Pennsylvania Environmental Council

ACTION ALERT: Armstrong Trail needs your help.

jessica — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:42:01 -0500

BACKGROUND:
This rail with trail right-of-way along the Allegheny River in Gilpin and Bethel Townships between Schenley and Ford City was "railbanked" and purchased by the Allegheny Valley Land Trust (AVLT), managers of the Armstrong Trail.

For over eight years, the AVLT has been in conversations with The Kiski-Junction Railroad about sale of 9 miles of the right-of-way for both freight and scenic service. This is a laudable economic development goal and proper under the federal Rails to Trails Act.

French Creek eyed as potential water trail

jessica — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:27:14 -0500

http://www.meadvilletribune.com/local/local_story_328234819.html

'Trail' status eyed for local waterway
By Mary Spicer

Recreational trails for hiking, biking and riding are nothing new. In fact, Crawford County and its neighbors are home to several fine examples. Until now, however, local trails have been constructed on solid ground.

Erie-Pittsburgh Trail Public Meeting

jessica — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:59:14 -0400

7:00PM
Freeport Fire Hall at 400 Market Street
Freeport, PA 16229

Come to hear the who, what and where of the Erie-Pittsburgh Trail

Presenters include:
Erie-Pittsburgh Trail Alliance
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Armstrong Trail
Butler-Freeport Community Trail
Allegheny County Trails

See and hear the latest plans to expand the multi-modal trail system in Western Pennsylvania

North Branch Susquehanna River named a National Recreation Trail

jessica — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:07:22 -0400

The board of directors of the Endless Mountains Heritage Region, Inc. have received notification from U.S. Secretary of the Interior that the North Branch of the Susquehanna River is a designated National Recreation Trail.

Golf courses explore environmentally friendly practices

brad — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:29:34 -0400

From the Pottstown Mercury

By Brian McCullough, Journal Register News Service

Meadville Market House: Local Market House Growing, attracting new customers

jessica — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:54:40 -0400

Anyone looking for a grim economic forecast should be advised to stay away from Meadville Market House.

Truth be told, Market Master Alice Sjolander is downright bullish on the historic structure.

"Things are going very well at the Market House," Sjolander said during a recent interview, noting that sales through the facility's central cashier were not only up substantially in 2008 but have continued to rise into the new year.

Presentation: Rachel Carson’s influence on environmental literacy

brad — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:51:34 -0400

PEC is sponsoring a presentation entitled "From Nature Study to Environmental Literacy: Rachel Carson as Teacher," as part of the Outdoor Heritage Month activities in partnership with Natural BioDiversity, Johnstown Area Heritage Association and other organizations.

The free presentation by Vivienne Shaffer will be held at 7 p.m. April 21 at the Johnstown Heritage Discovery Center, 201 Sixth Street, Johnstown. The presentation is supported by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council.

Representatives gather to continue trail project

jessica — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:43:57 -0500

The Erie to Pittsburgh Trail Alliance held its first annual meeting since becoming formally incorporated recently.

There is soon to be a complete, connected system of trail corridors and bicycle-friendly roads available to residents of all ages and abilities Âthroughout western Pennsylvania.

The Erie to Pittsburgh Trail Alliance (EPTA) is a collaborative organization of 12 individual trail groups currently working on completing multiuse recreational trail projects in western Pennsylvania.

Clean Water Places for 2nd in ‘Elect to Conserve’ Campaign

brad — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:43:26 -0500

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council thanks everyone who voted to help make "water conservation" the runner-up in the recently concluded "Elect to Conserve" campaign - a fun way to develop awareness and support for the state's broad conservation initiatives.

PEC was honored to be selected by DNCR as the organization to "campaign" for water with the "iCon" of Montrell in the election that had five different causes paired with five non-profit organizations competing for a $5,000 prize.

Armstrong County seeks Water Trails inclusion

brad — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:00:37 -0400

By Tom Mitchell

Kittanning Leader-Times

There's water, fish and wildlife. There are boaters and fishermen, but there's no connection to Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's system of Water Trails in Armstrong County.

However, if the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Pittsburgh, and the Allegheny Valley Land Trust and others have their way, the county will be a part of the state's Water Trails program in the next year or so.

Creek copes with strains of city life

jessica — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:08:14 -0400

Creek copes with strains of city life

By CODY SWITZER

MEADVILLE - The largest city along French Creek lies hidden somewhere beyond these wooded stream banks.

Yes, there are signs that the city and the stream have met - a tire and hubcap, concrete blocks and parts of a coffee pot on the streambed. Shopping carts coated in mud lie on the banks, while others strain leaves from the creek. A buried pipe trickles water into the stream, the rocks below stained orange with rust.

Help PEC Win the iConserve Campaign for Clean Water

brad — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:53:42 -0400

Water - we just can't live without it. Actually, to be clear, "clean" water.... We all need clean water to survive, and not just the water that sustains us as humans: all of the water needed by plants and animals on which we rely for food and so many other things.

Arguably there can be no greater cause for our Commonwealth today than to conserve clean water.

Global warming’s impacts and risks at home identified

brad — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:29:54 -0400

A report being released tomorrow by the Union of Concerned Scientists will identify the impacts and risks of global warming in Pennsylvania, underscoring the need for the state to adopt a strong Climate Change Action Plan, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council said today.

The Action Plan is required under legislation passed recently by the State Legislature, and the committee overseeing the plan development met for the first time in September.

Storm water project complete

jessica — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:02:07 -0400

Stormwater project complete

By Tim Hahn, Erie Daily Times

The grass is finally growing on a 2 1/2 -year project to ease the threat of flooding in the southeastern end of the city.

Work is about complete on a project that is adding a series of swales, retention ponds and plantings to capture and slow the flow of runoff water from upper Pine Street, said Jill Groves of the Meadville Redevelopment Authority.

PEC Praises Pennsylvania Passage of Historic Great Lakes Compact Legislation

john — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:27:33 -0400