News Release

PACD Executive Director Issues Comments on
Water Resources Legislation

Water Resources Legislation Comments
by Susan Fox Marquart, Executive Director Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.

History of PACD Involvement in Water Resources Legislation

Sometime in the 1970's, the Department of Environmental Resources formed the Water Resources Policy Advisory Committee (WRPAC), which its members called "Warpack." There were about 20 members on the committee representing groups that had an interest in water resources including PACD. The committee met a number of times to obtain information on water supply and water quality and provided ample opportunity for the discussion of water policy. At about the same time the Department of Environmental Resources developed a State Water Plan for Water Quality in the Commonwealth in response to the Federal Water Pollutant Control Act.

Two concerns remained to be dealt with, water supply and water supply in emergencies such as drought. Following the "Warpack" meetings, the Department of Environmental Resources was instrumental in having a water management bill introduced. This was HB 1483 introduced in the early 1980's. This bill provided for accumulating much needed information on water resources and provided for planning for emergencies. The bill contained language that many felt would not involve the private sector and thus, it failed. Recognizing the need for water resources planning so that future demands could be met, and emergencies could be dealt with, our organization has been working on water resources legislation since HB 1483 failed.

In 1985, the PACD brought together a working group representing farming, industry, and conservation interests to continue to draft proposed legislation that would establish a comprehensive planning and analysis program for the water resources of the Commonwealth. The primary purpose was to plan for and develop an adequate supply of water in order to minimize the effects of recurring periods of drought. The legislation was introduced as SB 1525 in 1986. The concept of the legislation was that water resources planning should be done on a regional basis by knowledgeable people from the region. The legislation also created a State Water Resource Board, which would coordinate the planning and emergency management of water resources by adopting a State Plan. Many interests were recognized in this legislation and a number of industry associations incorporated their views and concerns until a consensus was obtained. The bill went through a number of drafts before it reached its final form.

As it turned out, SB 1525 of 1986 was not passed. The bill has been re-introduced many times since 1986 in the form of SB 476 of 1987, SB 837 of 1989, SB 1054 of 1991, and SB 351 of 1993. Today, these same concepts for water resources legislation that were agreed upon in the past are currently embodied in SB 998 of 2001. The PACD feels that the concept of a bottom-up approach through regional planning on a watershed basis as described in SB 998 is still the best way to develop a comprehensive State Water Plan. Attached to this testimony is an analysis of SB 998, which highlights the major provisions of the bill.

Pennsylvania's Conservation Districts

The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. (PACD) is a nonprofit corporation that supports, enhances, and promotes Pennsylvania's Conservation Districts and their programs. There are 66 county Conservation Districts in Pennsylvania with 550 appointed public officials who serve as Conservation District Directors and 472 staff who carry out the day-to-day activities.

Conservation Districts were established by Act 217 of 1945 and have been in the business of soil and water conservation for over 57 years. Act 217 provides a role for conservation districts in water resources management and water use, among other things. Section 9 paragraphs (8) and (9) of Act 217 provides the directors of the districts with the power to assist and advise owners and occupiers of land and county and municipal governments in developing and implementing plans for stormwater management, floodplain management, water use, water management and water pollution control. Conservation Districts also have the ability to work together on a multi-county level on projects and issues where a watershed covers more than one county.

Conservation Districts are uniquely positioned for the role of water management. Each local Conservation District is composed of Directors with diverse backgrounds representing a variety of farming and local public interests. District Directors encompass all walks of life from farmers to engineers, from biologists to school teachers, and from County Commissioners to Township Supervisors. Conservation Districts represent grassroots level involvement in local conservation activities in their communities. February 20, 2002