Conewango Creek Watershed group receives $25,000 grant
POSTED: February 5, 2010 Save | Print | Email | Read comments | Post a comment Email: “Conewango Creek Watershed group receives $25,000 grant” 
The Conewango Creek Watershed Association (CCWA) has been selected by the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds (FWP) to receive a capacity building grant. The funding, a value of $25,000, will include intensive training and consulting services based on the needs of the CCWA.

The FWP will also make a cash reward of up to $2,000 for traveling expenses incurred by participating. The purpose of the capacity-building program is to support the development of nonprofit organizations who are devoted to the restoration and preservation of clean water in western Pennsylvania.

The CCWA was one of 30 watershed groups in Pennsylvania that were invited to apply for the grant. Eleven groups were interviewed and the CCWA was one of three chosen.

The project will help the CCWA create a custom organizational development plan that will help strengthen areas in need of improvement. In order to have regular interaction, a “leadership team” was formed to attend meetings and trainings and to meet with consultants. The CCWA leadership team includes: Tom Osborne (Vice Chairman) of Russell, PA; Elizabeth Dropp (Director) of Youngsville, PA; and Annette Strasser (member) of Frewsburg, NY.

The CCWA is a nonprofit organization that promotes stewardship that enhances water quality and related sources throughout the Conewango Creek watershed. The mission will be pursued through identifying and evaluating the watersheds potential resource problems, developing practical solutions to address resources concerns, and involving and educating the people within the Conewango watershed community. The CCWA co-sponsored the Conewango Creek clean-up in September 2009. A total of 67 volunteers and 534 hours of service helped remove nine tons of garbage. They also sold rain barrels to homeowners to help save energy, conserve water, and reduce runoff. Through this development grant, the CCWA hopes that improvements can be made to expand their programs and projects. For more information about the CCWA visit their website at www.conewangocreek.org.

The FWP is a grant-making foundation that invests in efforts to protect natural streams, clean up pollution, and repair wildlife habitat. Their mission is to promote the protection, preservation, and restoration of the watersheds and water resources of Pennsylvania. The foundation has helped over 150 different groups, funded millions of dollars in projects, and restored hundreds of miles of polluted rivers and streams.

For this project, the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds partnered with the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University. The Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management will design a management and governance support program. They offer consulting in various areas, such as: board development, business planning, financial management, etc.

Tom Osborne is pictured receiving his Volunteer Acheivement Award.

The Conewango Creek Watershed Association held its 2009 annual meeting recently at the Jamestown Audubon Society.

Elections were conducted for the three director seats up for re-election which were filled by the incumbents: Chautauqua County at-large – Chris Humphrey from Jamestown; Cattaraugus County at-large – Brian Schrantz; and Warren County at-large – Tom Osborne of Russell. Also elected was John Haffner from Blasdell, N.Y., for a vacated Cattaraugus County at-large position.

After a brief business meeting, the Environmental Achievement Award was presented to Osborne for spearheading the Conewango Creek clean-up in September and for the energy and passion he has brought to the group. Dan Steward, association chairman, gave a summary of the activities and achievements in the past year. Kim Sherwood, association watershed curator, talked about the environmental accomplishments in the watershed and asked the public to plot an environmentally sound course in the future.

The featured presentation called “The Way We Were (then, and a little bit of now)” was given to the group by DeForest Warn and Dr. Tom Erlandson. Historical photos from the area taken by Warn and Rollin Cass dating back to the 1930s were selected to demonstrate the changes that have occurred to the watershed over the last eight decades. Areas highlighted were landmarks in Jamestown including Chautauqua Lake and its outlet, downtown Jamestown, Frewsburg and the Kinzua area of the Allegheny River. By comparing the old photos with current ones, the changes were pointed out.

114 tires

The Conewango Creek Clean up was awsome! Thanks to all that helped out and to all the local business that supplied us with the gear we needed. Please remember these business when you are shopping.

Ruff Acres Antiques
Ed Shults of Warren
Warren Mall
Tractor Supply Company
Mike’s AJ’s Texas Hots (Lakewood)
Ray Shields Farm
Cornplanter Council of the Boy Scouts of America
Russell Lions’ Club 
Outdoor Life Magazine
American Rivers
Boulder Canyon Natural Foods
Warren County Sheriff’s Dept.

Click on the link below to see the pictures of the Conewango Creek Clean-up. 
http://s976.photobucket.com/albums/ae242/kayaker45/

Unloading trash from boats.

Boats waiting to be unloaded.

Moonlight paddle – Aug. 13, 2011- The next full moon is coming up quietly, so call and make your reservation now.  Each month the full moon is know by a number of different names. One of the name for the August full moon is the Sturgeon Moon. Hope to see you there.