Pennsylvania Water Symposium Underway

Today's gathering of scientists from Pennsylvania's multitude of research institutions, agencies, and consulting groups focuses on the theme: "Groundwater and Surface Water - A Single Resource" at the Pennsylvania Water Symposium sponsored by the Pennsylvania Water Resources Research Center at the Penn Stater, University Park, PA. The roughly 200 attendees come from all walks of water life and are discussing these areas (presentations will be posted on the Penn State Cooperative Extension's Water website http://www.extension.psu.edu/ - keyword "water"):

1. Priorities for Pennsylvania - An Overview of the Key Issues: Evolving policies, TMDLs, and Marcellus shale.


2. Watershed Processes & Management: Monitoring, legacy sediments, engagement and accountability.


3. Applied Ground Water Resources: Protecting groundwater/aquifers with increasing geothermal heat pump system borehole development, municipal water supply protection.


4. Contemporary Water Issues and Potential Solutions - Including emerging contaminants in Pennsylvania's waters - e.g. pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, hormones, wastewater compounds.

I was struck by the keynote addresses this morning. I've heard Deputy Secretary John Hines, PA Department of Environmental Protection speak on a weekly basis throughout the last few weeks, so I didn't expect a necessarily fresh message this morning. However, Hines delivered a compelling appeal to the scientists and colleague officials that crowded the room.

A far less articulate summary of his message then what he actually delivered follows. In Pennsylvania, there is much to take for granted when it comes to water resources - particularly abundance. Hines pointed out the global debates and challenges framed by the April 2010 issue of the National Geographic - a publication that rippled through the water world with photographic images and statistics, weaving the water web: quality, scarcity, and justice. Much of these issues we know, but little of it we consider on a day-to-day basis as we go about our respective work. For instance, the woman, far, far from Pennsylvania, who walks 5 miles to gather water. On the one hand, she is far from our thoughts, her world seemingly disconnected from Pennsylvania's water rich world - in which safe drinking water is a step away for those on public water supplies, and perhaps a little more elusive for those who depend on private drinking water supplies. On the other hand, the potential she holds for her community, her family is exhausted as hours of her day are spent hauling pounds of precious water, stealing her away from the capacity to solve problems and resolve issues that could improve day-to-day work and life, linking and drawing more closely our respective worlds.

Hines highlighted three priorities for Pennsylvania's water. First, the benefits anticipated by a new and improved Chapter 102 were outlined - including the requirement of erosion and sedimentation (E&S) plans in animal use areas is expected to decrease runoff of livestock manure to receiving waters. The new Chapter 102 will also require 150 foot buffers on exceptional value (EV) and high quality (HQ) waters that are not currently impaired, providing a protective mechanism for systems that are intact. For impaired waters, the 150 foot buffer is required, but must be upgraded to a riparian forest composition to maximize the potential for stream restoration through provision of the the added protection that only a tree canopy, extensive, permanent root system, and food source (leaf litter for enhancing the in-stream food chain) can ensure .

Secondly, Hines pointed to the Baywide Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and the state's efforts to develop an appropriate, benchmarked watershed implementation plan (WIP) for reducing Pennsylvania's combined sources of nonpoint and point source pollution that contributes to the nutrient and sediment-based degradation of the Chesapeake Bay.

And third, Hines identified the Marcellus shale issues confronting Pennsylvania as "probably the most focused, controversial issues that most of us will deal with during our careers". Amen brother.

Kudos to Penn State Cooperative Extension's State Water Specialist Bryan Swistock (brs@psu.edu) and Penn State Associate Professor of Hydrology and Director of the Pennsylvania Water Resources Research Center (ewb100@psu.edu) for developing an outstanding water science forum for Pennsylvania that explores our Commonwealth issues, but keeps in sight our connection to the global water challenges.