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  E-News   June  2010
A monthly Update from the Water Resources Education Network
a project of the League of Women Voters of PA - Citizen Education Fund 
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In this issue
June Feature is Posted
WREN Projects Wrap-Up
WREN Conference presentations available
Webinars on Marcelus shale gas
Quick links: DCNR, Tree Calculator
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June WREN Feature is Posted
New funding is available from PENNVEST for Nonpoint Source Projects.
Pennvest moneyThe program, which began in March 2010, provides loans and grants for projects that address a wide variety of water pollution sources which cause water quality impairment (agricultural runoff, urban stormwater and abandoned mine drainage). Information on the program is available on the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority website at http://www.pennvest.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pennvest_internet/9242
or the DEP website at
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/municipal_finance/10564/municipal_finance_programs/554058
(scroll down to State Revolving Loan Fund Nonpoint Source Program)

PENNVEST is seeking input on its Intended Use Plan and the guidelines for the Nonpoint Source program.  Comment Deadline is July 26.  A public meeting will be held July 20 at 1:30 p.m. in the 2nd Floor Training Room, Rachel Carson State Office  Building, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA. 

Details at http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol40/40-26/1191.html
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WREN 2009-2010 Projects Wrap-Up, Share Activities
A highlight of every WREN meeting is WREN's version of speed-dating -- "Speed Learning" - when local projects get 20 minutes to introduce their project and share successes and challenges.

On the program this year were:
Bill Harker from East Fallowfield Township, describing their community rain garden planting project;
Amy McKinney, PA Cleanways and the Big Run Cleanup - video and Placemat contest;
Abigail Pattishall, Wildlands Conservancy, partner with the Allentown Parks Better Streamside Management project;
Jason Winey and the Lower Penns Creek Watershed Association built rain gardens at New Berlin ballfield;
Kristen Travers with the White Clay Wild and Scenic Management Committee, planted 5000 trees in the White Clay watershed;
Mary Ellen Noonan from the Bucks Co. Conservation District partnered with Doylestown Township and Delaware Valley College in a rain garden design and installation project.

Other project leaders who attended and shared information on their projects were:
FLAC placemat
Derrick Winegardner, from Friends of Little Aughwick Creek,  brought placemats that were created to raise awareness about protection of the Little Aughwick Creek;



John Doyle with Allegheny County Parks on the interpretative signs installed at an AMD passive treatment project in a park;

Rachel Kester with Trout Unlimited on how their project sponsored  AMD worshops and gave presentations in area high schools on AMD;

Anne Rahn from Earth Force and their project Messages on the Mon;

Jim Wilson from the Northampton Co. Conservation District on their work with the Frys Run Watershed Association to implement a coldwater Conservation Plan.
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WREN June 2010 Orientation & Wrap Up Meeting Presentations Available

Visit the WREN website at http://wren.palwv.org/resource.html to view PowerPoints from speakers at this year's meeting.
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Penn State Cooperative Extension  Webinar Series

June 30  Manure du jour webinar on "Turfgrass and Nutrients"  1:30 PM
https://breeze.psu.edu/agenv

July 30   "Chesapeake Bay Model for PA"  1:30 PM
Sponsored by the Penn State Agriculture and Environment Partnership
https://breeze.psu.edu/agenvpartnership           

July 15  "Natural Gas Development Land Use Controls in Lycoming County"  
Kurt Hausammann, Lycoming County Planning Commission. 1-2 PM

August 19  "Local Natural Gas Task Force Initiatives"
Mark Smith, Bradford County; Pam Tokar-Ickles, Somerset County; & Paul Heimel, Potter County. 1-2 PM

September 16  "Natural Gas Experiences of Marcellus Residents: Preliminary Results from the Community Satisfaction Survey"
Kathy Brasier, Penn State University. 1-2 PM

Registration is Free. REGISTER  HERE  for Marcellus Shale  webinars.

Once you have registered to attend a seminar, you will be directed to a website providing details on how to connect and participate in future seminars.  
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Quick Links

WREN's Water Calendar     
WREN websites: http://wren.palwv.org and www.drinkingwaterwise.org

DCNR website Marcellus Shale Gas and State Forest Lands

Calculate the benefit of planting trees in your town:  http://www.treebenefits.com/calculator/index.cfm
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