Introduction
In 1996, the Schuylkill River Watershed Initiative was formed to increase communication and collaboration among nonprofit organizations and to promote a long-term vision for the watershed. With funding from The William Penn Foundation, Wyomissing Foundation, Claneil Foundation, the Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources (DCNR) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Initiative has involved over 25 nonprofit organizations and representatives from DCNR, DEP and the Philadelphia Water Department. Managed by The Conservation Fund, the Schuylkill Initiative has been a catalyst for two large-scale projects — the Schuylkill River Conservation Plan and this Report on the State of the Schuylkill Watershed.

A joint project of nonprofit organizations and government, this report is a first attempt in developing indicators to begin to understand the watershed as a whole and how well it is doing. It is intended to serve as a baseline that should be further developed and updated in future years. Its other primary purpose is to encourage continued collaboration among the participating nonprofit groups and others, to strengthen their individual activities in the watershed. We hope that the report will be of interest to a broad audience of watershed communities, nonprofit organizations, current and prospective funders, and the public at-large—to inspire all activities that will benefit the watershed.

The report is organized around the following questions:

1. What are some of the defining characteristics of the Schuykill as reflected by its natural and human history, its present land use and development patterns, and its water uses and water quality conditions?
2. How is the Schuylkill a resource to the region today, and what activities are underway to protect or enhance those resource values?
3. How are we managing human stresses to maintain and/or restore the health of the watershed ecosystem?
4. How well does the public understand the watershed and its importance, and what programs are in place to enhance public awareness and appreciation of the Schuylkill?
5. And finally, what are some of the agencies and nonprofit organizations involved in the watershed?

These are complex questions and each could fill a report on its own. By addressing them together, we gain in breadth what we lose in depth. The report provides a comprehensive view that helps us evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of what has been done and the potential of what lies ahead.

 

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Site Design: Tevlin & Clarke

FIGURE 1. Regional Location
Source: Schuylkill Watershed River Conservation Plan - 2001

Watersheds are areas drained by a river or a river system. The Schuylkill watershed is the largest tributary of the Delaware River Basin. Covering about 1,916 square miles (or over 1.2 million acres), the watershed encompasses portions of 11 counties in southeastern Pennsylvania. Originating at Tuscarora Springs in Schuylkill County, the Schuylkill River travels approximately 130 miles to its mouth at the Delaware River in Philadelphia.