PEC's focus on conservation through cooperation for over 40 years has made it the leading environmental / conservation organization in the state. It operates on the basis of sound science and rational decision-making involving all stakeholders in its decisions.
Review from Guidestar
The PA Environmental Council has been instrumental in helping municipalities, citizens, and interest groups in addressing many of the wet weather problems in the Greater Pittsburgh area.
I'm currently participating in PEC's Delaware River Ambassador Program where I'm being trained on how to encourage others to access, enjoy and appreciate the Delaware River. As a college student, I'm extremely excited about the opportunity to be involved in a meaningful way for an instrumental nonprofit and towards my wider interest in responsible use and protection at this point in my life. I'm also exposed to a lot of partnering nonprofits and organizations with a stake in our watershed, which helps give me an idea of future volunteer and career opportunities.
As a planner in a conservation organization, I have collaborated on numerous watershed planning projects with members of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council watershed program staff. Their experience in meeting facilitation, organizaing collaborative partnerships and their expertise in water resource, trail and greenway issues has helped our organization develop and implement resource protection projects in the region. We also serve together on the board of a local watershed partnership.
PEC has been instrumental in improving water trail development and I throughly enjoy reading all of the articles in the newsletter. PEC enabling hundreds of people, who have never had the opportunity, to experience the wonders of being on the water is quite an accomplishment. Hats off to a wonderful organization and their kayak program.
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council recently called for volunteers to serve as Tidal Delaware River Ambassadors. The purpose of this program is to develop individuals who will be able to discuss the tidal Delaware with current and potential new users of the river and in doing so, develop in those who get to know and enjoy the river, a strong interest in protecting it. The ambassador training program consists of multiple seminars in which we learn Delaware River history, ecology, geology, and the human impact on the river. The training program is very well run and extremely informative. It is a fine example of an organization using its resources to multiply its reach and impact on the environment.
PEC is critical and assertive in moving forward with the Tidewaters Delaware National Recreation Corridor. This is key to finish protecting the Delaware River under federal designation to enable special water protection. 17 million people drink this water.
I have work with PEC for over 20 years. We have worked on open space issues, park preservation projects, river front development projects, greening intiatives and brown field projects. The staff at PEC have always worked in a professional manner and provided expertise and knowledge lead resulted in successful projects. PEC works very hard on many fronts to protect our environment.
Over the past several years Friends of the Riverfront has had the pleasure of working closely with the Pennsylvania Environmental council on several key environmental projects. Together with Allegheny County we are working hard to complete major regional trail plans and construction projects. Having access to the Pennsylvania Environmental Councils knowledgeable staff has allowed our small organization to focus more on our core mission, reduce overhead and duplication. Without their involvement many of the now built miles of riverfront tails and greenways we currently enjoy would not be a reality.
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) is a trusted partner in riverfront trail development and the development of community based initiatives in the rivertowns of Allegheny County. Work to date includes technical assistance on a 26 mile trail study; the creation of a Rivertowns project that examines opportunities with organizations and small governments of communities that border our rivers and assistance with the completion of the Great Allegheny Passage within Allegheny County. (A 350 mile trail from Pittsburgh to Cumberland Maryland and then to Washington, DC). Additionaly, PEC has provided technical support and partnerships in the development of an education green roof project, rain gardens and educational programming that focuses on stormwater mitagation through downspout diconnect training to professions and Green Roof Breakfast educational sessions for building owners, municipalities and engineers.
As a writer, who focuses upon the natural and cultural heritage of southwestern and south-central Pennsylvania, I am constantly encountering the tracks of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. PEC is involved with:
* A multi-disciplinary landscape initiative in the Laurel Highlands.
* A river-corridor development project in the Stonycreek River Basin.
* A multi-faceted community development project in Johnstown based largely upon effective use of natural resources.
* Criticial fact-finding and information dissemination on the major environment and economic development of our time, Marcellus Shale drilling.
And these are just a few of PEC's projects within the limited perspective of my area.
I have witnessed and been a part of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council's work regarding many facets of improving quality of life in Pennsylvania including land and water trail development, environmental stewardship and education, and sound economic development using the tools mentioned above. PEC's employees go above and beyond what is simply required to ensure we all have a great place to live and visit.
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council is truly an organization dedicated to the improvent of Pennsylvania's natural spaces. I worked with the Philadelphia office on researching the needs of boaters on the Tidal Delaware River, in order to determine the best ways to encourage increased used of the River for recreation. Increased grassroots support translates to a greater snese of stewardship of our natural resources, as well as greater politcal leverage. This research, which was grant-funded, will help increase awareness and use of an important resource in close proximity to a major urban center (Philadelphia).