Events
West Virginia Watershed Symposium 2025: 17 Groups Unite to Protect Appalachian Waters
The 2025 West Virginia Watershed Symposium was held at Battlers Knob in Philippi, WV on Friday, October 17 and Saturday, October 18, 2025. Representatives from 17 watershed groups as well as various watershed partners and supporters attended the Symposium. On Friday, attendees enjoyed a 3.5 mile float on the Buckhannon-Tygart Valley Water Trail, celebrating WV’s newest…
Read MoreU Penn’s Water Center just published ”Informing the Discussion Around Water Systems Restructuring”
U Penn’s Water Center just published a briefing paper” Informing the Discussion Around Water Systems Restructuring.” This briefing paper offers a high-level overview of the challenges facing water and wastewater systems in the United States, how those challenges can drive system restructuring and examples of restructuring options. It is intended to serve as an initial…
Read MoreLessons from Fall Confluence: Why Being a Loud Voice for Watersheds Matters Now More Than Ever
Fall Confluence 2025 gave me something I didn’t expect – a completely new way of seeing watersheds. Sure, I went in understanding water quality testing and pollution monitoring. But the conference shifted my perspective to something bigger: watersheds aren’t just water flowing downhill. They’re complete, living ecosystems where every plant, animal, and microorganism works together…
Read MoreWhy Pennsylvania’s Tiniest Residents Hold the Key to Clean Water
And How You Can Help Protect Them If you joined us at the Fall 2025 Confluence, you already know this truth: clean water doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s the result of a thriving ecosystem where every creature—from the smallest insect to the largest mammal—plays a vital role. The butterflies dancing above your local stream, the…
Read MoreMeet the Trailblazers: Experts Leading the Fall 2025 Confluence Trails
As we gear up for the Fall 2025 Confluence on Saturday, September 27 at the Laurelville Retreat Center, we’re thrilled to introduce the remarkable individuals leading this year’s hands-on biodiversity trail experiences. Each of our guides brings deep knowledge, field expertise, and a passion for sharing the vital connections between healthy ecosystems and clean water.…
Read MoreOne Group’s Inspiring World Water Day Journey: Healing the Conemaugh, One Stream at a Time
While many of us marked World Water Day with reflection, education, or time spent beside a beloved stream, the Conemaugh Valley Conservancy (CVC) reminded us what real, long-haul stewardship looks like. With boots on the ground and data in hand, their team is literally transforming poisoned rivers into thriving community assets—one site, one test, and…
Read MoreThe Trails Are Calling: Get Ready for the Fall 2025 Confluence
Something special happens when a group of water-minded people come together on a forest trail. Ideas flow like streams, connections deepen, and the living systems we fight to protect suddenly feel more personal. That’s the spirit of Fall Confluence 2025, and we’re thrilled to invite you to be part of it. 📍 Saturday, September 27,…
Read MoreMeet Kara Holsopple: Storyteller, Advocate, and Your Trail Guide
Meet Kara Holsopple: Storyteller, Advocate, and Your Trail Guide to Environmental Insight @ The Fall 2025 Confluence When we say our Fall Confluence is about connecting with the places that matter most, we’re not just talking about the forests or streams—we’re thinking of Kara Holsopple, our inspiring keynote speaker. As the host and production director…
Read MoreiNaturalist, Stream Macros & You: What to Expect from the Hands-On Biodiversity Workshop
You’ll learn how to use iNaturalist, a free app that turns your phone into a biodiversity logbook. We’ll walk the trails at the beautiful Laurelville Retreat Center and show you how to capture and identify local species—from trees and insects to amphibians and invasive plants. Each entry becomes part of a global database that helps…
Read MoreWhy Biodiversity is the Backbone of Clean Water—And How You Can Help!
When you think about clean water, what comes to mind? Maybe a crystal-clear stream or a refreshing glass of drinking water. But what if we told you that the secret to that purity lies in the leaves on the trees, the bugs underfoot, and the frogs croaking beside the creek? Biodiversity—nature’s grand web of interconnected…
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