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Our History
Incorporated in 1970, the Turtle Creek Watershed Association was the first such group in southwestern Pennsylvania. Encouraged by other organizations recently formed across the state, and supported by both Allegheny County and the Westinghouse Corporation, the main focus of the original board of directors was erosion and flood prevention and flood control. Westmoreland County soon offered its support.
Over time, the focus of TCWA’s activity has become improving water quality and quantity issues by means of abandoned mine drainage (AMD) remediation projects and streambank stabilization projects, multi-municipal stormwater planning, water quality monitoring, educational outreach for people of all ages, and special events to highlight water-related recreational opportunities.
As all funding support from our three original sponsors ended by the 1990s, TCWA looked to the stats' Growning Greener Grant Program and similar funding sources for our projects. Recently, the Heinz Endowments has provided funding for our stormwater work.
In 2002, TCWA completed a Rivers Conservation Plan (RCP), which is an analysis of the 14 sub-watershed units in the 147 square miles and 33 municipalities comprising the entire Turtle Creek drainage basin. The RCP identifies the area's assets and its most significant problems, then charts action plans to address them.
This document has led in part to TCWA’s newest area of focus, inter-municipal cooperation to address the water quality and quantity issues that face all communities – especially as defined by the US Environmental Protection Agency’s NPDES Phase II regulations. These require communities to implement a series of measures to improve water quality and reduce stormwater volume. Unlike previous mandates, such as for sanitary sewers, which included necessary funding, no federal or state monies are available for Phase II.
Another critical planning document is the Act 167 Stormwater Management Plan for the Turtle Creek watershed. Like most in the state, ours was completed in the early 1990s. The state Department of Environmental Protection anticipated it would provide 75% of the funding for updates every five years, with the counties providing the remaining 25%. Unfortunately, these funds never materialized. Each watershed and its communiites now need to secure their own funds for these updates.
As part of our inter-municipal efforts, we are attempting to reduce future costs by laying the groundwork for updated mapping and similar tasks now. We are also trying to fully identify the areas of greatest concern so that any planning document properly addresses these.
We welcome the participation of everyone who has a connection with the Turtle Creek watershed and would be happy to include all of you as members of our group!