Senate Resolution Designating Watershed Awareness Month
Senate Resolution No. 263 designating May 2004 as "Watershed Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania was introduced and adopted on Monday May 3rd this year. Special thanks to Senator James J. Rhoades from District 29 for sponsoring the legislation.

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth's land, rivers, streams, lakes,
wetlands and groundwater resources are interconnected to form a
rich mosaic of watersheds; and
WHEREAS, These treasured water resources provide citizens
with clean drinking water and recreational and business
opportunities; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth contains 83,000 miles of rivers
and streams for all to enjoy and treasure; and
WHEREAS, There are eight distinct river basins in
Pennsylvania, including Lake Erie, Ohio River, Genesee River
(Lake Ontario), Susquehanna River, Delaware River, Potomac
River, Elk River and Northeast/Gunpowder Rivers; and
WHEREAS, There are 104 watersheds, the basic building blocks
of the natural environment, in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth invests enormous resources to
restore and protect water, including remediating drainage from
thousands of abandoned coal mines which contaminates more than
3,000 miles of streams and associated groundwaters and is the
most extensive problem affecting Commonwealth water resources;
and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth is committed to a watershed
approach to resource management where concerned community
members come together as watershed guardians to address and
resolve problems; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth empowers and assists local
watershed organizations working in partnership as watershed
guardians to help resolve or remediate current water quality and
water quantity problems within watershed boundaries; and
WHEREAS, This watershed approach to environmental protection
leads to cleaner rivers and streams, safer drinking water and
greater protection of aquatic wildlife habitats; and
WHEREAS, There are more than 400 active watershed groups in
this Commonwealth, and new watershed groups are forming
continuously; and
WHEREAS, Educational forums connecting adults and children to
their watersheds, including the land, water and people,
ultimately provide long-term protection for these important and
valuable water resources; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth recognizes and celebrates the
efforts of hardworking volunteers within watershed groups who
improve their communities today and for future generations;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of Pennsylvania designate May 2004
as "Watershed Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the theme "Healthy Watersheds, Healthy
Communities" guide the many volunteer community organizations,
educators and other groups that conduct watershed education and
awareness activities throughout the month.

Visit the Pa Legislature site at http://www2.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2003/0/SR0263P1591.pdf to view the resolution as printed.

And as an update to a previous post, the resolution as printed for Safe Drinking Water Week in Pennsylvania, can be viewed at http://www2.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2003/0/HR0642P3579.pdf
- posted by frank cetera @ 10:19 AM