Protecting and enhancing the water resources of Adams County, Pennsylvania.
It’s true that “we all live downstream”—but in Adams County, we also live upstream.
Virtually every drop of water in Adams County falls from the sky as rain or snow—no streams drain into the county. That means we have the privilege of access to remarkably clean water. It also means we bear a responsibility to our neighbors downstream to steward our waters well.
Why does a watershed organization spend so much of its energy planting trees?
The short answer: What helps the environment helps our waters. A longer answer: Trees and shrubs absorb pollutants from stormwater runoff, helping keep our drinking water clean (and reducing the cost of cleaning that water!). When planted along stream and pond banks, they shade and cool the water, making it more hospitable for aquatic life. They stabilize soil and reduce erosion, which also keeps our water clean. They’re also beautiful, restorative carbon-sequestering wonders!
Monitoring stream health for today and tomorrow.
Stormwater runoff, municipal and industrial discharge, agriculture—even too much salt on our sidewalks in winter—all can contribute to degrading the health of our streams. Poor stream-water quality in turn is detrimental to all creatures that depend on water to live (that is, all of us!). For this reason, we’ve been monitoring the health of our streams for nearly 20 years.
Events.
Won’t you join us?
Our members and friends test water, distribute seedlings, plant trees, and generally work to make Adams County—and all the lands downstream of us—more healthy, beautiful, and hospitable to humans and other species that depend on water to live. Plus we have a lot of fun! Won’t you join us?
“When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.”
— Benjamin Franklin