PRC COLLABORATES WITH WATERSHED NONPROFITS TO EDUCATE RESIDENTS ON HOW PROTECTING OUR WATERS AND WILDLIFE CAN BEGIN RIGHT AT HOME
In response to rapidly growing public interest in residential stormwater management and community greening methods, four watershed organizations in southeastern Pennsylvania have partnered to launch the Growing Greener Communities website at www.growinggreenercommunities.org. This free resource provides a one-stop shop for guidance on how residents can protect waterways by reducing stormwater runoff.
The website serves as a resource library for residents, community groups, municipal governments, and others interested in addressing issues such as flooding, habitat loss, and local water pollution. The nonprofits banding together to provide this online platform – PRC along with Darby Creek Valley Association, Eastern Delaware County Stormwater Collaborative, and Lower Merion Conservancy – have been working together for more than a decade.
“The Growing Greener Communities is an initiative to create healthy waterways, improve quality of life and limit climate change impacts in our communities,” according to PRC Executive Director Darren Spielman. “We are proud of the expertise this partnership has shared through the Stream Smart Stormwater House Calls program and the many rain garden initiatives that we have supported, and we are thrilled to now launch this free online resource.”
Key features of the new website include:
> GUIDES & RESOURCES on installing green additions such as rain barrels and creating wildlife habitat with native plants;
> WORKSHOP REGISTRATION offering online and hands-on opportunities to learn about topics like watersheds, stormwater, green infrastructure, and more;
> INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS including a tutorial showcasing the steps involved in planning, designing, and building a rain garden;
> INTERACTIVE FORUM offering personalized advice on eco-friendly yard practices, stormwater runoff reduction, wildlife protection, and more.
“During a one-inch rainstorm, the roof of your home can generate hundreds of gallons of stormwater,” says Chris Bunn, Environmental Program Coordinator at PRC. “That water makes its way into our storm sewer systems and waterways, contributing to issues like flooding and pollution of our local drinking water sources. As community members, each of us needs to do our part in protecting our water.”
Individuals can access the Growing Greener Communities website at www.growinggreenercommunities.org.
“At this moment, one-third of Pennsylvania’s streams are too polluted to support aquatic life, recreation, fish consumption or to supply drinking water,” explains Bunn. “With this website, we hope to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills they need to address these issues. By working together, we can create vibrant, healthy waterways and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.”
This project was financed in part by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and its funding partners and funded in part by a Growing Greener Grant provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.