle Speck, a member of the group, "I never dreamed that we could accomplish so much in such a short period of time just by working together.  Partnerships really do achieve results."

   Using a grant from the department of Conservation and Natural resources, the Southern Alleghenies Conservancy and the Cambria-Somerset Authority partnered to acquire 5,500 acres and five water reservoirs for public use.   The two are working jointly with local groups to create access points for fishing, hunting, hiking , and boating.  An area that was once closed to the public will become a resource thanks to this partnership. 

   The Western PA Watershed Protection Program has provided much needed matching funds to local watershed organizations.  The WPWPP has given more than 90 grants, contributing $1.7 million for restoration and preservation efforts.  The organization has also leveraged nearly $17 million for projects from federal, state, and private sources.

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   Fifty-two brave individuals spent the entire eight days sojourning.  By the end of the trip, this rugged, dirty, exhausted group was a close-knit community.  The closeness and camaraderie that developed on the Sojourn was amazing for those involved.  However, the impact of the journey extends far beyond these few days and these few people.  Everywhere the Sojourners went, the area they left was changed.  Perhaps the most visible example is the way in which Sojourners cleaned up trash and debris from the river and its banks, leaving the area cleaner than when it was found.

   Communities were also changed.  Those along the river came together to show support for the Sojourn.  On Friday, June 8, the Sojourners camped at Howe Township Park in Perry County near Newport.  The park was newly acquired by the Township and was improved and prepared for the Sojourn.  Wendy Brunner, a Howe Township Supervisor who greeted us, shared that most of the progress made in the park was a result of the Sojourn.  The participants were all very thankful for the hard work that was done for their arrival.

   In all of the locations the Sojourn stopped, municipal officials, county commissioners, or other curious citizens greeted the travelers.  This happened literally at lunch on Sunday, June 3.  From the moment the first canoe hit the shore at Riverside Park in Mount Union, Huntingdon County, members of the Mount Union Community Action Partnership were present on the bank.  They showered the travelers with smiles, stickers, and a warm welcome on a chilly day.  On several other occasions, community members joined with the Sojourners to relax, talk, and enjoy programs on local history; this trip educated both those on the water and off.

   The Sojourn, themed the Juniata Journey: From Yesterday to Tomorrow, was a wonderful experience for those who participated.  This trip, however, was more than that.  The journey was a celebration of the rich natural, historical, and cultural resources of this region—an opportunity to appreciate the area’s changes through time, to truly understand the connection between our own journey and that of our predecessors.  The journey was long.  Though the participants departed from Duncannon tired, they left behind a new life in the watershed.  They have infused into the region’s people a renewed sense of their past.  The energy generated during these eight days extends beyond those on the water and has enhanced and educated those in its path.

The Sojourn was a success thanks to the hard work and dedication of many of the region’s river enthusiasts who were excited to share the resource they love with others.  The JCWP would like to thank all those who helped with and participated in this event.

By Becky Albaugh

With sincere appreciation to all who helped to make our vision for the sojourn a reality.

   The invitation read in part, “The Juniata Clean Water Partnership…is excited to host a weeklong sojourn down the Juniata River in June.  While this weeklong adventure is sure to provide fun and excitement for us all, there is much work to be done!  Please join us for the planning meeting….”

   I had assisted the Juniata Clean Water Partnership as a volunteer over the past two years during the development of the Juniata Watershed Management Plan. The idea of this sojourn intrigued me.  The Juniata River had been selected as Pennsylvania’s Feature River of the Year for 2001.  Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary John Oliver described the river as “a worthy representative for Pennsylvania’s rich natural and cultural river values.”  I understood the sojourn to be an effort to showcase this “River of the Year.”  We wanted to introduce as many people as possible to the Juniata’s beauty and heritage, the opportunities it offers, and the need to protect its water quality and surrounding watershed.  We would plan to promote awareness locally as well as throughout the state, including  those who would choose to join us on this special journey.

   The first sojourn planning meeting was held in January, and the pace picked up as the date of the big event drew near.  Coordinators were selected for each day of the sojourn, and were made responsible for planning the specifics and logistics for their assigned day.  We all began to discover what was really involved in pulling off an event of this magnitude.  Program ideas, official proclamations, publicity, sponsors, budgets, campsites, food, water, port-a-johns, showers, outfitters, equipment, safety, insurance, shuttles…The lists grew longer; information flew back and forth; meetings continued.

   Closer to the first of June, some among the planning group began to lose sleep.  (Particularly when the number of registered participants continued to climb…over 100 people for the first weekend!)  Yet, with the cooperation of many, the follow-through of individuals, and a good bit of luck, pieces came together, sometimes in very interesting ways. One warm, sunny day in March, Ron Donlan and I decided to float “our” assigned section of river, from Corbin’s Island to Mapleton.  We needed to look over the proposed sites for overnight camping and mid-day stops, to assess the presence (or absence) of restroom facilities, potable water, shelter, electricity, parking spaces, and boat launches.  We needed to familiarize ourselves with the river and estimate travel times, even though water conditions in June were likely to be much different. We also wanted to look for natural and cultural items of interest (and good fishing holes) to feature along the way.  And hey, who needs excuses for an early spring canoe trip, anyway?!

   We had developed the idea of having Native American re-enactors establish an eighteenth century encampment at the group campsite, and we were looking for an authentic-looking site. We pulled the canoe onshore near a slightly elevated  “shelf” where grass had been mowed and a pavilion constructed.  A farm just downstream offered more open space and an ideal location for the encampment.  We continued on to Mapleton Park, where we struck up a conversation with a fisherman as we took out and loaded up the canoe.  As we explained the purpose of our day’s trip, an amazing and serendipitous chain of events began to unfold.  It turned out that the fisherman was the Reverend Ed Seeley, pastor of the United Methodist Church in Mapleton, and a lover of the river himself.  He became excited about the sojourn, and about our ideas for a non-denominational worship service and breakfast at the Mapleton Park pavilion.  (Ultimately it was the members of his church who provided those things for us.)  He knew the owner of the property we had investigated as a potential campsite, and provided us the name and directions by road to the owner’s home.  After loading the canoe, Ron and I showed up unannounced at Wakefield Farm and introduced ourselves to owner Sam Chilcote.  After we told Sam and his family about the upcoming sojourn and the idea for the Native American encampment, they offered the use of their farm, and their full support in meeting the needs of the group.

   During our scouting float we had also noticed some imposing quarry sites with exposed highwalls.  On the way home, we decided to stop at the U.S. Silica plant in Mapleton.  Again, folks we talked to were interested in the sojourn, willing to work with us to have someone to explain the geology and quarrying operation to the sojourners.  They later provided a cash donation to sponsor the event.  

   So it went, one thing leading to another for us as day coordinators, and for the planning committee as a whole.  From the kickoff on, the sojourn truly was “all downstream.” In spite of a wet beginning, the presence of two bald eagles as we headed out that first morning was “good medicine” and lent particular promise to our journey. And while perhaps not everything went off perfectly or as planned, we went “with the flow,” meeting adventure beyond each bend of the river, all of us making new friends and learning about the river and ourselves as we went.

   Those who worked hard to plan and implement the sojourn were often behind the scenes, busy with making things happen, setting things up, taking care of details.  I know that I was not able to spend as much time as I might have liked interacting with and getting to know people during the four days spent with the group.  Later, I found myself looking at the various sets of pictures and interviews online to catch up on things I missed…seeing what happened the latter part of the trip, remembering…smiling.       

     Did we succeed in accomplishing our goals—showcasing the river, promoting awareness of its beauty, and highlighting the need for protection? Only time will really tell.  But we did certainly succeed in meeting some interesting folks, sharing fascinating experiences, and creating wonderful memories. We did indeed celebrate the rich natural, cultural, and historical heritage of the region; and we’ll journey toward  tomorrow with a shared connection to the Juniata River and a vision for its future.

   Becky is an environmental educator and volunteer with Blair County CleanWays and the JCWP.

 County        Recipient                                     Amount        Project

By Jessica Hoover

An Invitation to Serve

   Blair Senior Services is looking for interested volunteers to join a volunteer water-monitoring program within Blair County.  The program is called the Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement and was formed in February, 2001. 

About EASI

   The Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement (EASI) is a national non-profit coalition of environmental, aging, and volunteer organizations established in 1991 as a result of a visionary agreement between the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the American Association of Retired Persons.  The Blair County Pennsylvania Senior Environment Corps (PaSEC) formed to fill the need for an environmental program within the County.  Our seniors are concerned with environmental issues and they became involved in environmental protection programs to make our community more livable for present and future generations

   The EASI Program was formed by an alliance of the following organizations, all of whom assisted in choosing which streams to monitor:

• Blair Senior Services (Sponsor organization)

• Blair County Conservation District 

• Blair County Game & Fish Association

• Department of Environmental Protection

EASI’s Mission:

   To increase opportunities for older adults to play an active visible role in protecting and improving the environment in our community.

Accomplishments:

  Currently,  a total of thirteen volunteers monitor nine streams across Blair County: Bald Eagle Creek, Beaverdam Branch, Frankstown Branch, Halter Creek, Little Juniata Creek, Mill Run, Spring Run, and Sugar Run.  While at these designated sites, volunteers conduct chemical testing and compile their data.   The data is then submitted to the EASI Database, via the internet, whereby the information is then made available to state and local health departments, EPA, DEP, local Conservation Districts, fisheries, and universities, for research and educational purposes.  Training, supplies, and mileage reimbursement are available to all volunteers.

Goals for the Future

• To increase the number of volunteers in our program.

• To increase the number of waterways that we monitor in Blair County.

• To develop an intergenerational outreach program across Blair county involving elementary and middle-school aged children working with senior volunteers and college students to promote a healthy environment within our community.

Jessica Hoover is Program Coordinator for Blair Senior Services.