Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In

This video, produced by the USEPA and the US Botanic Garden, highlights numerous stormwater management techniques.  The video is also available by clicking on the video's link at the top right hand corner of the blog home page.

Final Dates - Two Upcoming Events

A meeting has been scheduled to discuss the SRBC's decision-making process regarding the potential York Water - GMA interconnection and the implications for the Critical Water Planning Area.  The meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 15th from 1:30-3:00pm at the Emergency Services Building (230 Greenamyer Lane, Gettysburg, PA, 17325).

Agenda:

1:30-1:35: Welcome and introductions, Charles Bennett, Chair

1:35-2:00: Status of Marsh/Rock CARP and implications of interconnection, Heidi Moltz, ICPRB

2:00-2:45: York Water - GMA interconnection, Tom Beauduy, Deputy Executive Director and Counsel, SRBC

2:45-3:00: Discussion, Charles Bennett, Chair

The February workshop to evaluate and prioritize management recommendations for the Critical Area Resource Plan has been scheduled for Wednesday, February 15th from 9:00am to 3:00pm at the Ag Center (670 Old Harrisburg Road, Gettysburg, PA, 17325).  Please save the date -- your participation in this workshop is important!  For additional information on the content and purpose of this workshop, see the ILBM slides from the October 12th advisory committee meeting. 

Advisory Committee Mtg Follow-Up

The draft meeting minutes for the October advisory committee meeting are now available for download.

At the meeting, Sue Weaver from DEP presented on managing drought in Pennsylvania.  The slides from her presentation are available for download here.  Two handouts were also provided.  First, was a document developed by DEP called "Drought Management in Pennsylvania".  The second was chapter 118 of the Pennsylvania code regarding reductions of major water use in a commonwealth basin drought emergency area.

Heidi Moltz from ICPRB presented the results from the technical analyses on water availability and future water use in the Critical Water Planning Area.  The slides from her presentation are available for download here.  The associated written technical reports are also available online.  The first is on current water uses.  The second is on future water uses and water availability.

Beverly Saunders, a graduate student from Texas State University-San Marcos, presented on ILBM.  ILBM is a methodology for prioritizing and evaluating management options at the watershed scale.  The methodology will be implemented in the Marsh and Rock creek watersheds at a February workshop (specific date and time to be determined).  Slides from Beverly's presentation are available for download here.

Mark Your Calendars!

The 2012 Critical Area Advisory Committee quarterly meeting dates are listed below.  All meetings will be held at the Agriculture and Natural Resources Center in Gettysburg (670 Old Harrisburg Rd) from 1:00-3:00pm.

Wednesday, January 11

Wednesday, April 11

Wednesday, July 11

In addition to the quarterly meetings, two additional meetings are being scheduled: 1) a November meeting with SRBC on the potential York Water interconnection and 2) a February workshop to evaluate and prioritize management recommendations.  Additional information about the location, dates, and times of these meetings will be posted as soon as possible.

Earth Science Week

This week is Earth Science Week in PA by proclamation of the Governor.  Visit the Earth Science Week website for additional information.

Oct 12 Advisory Committee Meeting

The next Critical Area Advisory Committee meeting will be held Wednesday, October 12th from 1-3pm at the Ag Center in Gettysburg (670 Old Harrisburg Rd). 

The meeting has several objectives.  First, Sue Weaver from DEP will present on drought declarations as they relate to the CWPA.  Secondly, Beverly Saunders, a graduate student from Texas State University-San Marcos, will describe Integrated Lentic/Lotic Basin Management, a process being proposed to evaluate alternative recommendations in the Marsh and Rock creek watersheds.  Third, ICPRB will provide an update on the status of the technical analyses, including the CWPA water budget and a comparison of water availability to current and future water uses.  The final objective for the meeting is to schedule the 2012 advisory committee meeting dates.

Hope to see you there!