News & Notes November 2003

Water Resource Committees Flooded with Directors

On October 6, DEP Secretary Kathleen McGinty announced the appointment of six Regional Water Resource Committees on behalf of Governor Rendell. Over the next five years each regional committee will work with a statewide committee to help guide the development of a new State Water Plan for Pennsylvania as required by the Water Resources Planning Act.

Out of 132 regional committee members, 19 are district directors and 5 are associate directors or district staff.

Conservation District Directors:

Ohio Regional Committee
1. Marie C. Clark - Allegheny CD
2. D. Curtis Kaelin - Allegheny CD
3. Richard C Lehman - Washington CD
4. Robert Ritchey - Cambria CD
5. Ronald J. Rohall - Westmoreland CD
6. Charles O. Stowe - Butler CD
7. Vincent Vicites - Fayette CD

Potomac Regional Committee
1. Andrew Fitz - Franklin CD
2. Russell McLucas - Fulton CD
3. Roger Steel - Adams CD

Lake Erie Regional Committee
1. George Greig - Crawford CD
2. Jesse R. Koon - Erie CD
3. Edward C. Kosa - Potter CD

Upper/Middle Susquehanna Regional Committee
1. Robert Bergenstock - Montour CD
2. Harold Webster - Clearfield CD
3. Dorne White - Wyoming CD

Lower Susquehanna Regional Committee
1. Betty Conner - Lebanon CD
2. James Hostetter - Mifflin CD
3. Daniel Mains - Cumberland CD

Delaware Regional Committee
No District Directors were appointed on this committee. This problem has been brought to the attention of DEP and they have notified the Governor's office.

Conservation District Staff and Associate Directors:

Potomac Regional Committee
Charles Bennett - Adams CD
Pat Naugle - Adams CD

Lower Susquehanna Regional Committee
Donald Robinson - Lancaster CD

Delaware Regional Committee
Craig D. Todd - Monroe CD
Edith Stevens - Monroe CD

Through an open public process, the six regional committees will compile and review water-use data, take public comment, identify where existing and potential water-use conflicts and water quality issues may occur, and create recommendations for the State Water Plan. The committees will make recommendations to the Statewide Water Resources Committee which then will establish the approach and policies to guide the planning process. The statewide committee will have a formal review and approval role of the updated State Water Plan.

The State Water Plan will be designed to provide up-to-date information on water availability, an assessment and projection of water use and future demands on a watershed basis, identification of critical water planning areas where water demands are projected to exceed available water supplies, and the development of critical area resource plans for these areas.

With 24 total district directors and staff serving on the committees, conservation districts will play an instrumental role in water resources planning in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

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