 About the Yough Riverkeeper Program
The Youghiogheny Riverkeeper is a program of the Mountain Watershed Association and has expanded MWA's vision into the larger Youghiogheny River basin. The Yough Riverkeeper is the public advocate for the Youghiogheny River watershed. We use grassroots efforts to defend against further pollution, to improve water quality and to conserve the natural ecology and character of the region.
Protecting the Youghiogheny River and its tributaries is critical to improving the environment and economy of our region. We believe the Yough should remain a ‘living river’ with safe water for drinking, fishing, kayaking, swimming, and habitat.
Our Riverkeeper program is part of a larger organization, the Waterkeeper Alliance, which is dedicated to providing a voice for waterways across the world.
Major Programs and Initiatives
We are currently raising funds for a comprehensive monitoring plan focused on the portion of the Youghiogheny River watershed located in Pennsylvania. This will complement the monitoring that we are already conducting in the Indian Creek watershed as well as the continuous monitoring that we're conducting with instream data loggers throughout the Yough basin.
We regularly review and provide comment on permits for activities including coal mining and gas well drilling in the watershed. We use grassroots advocacy tools to draw attention to water quality and quantity threats in the basin. We pursue stream redesignation petitions and unsuitable for mining petitions to seek more protection for our highest quality streams. We network with other groups and organize watershed stakeholders to assist us in these efforts.
Our Youghiogheny Riverkeeper regularly patrols the watershed and also relies on several dedicated volunteers to be 'eyes and ears' around the basin. If you would like to assist in the Youghiogheny River Patrol, please contact Krissy.
More information can be found on our Facebook page.
Support the Yough Riverkeeper
If you would like to support the Yough Riverkeeper program please consider making a donation to our Yough Defense Fund. Donations are used to fund our legal work, water monitoring, and other initiatives in the Youghiogheny River watershed.
The largest fundraiser for our Yough Riverkeeper is the annual Yough Defense Party which takes place in November at the Falls City Pub in Ohiopyle. This event, sponsored by several area residents and businesses, replenishes our Yough Defense Fund so that we may pursue water monitoring, legal defense, and other watershed initiatives.
For more information on the Yough Defense Fund and the Yough Defense Party, please contact Krissy. Thank you for your support!
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