PennFuture Blog

Renee Reber, Campaign Manager, Watershed Advocacy

Recent Passage of Lawn Care Bill Will Improve Pennsylvania's Waterways

by Renee Reber, Campaign Manager, Watershed Advocacy
For over a decade clean water advocates have sought updates to Pennsylvania’s Fertilizer Act to include more protections for waterways. At last, this July we can celebrate the passage of such legislation. Read more

PennFuture, Partners Advocate for Clean Water Funding Opportunities in the State Budget

by Renee Reber, Campaign Manager, Watershed Advocacy
Pennsylvania has $2.2 billion in federal American Rescue Plan funding that remains unallocated out of $7 billion it originally received. Recognizing the importance of natural infrastructure and healthy rivers and streams to public health, this money should be used to fund clean water programs and pr Read more

This year, Pennsylvania must properly fund efforts to clean up our waterways

by Renee Reber, Campaign Manager, Watershed Advocacy
On World Water Day, we are again calling on state lawmakers to properly fund the programs and initiatives that will get us closer to our clean water goals in Pennsylvania, and in the Chesapeake Bay. Read more

Updated Integrated Water Quality Report Reveals 33 Percent of Pennsylvania Waterways are Polluted

by Renee Reber, Campaign Manager, Watershed Advocacy
The draft 2022 report finds 33 percent of Pennsylvania’s stream miles are impaired. That’s a step backward from 30 percent in the 2020 report. Read more

New Amendment to Pennsylvania’s Watershed Implementation Plan Shows Progress in Meeting Clean Water Goals, but Legislature Still Must Act

by Renee Reber, Campaign Manager, Watershed Advocacy
Last week, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection released its long-anticipated amendment to the Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan. Read more

Planting Trees and Fighting for Funding in the Keystone State

by Renee Reber, Campaign Manager, Watershed Advocacy
Gathering on a Plain Sect dairy farm in Lancaster County on October 13, a group of 20 volunteers planted approximately 600 trees as part of a two-acre buffer on a direct tributary to the Conestoga River. Read more

Stakeholders Making Progress on Chesapeake Bay Goals, but Legislature Still Lagging

by Renee Reber, Campaign Manager, Watershed Advocacy
After years of lackluster planning and implementation, Pennsylvania and the other Bay states should celebrate the huge strides that are underway over the last two years since the completion of the Phase 3 WIP. Read more

The Chesapeake Bay is Improving, but Still a Long Road to 2025

by Renee Reber, Campaign Manager, Watershed Advocacy
This week, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science gave the Chesapeake Bay a C in their latest report card. This is an improvement from last year’s grade of C-. Read more

PennFuture Releases New Report to Save Chesapeake Bay

by Renee Reber, Campaign Manager, Watershed Advocacy
PennFuture today released a policy agenda designed to give Pennsylvania lawmakers a roadmap to fund clean water programs and to get us back on track toward meeting our obligations to clean up the bay. Read more

Clean Water Advocacy Forges Ahead Despite Pandemic

by Renee Reber, Campaign Manager, Watershed Advocacy
The COVID-19 pandemic has left its impact on all of us and continues to raise uncertainty at every corner, including in our clean water advocacy. Read more

Pennsylvania Continues to Miss Chesapeake Bay Commitments

by Renee Reber, Campaign Manager, Watershed Advocacy
Despite recent planning efforts by the state and a renewed vigor in Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts, Pennsylvania continues to lag behind in its progress reports. Read more

Updated Climate Change Assessment Reveals Future Pennsylvania Water Troubles

by Renee Reber, Campaign Manager, Watershed Advocacy
Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection last week released the state’s third Climate Change Impacts Assessment, and the update tells us of a warmer future with more rain, floods and landslides than ever experienced in Pennsylvania history. Read more

PennFuture, partners to celebrate PA Clean Water Week

by Renee Reber, Campaign Manager, Watershed Advocacy
PennFuture, in partnership with the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed and the Choose Clean Water Coalition, will highlight different rivers, streams and watersheds across Pennsylvania this week. Read more