Working with a number of partners and volunteers, the group has developed a brochure that was sent to all the landowners along the thirty-two miles of Conewago Creek in Adams County to explain the project and enlist landowner support. Visits to garner support and interest from the 17 municipalities in the watershed have started and will continue over the winter months. The group has also completed the first set of water and macroinvertebrate samples at 25 sites along the Conewago mainstem to analyze water quality. Volunteers will do the first level of sorting of the stream insects and Gettysburg College students will follow-up with a more refined study. A second study is scheduled for Spring and, hopefully, high water flows.
Additional funding is pending.
Groundwater Protected Areas in Southeastern Pennsylvania Absent an effective water resources management law in Pennsylvania, use of groundwater in much of southeastern Pennsylvania is regulated by the Delaware River Basin Commission through the Ground Water Protected Area Regulations. The regulations were adopted in 1980 by the DRBC, at the request of Pennsylvania, when it became evident that development was negatively impacting groundwater levels. The regulations were recently amended to base withdrawal limits on water conditions in each of the 76 subbasins either partially or entirely in the area. In the second tier of protection, maximum withdrawal limits are established and total withdrawals cannot exceed that limit. The regulations also establish procedures for supporting municipal plans.