Water is one of the Keystone State’s premier natural resources, with 83,184 miles of streams and rivers, 161,445 acres of ponds and lakes and over 400,000 acres of wetlands. These resources are vital to the quality of life in our communities, providing drinking water for millions and supporting countless industries. Clean water is essential to Pennsylvania’s economy, with fishing activities alone generating $4.7 billion a year in revenue and supporting 43,000 jobs.
But these resources are often threatened by pollution and destruction. Dischargers pump millions of gallons of wastewater, containing toxic pollutants, nutrients and metals, into our streams and rivers. Half of the Commonwealth's wetlands have been filled or drained. Thousands of miles of headwater streams are channeled, enclosed, relocated or filled each year.
That is why, in 2002, Clean Water Fund partnered with several groups to create the Pennsylvania Campaign for Clean Water. The Campaign is a coalition of over 130 environmental, conservation, sporting, and religious groups from all corners of the state that speaks in one voice in support of federal and state policies to protect and restore PA's water resources.
The Campaign is currently working to preserve buffer zones along the state’s rivers and streams, protect streams with Exceptional Value status, improve stormwater management, and preserve Pennsylvania 's wetlands.
Join us! There is strength in numbers. To be effective, we need watershed groups and conservancies from every corner of the state. Have your group join the Campaign and become part of our work to protect Pennsylvania 's water resources! For more information visit the Clean Water Action web site.