Lackawanna River Watershed

 Conservation Plan

 

 

 

 

 

âLand Conservation and Watershed Protection 

Why?

  • Water quality of Lackawanna River and tributaries directly related to land use

  • Urban sprawl identified as number one environmental issue facing Pennsylvania

  • Properly planned growth and land use promotes economic and environmental sustainability and overall quality of life

  • Protect quality of our drinking water supplies

  • Need to create and manage an extensive open space network in the watershed

Special Places

  

         Fall Brook Falls - Fell Twp.           Indian Cave Creek - Archbald
 

LRCA Recommendations

  • Comprehensive open space study and conservation plan for Lackawanna County

    • qBuild upon existing plans and studies
    • qElements of Plan

  • Communities to take advantage of state programs promoting open space and watershed conservation

    • Growing Greener

  • Directs nearly $650 million to Watershed protection and Environmental Stewardship Fund

  • DEP to allocate $240 million in grants to municipalities, conservation districts, and conservation organizations for protection and restoration of watersheds,

  • abandoned mine reclamation and improvements to water and sewer infrastructure

    • Growing Smarter (MPC Amendments, Act 67 & 68)

  • Amendments provide incentives for county and municipal comprehensive plans and multi municipal planning and zoning

  • Source water protection program

    • Similar to DEP community well head protection program
    • Proper management of land use and activities in sensitive surface water source recharge areas
    • Source water protection program to include conservation acquisition and management of watershed lands

  • Strengthen the role of the Lackawanna Valley Conservancy and partner conservancies to work with property owners and public agencies to promote the conservation management of watershed lands

Click here for more Lackawanna River Conservation & Watershed Protection Picturesâ 

©2001 LRCA