PRINTER'S NO. 1958
No. 224 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY RHOADES, BRIGHTBILL, MADIGAN, MUSTO, GREENLEAF,
KUKOVICH, THOMPSON, LAVALLE, TOMLINSON, WAGNER, DENT,
KITCHEN, MURPHY, SCHWARTZ, CONTI, BODACK, TARTAGLIONE,
C. WILLIAMS, D. WHITE, STACK, GERLACH, BOSCOLA, ERICKSON,
LEMMOND, WENGER, HUGHES, EARLL, STOUT, COSTA, O'PAKE, LOGAN,
MELLOW, PUNT, ORIE, ARMSTRONG AND MOWERY, APRIL 29, 2002
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, APRIL 29, 2002
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating May 2002 and every month of May thereafter as
2 "Watershed Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth's land, rivers, streams, lakes,
4 wetlands and groundwater resources are interconnected to form a
5 rich mosaic of watersheds; and
6 WHEREAS, These treasured water resources provide citizens
7 with clean drinking water and recreational and business
8 opportunities; and
9 WHEREAS, This Commonwealth contains 83,000 miles of rivers
10 and streams, making Pennsylvania second only to Alaska in the
11 number of river and stream miles for all to enjoy and treasure;
12 and
13 WHEREAS, There are eight distinct river basins in
14 Pennsylvania, including Lake Erie, Ohio River, Genesee River
15 (Lake Ontario), Susquehanna River, Delaware River, Potomac
16 River, Elk River and Northeast/Gunpowder Rivers; and
1 WHEREAS, There are 104 watersheds, the basic building blocks
2 of the natural environment, in this Commonwealth; and
3 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth invests enormous resources to
4 restore and protect water, including remediating drainage from
5 thousands of abandoned coal mines which contaminates more than
6 3,000 miles of streams and associated groundwaters and is the
7 most extensive problem affecting Commonwealth water resources;
8 and
9 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth is committed to a watershed
10 approach to resource management where concerned community
11 members come together as watershed guardians to address and
12 resolve problems; and
13 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth empowers and assists local
14 watershed organizations working in partnership as watershed
15 guardians to help resolve or remediate current water quality and
16 water quantity problems within watershed boundaries; and
17 WHEREAS, This watershed approach to environmental protection
18 leads to cleaner rivers and streams, safer drinking water and
19 greater protection of aquatic wildlife habitats; and
20 WHEREAS, There are more than 250 active watershed groups in
21 this Commonwealth, and new watershed groups are forming
22 continuously; and
23 WHEREAS, Educational forums connecting adults and children to
24 their watersheds, including the land, water and people,
25 ultimately provide long-term protection for these important and
26 valuable water resources; and
27 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth recognizes and celebrates the
28 efforts of hardworking volunteers within watershed groups who
29 improve their communities today and for future generations;
30 therefore be it
20020S0224R1958 - 2 -
1 RESOLVED, That the Senate of Pennsylvania designate May 2002
2 and every month of May thereafter as "Watershed Awareness Month"
3 in Pennsylvania; and be it further
4 RESOLVED, That the theme "The Watershed Connection: Land,
5 Water and You!" guide the many volunteer community
6 organizations, educators and other groups that conduct watershed
7 education and awareness activities throughout the month.
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