Critical Water and Agricultural Issues in Potter County and Tioga County Being Studied by a Local Leadership Team of Community Members
The Potter-Tioga Local Leadership has released an update on their recent activities and the results of a survey of landowners in the region regarding ground and surface water issues. The mail survey was sent to both agricultural and residential landowners in the region and was designed to better understand landowner values, beliefs and behaviors related to streams, rivers and groundwater.
Among its many findings, the a majority of respondents rate water quality in the Upper Cowanesque or Triple Divide Watersheds as “good” or “excellent” according to Local Leadership Team (LLT) member Erica Tomlinson. A four-page summary of the survey’s results can be accessed here Potter-Tioga Summary 5 28 2020 (1).
The survey results have provided valuable insight as the Local Leadership Team has worked to develop strategies that best meet the needs and perspectives of local residents.
Pennsylvania is a central player in the water health of the Genesee, Pine Creek-Susquehanna, and Allegheny Rivers. And the seemingly endless mountains of north central PA provide pristine waters for residents, recreation, agriculture, and industry, to name a few. The Triple Divide and Upper Cowanesque watersheds are vitally important to this region and beyond.
LLT member Kirsten Williams explained that local stakeholders are intimately involved making this genuinely a ‘community-led’ process – effectively empowering stakeholders with the resources and authority they need to lead efforts such as a water sampling study funded by the United States Geological Survey (USGS)
The full press release can be accessed here Press Release PT
Potter -Tioga Project Update: Summer 2019
Following a summer ‘pause’ similar to the other project sites, the Local Leadership Team met on August 2nd at the North Fork Dam Pavilion in Potter County. At this meeting we did a visioning-type exercise and discussion. A number of common themes emerged fro m the three brea
kout groups. At our next meeting we will narrow this list down to the top desired outcomes. Some of the most common action steps included: 1) better educational outreach efforts to tie in the local community; 2) farm open houses to highlight past, ongoing, and planned efforts to protect the water supply; and 3) press releases to promote goodwill and describe the team effort for community consumption.
Several small committees of membership have taken on responsibilities to promote activities at various functions. Additionally, a leadership team member provided us with a presentation about a commercially available app and service to determine nitrogen uptake/availability/deficiency. While we do not yet have a meeting date set, the group is would like to meet as soon as possible in September to ensure we build on the momentum we’ve established.
Local Leadership Group Forming to Address Critical Water and Agricultural Issues in Potter County and Tioga County
Coudersport, Wellsboro, PA – Penn State Extension, in partnership with area farmers, several Potter and Tioga County agencies, service providers and agricultural organizations has announced the formation of a new initiative and leadership group dedicated to identifying long-term solutions and implementing projects that address the Region’s most pressing water and agricultural issues.
Potter and Tioga County, the Cowanesque Watershed, now joins four other communities across the country as part of the Water for Agricultural project – a USDA supported initiative designed to provide communities with the resources and assistance they need to explore the water and agricultural issues that matter most to them. “In addition to assisting these communities meet their needs, our goal is also to learn more about the best ways to bring together a diverse set of interests to discuss these types of challenges so that we can share these lessons with other communities across the country” said Nicole Santangelo, Penn State Extension Educator and Local Leadership Engagement Team Lead. Additional information is available here. PotterTioga Press Release#1 R2.0 1 27 21