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Rivers Run Through This
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November 10th, 2022

Rivers Run Through This

News

Pennsylvania's Pristine Waterways and Microplastics

To better understand the scope of the microplastic problem in Pennsylvania, the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center sampled 50 of Pennsylvania’s Exceptional Value (EV), High Quality (HQ), and Class A Cold Water Trout Fishing (Class A) streams. We found microplastics in 100% of our samples. Unfortunately, these samples come from waterways that are considered among the cleanest and of the highest ecological value in the Commonwealth. 

Read more here.

The citizen scientists of crackerland: Armed with buckets and hunting plastic pellets, neighbors prepare for the petro plant next door

In Beaver County, as Shell’s hulking petrochemical plant slowly scales toward full capacity, a growing network of local citizens is doggedly watching the facility. Among the communities surrounding the cracker plant, as it’s known, residents are organizing to keep tabs on their new industrial neighbor. Some are installing air monitors and cameras on their homes, and others are gathering samples from the water’s edge. Many are documenting their experiences and observations as the plant spurs changes to their neighborhoods.

Read more here.

Former coal plant near Pittsburgh is poisoning groundwater

The site of a former coal-fired power plant northwest of Pittsburgh is leaking coal ash and poisoning surrounding groundwater, according to a new report.

Coal ash, the material left behind after coal is burned, contains harmful substances like arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, lithium, mercury and uranium, among others. Exposure is linked to health effects like cancer, damage to the thyroid, liver and kidneys, and neurodevelopmental problems in children.

Although coal consumption has declined across the U.S., the power industry continues to generate about 70 million tons of coal ash annually, and after 100 years of burning coal, U.S. power plants have generated about five billion tons of coal ash.

Read more here.

Upcoming Events

WVWRI Virtual Seminar Series & 3RQ Virtual Roundtables

Mark your calendars! The West Virginia Water Research Institute (WVWRI) and 3RQ will host a series of virtual events from December 2022 through February 2023 to highlight current water research and remediation projects and discuss important topics within the Upper Ohio River basin. 



For more information, click here.

Technology and Tips for Volunteer Management Webinar
November 15th 6-7pm

We hope you will join us for a presentation on volunteer management best practices including volunteer engagement methods; best online tools for tracking time and activities; creating volunteer coordinator job descriptions; and why tracking volunteers participation matters for donors and stakeholders!

This free webinar, presented by staff of Divine and Parker Consulting, will also include plenty of time for conversations and your questions about managing and tracking volunteer engagement.

For more information, click here.

3RQ Updates 

Click Here to View the 3RQ Facebook Page

Grant Info

GAPS Assistance Program

Generating Awareness for Project Success (GAPS) is a collaboration between the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds (FPW) and Three Rivers QUEST (3RQ) to assist grass-roots organizations within the Allegheny and Monongahela river basins with preparing and applying for successful remediation projects. Utilizing field teams and researchers, 3RQ will provide watershed groups with the information and technical expertise needed to prepare successful proposals that secure funding for the engineering and construction of nonpoint source remediation projects.

Read more here.
Application link here.

AML/AMD Grant Program 

The Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (BAMR) is authorized through the United States Department of Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement to issue grants to eligible applicants for the purpose of abandoned mine land (AML) reclamation and acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment or abatement. The Bureau will be accepting applications for projects that reclaim abandoned coal mines or address mine drainage from abandoned coal mines.

To access more information, click here.
Western PA Conservancy Canoe Access Development Fund

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s Canoe Access Development Fund helps to make the region’s rivers and streams more accessible for outdoor recreation such as canoeing, kayaking and fishing. Our fund provides modest grants to watershed groups, conservation organizations, paddle clubs, agencies and other eligible parties to develop canoe and kayak access sites across Western Pennsylvania.

To access more information, click here.
BHE GT&S Watershed Mini Grant Program

Each year, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy accepts proposals for its Watershed Mini Grant Program, which provides assistance to the region’s grassroots watershed groups and organizations. Funding for this grant program is provided by BHE GT&S, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy. The program offers funding to watershed organizations in the following counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bradford, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Elk, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lawrence, McKean, Mifflin, Potter, Tioga, Washington and Westmoreland.

To access more information, click here.

For more information on 3RQ, visit our website here, or click the button below!

3RQ Website
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3RQ Funded by: Colcom Foundation
3RQ REACH 4Schools Funded by: PADEP and EQT

Copyright © 2022 West Virginia Water Research Institute, All rights reserved.


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