Loyalhanna Watershed Association

Founded in 1971, the Loyalhanna Watershed Association (LWA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that strives to achieve its mission to conserve, protect and restore the 300 square-mile Loyalhanna Creek Watershed by remediating environmental issues through evidence-based initiatives and educating and involving diverse audiences about the value of a healthy and thriving ecosystem.

LWA values sustainability, preservation and engagement and is entrusted to care for our local environment with a long-term focus and dedication to ensure our activities facilitate the achievement of our mission. We continue to initiate projects that address pollution concerns identified in the Loyalhanna Creek Watershed Assessment and Restoration Plan, as well as meet vigorous initiatives and goals addressed in our 2016-2018 Strategic Plan. Recent accomplishments include the following:

• The Watershed Farm Project - In June, 2016, LWA completed the long awaited adaptive reuse effort on the former McConnaughey Family farm known as the "Watershed Farm Project." Thanks to the generosity of dozens of foundations and other supporters, LWA's headquarters can now be found in the beautifully restored and functional farmhouse. The Nimick Family Education Center occupies the barn, and has already hosted several meetings and programs by LWA and partnering groups. Additional features to the property including a walking trail around the farm's lower wetland area and an overlook platform are set to be completed later this year. We are excited to continue to develop new programming highlighting the farm and its many sustainable features in the upcoming months.

• Water Quality Protection & Improvement - Working with partners from the PA Fish & Boat Commission, Western PA Conservancy and Westmoreland Conservation District, LWA completed four stream restoration projects along the Loyalhanna Creek, Laughlintown Run and Mill Creek. The project successfully restored eroding stream banks as well as created fish habitat to improve the health of these streams. LWA also continued its second year partnership with Dr. Brooks Crozier and students from Roanoke College on the Upper Loyalhanna Creek Microbial Assessment Project, as well as conducted annual monitoring of several area streams through macroinvertebrate collection and analysis, electrofishing studies and datalogger tracking. The third annual Loyalhanna Creek Sojourn was organized with over 130 kayakers participating. An evaluation of the Crabtree Creek AMD discharge, the largest flow of polluted mine water in the entire watershed, is nearing completion.

• Land Conservation - Partnering with PennDOT District 9-0 and District 12-0, and the Westmoreland County Airport Authority, LWA completed the construction of a 6-acre emergent wetland habitat on the former Shirey Motel property along the Route 30 corridor in Ligonier Township. LWA was also pleased to work with the Western Pa Conservancy in the first round of the "Trees for Ligonier" Community Forest Project. Over 50 volunteers planted trees throughout Ligonier Borough and the Ligonier Country Market field.

• Environmental Education - LWA staff were pleased to lead water quality and watershed awareness programs for more than 700 students from Ligonier Valley and Greater Latrobe Area School Districts, as well as conduct presentations for area civic groups and offer free programs on topics such as maple sugar production, bluebirds and pollinator friendly plants for the public. The 34th annual Youth Conservation Corps Summer Internship program as conducted with three college students in partnership with the PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry.

• Community Outreach - Electronics recycling continued to be held at the LWA facility through the end of March, 2016. Since its inception, the program collected more than 200 tons of obsolete e-waste items from local residents. Recyclers can now visit the permanent Westmoreland Cleanways operated facility in nearby Latrobe. Over 300 volunteers collected close to 500 bags of highway litter in the 10th annual Latrobe Corridor Cleanup and 11th annual Great Ligonier Valley Cleanup events organized by LWA. Throughout the 2015-2016 fiscal year, numerous fundraising and community events including birdseed sales, parking at Fort Ligonier Days, summer Low Country Boil, annual Art Auction Benefit and annual Membership Dinner were conducted.