water, land, life
WPC's Monthly eNewsletter

Join us June 22 for a Virtual Annual Members’ Meeting and Update 


     Please join us for our first-ever virtual annual members' meeting, Thursday, June 22 from noon to 1:15 p.m., for a live overview of the accomplishments you’ve made possible and how WPC is facing the challenges of COVID-19, including plans for safely reopening Fallingwater.
     Staff will provide brief updates highlighting projects across WPC’s watershed, gardens and greenspace, land conservation and natural heritage programs and at Fallingwater.
     After the meeting, visit our website at your leisure to enjoy pre-recorded information sessions, including Immersive Learning at Fallingwater, Late Spring Butterflies of Pennsylvania, Ecological Home Gardening 101 and Large Wood Restoration in the Allegheny National Forest.
     Register here. You’ll receive an email containing the meeting link and a password. To join the meeting at noon on June 22, click on the link and type the password.

Watershed Mini Grants Awarded to Local Groups
 
Thanks to the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, we continue helping others to improve local watersheds through our Watershed Mini Grant Program. We recently awarded 24 environmental organizations representing 12 Pennsylvania counties a total of $30,000 for water quality monitoring, watershed restoration and awareness initiatives. Read more.
 
Forested Land Expands Sideling Hill Creek Conservation Area
 
We recently conserved 19 acres on Sideling Hill Creek, bringing the Sideling Hill Creek Conservation Area to 375 acres. The newly conserved acres, in Mann Township, Bedford County serve as an important riparian buffer, cooling and improving water quality. The creek supports populations of rare freshwater mussels and the property, which is open to the public for recreation, protects the unique shale barrens’ forests and several globally rare plants.
 
Apply by June 15 for Fallingwater’s Virtual Summer Programs for High Schoolers and Teachers
 
Be inspired by Fallingwater and its architecture and design from the comfort of your home. Educators: Learn how Fallingwater can inspire learning in your virtual or physical classrooms. Teens: Learn about careers in design, architecture and fine art, as well as Fallingwater and Frank Lloyd Wright’s design philosophy, while preparing for the college application process. Apply by June 15!
Free Trees for Cleaner Water for Fish and Other Aquatic Life
 
We have good news for landowners in the Juanita and West Branch Susquehanna river watersheds! Thanks to grant funding, our watershed conservation specialists can plant streamside trees on your property - at no cost to you - to help improve water quality and increase wildlife habitat. If you're a landowner in these areas and want to improve the riparian buffer on your land, email us at water@paconserve.org.
Farmland Available for Lease in Westmoreland County
 
WPC has acquired farmland in Westmoreland County that is now available for lease to local farmers as part of our Farmland Access Initiative. With the demand rising for locally grown food, this program helps support the local economy by making land more accessible to farmers who want to grow organic foods. Interested farmers can submit an application and learn more about this initiative.
Fallingwater Site is Opening Soon
 
We’re putting measures in place for a safe reopening of Fallingwater under Pennsylvania’s green phase. We’ll reopen the site to self-guided exterior tours on Saturday, June 13. Reservations will be required and more details will be available on Fallingwater.org later this week. We welcome your donation to help support vital operations as we begin this transition, and encourage you to check out our virtual and future onsite Fallingwater Institute offerings.
Get On Our Trails on National Trails Day
 
Need to get outdoors after months of quarantine? National Trails Day is June 6 and WPC properties offer trails where you can hike, view wildlife and experience the serenity of nature. We own and manage more than 14,000 acres that are open to the public, free of charge. Learn more and explore our properties.We need help maintaining and building trails. Volunteer with us! For everyone’s safety, we’ve implemented social distancing guidelines for outdoor volunteers.

Summertime Coolers

 

Anticipating the return of summer and enjoying cool drinks on a sunny afternoon? Grab some ice and enjoy refreshing sips from our elegant Fallingwater Coolers. Our 15 oz. coolers are made from lead-free crystal and deep hand-etched with the Fallingwater logo.  
Sold individually or as a boxed set of four, they’re perfect for enjoying your beverage on your own or with your closest friends or family.

We suggest Chef Tom’s Fallingwater Black Raspberry Lemonade,  made with or without alcohol, for a cooling summer treat.

 

June Desktop Background


     WPC’s properties in Bedford and Fulton counties are open to the public for nature watching, fishing and hunting. The Sideling Hill Creek Conservation Area protects the unique shale barrens habitats and several globally rare plants and animals. Shale barrens are found in the Central Appalachian Mountains from Pennsylvania to Virginia and are characterized by their steep, hot, dry, open habitats.
     This conservation area supports the Red-cedar - Mixed Hardwood Rich Shale Woodland (pictured) and the Virginia Pine – Mixed Hardwood Shale Woodland community types. It’s home to shale-barren evening primrose, shale-barren ragwort and Kate's-mountain clover. Some rare animal species have adapted to the harsh conditions of the shale barrens ecosystem in the Sideling Hill Creek watershed.
     Download this calendar from the options below, then right click on the image to set it as your desktop background. 

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Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, 800 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Phone: 412-288-2777, Email: info@paconserve.org