Pennsylvania Organization For Watersheds And Rivers

PENNSYLVANIA ORGANIZATION FOR WATERSHEDS AND RIVERS (POWR) PROVIDES THE TOOLS, TRAINING, EDUCATION AND RESOURCES THAT EMPOWER COMMUNITY WATERSHED ORGANIZATION LEADERS AND VOLUNTEERS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE RIVERS AND STREAMS, ADVOCATE FOR SOUND WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND POLICIES, AND FACILITATE STEWARDSHIP AND ENJOYMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA'S WATERWAYS.

SOJOURNS/RIVER OF THE YEAR: THIS IS A SIGNATURE STATEWIDE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES HIGH PROFILE, WATER-FOCUSED RECREATION AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS ON PENNSYLVANIA'S RIVERS AND WATERWAYS. IN A TYPICAL YEAR, MORE THAN 1,000 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN AN ARRAY OF SINGLE AND MULTI-DAY, PADDLING TRIPS ACROSS THE STATE, TRAVERSING 500+MILES OF RIVERS, AND OFFERING OVER 100 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. FUNDING AND VOLUNTEER TIME IS TYPICALLY LEVERAGED AT 3 TO 1 RATES, AND INVOLVES PARTNERSHIPS OF OVER 50 NONPROFIT, PUBLIC AND CORPORATE ENTITIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.PAWATERSHEDS.ORG.

STREAM ACCESS FOR CANOES AND KAYAKS: WE PROVIDE GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO STREAMS AND OTHER WATERWAYS FOR NON-MOTORIZED BOATS SUCH AS CANOES AND KAYAK TO PROMOTE NEW RIVER TOWN INITIATIVES TO INCREASE TOURISM AND ENHANCE LOCAL SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. PROJECTS WILL BE CONSTRUCTED PROVIDING INCREASED ACCESS TO PA WATERWAYS FOR A DIVERSITY OF USERS. THESE MINI-GRANTS ARE AVAILABLE TO NON-PROFIT ENTITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW OR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EXISTING PUBLIC NON-MOTORIZED BOATING ACCESS POINTS.

OUTREACH AND EDUCATION: WE OFFER TOOLS AND RESOURCES THAT ENABLE COMMUNITY WATERSHED ORGANIZATIONS (CWOS) TO REMAIN ACTIVE AND VIABLE. THESE INCLUDE WEBINARS ON TOPICS RANGING FROM INSURANCE, RETAINING VOLUNTEERS, BOARD DEVELOPMENT, CLEANUPS, RIPARIAN BUFFER DEVELOPMENT, SUCCESSION PLANNING, AND FUNDING. WE OFFER NETWORKING AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AT REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES. WE HOST A ROBUST WEBSITE THAT CONNECTS CWOS TO ONE ANOTHER AS WELL AS AN EXPANDED PROFESSIONAL NETWORK OF PROVIDERS OF SERVICES, PROMOTES THEIR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND STEWARDSHIP EVENTS, AND SPOTLIGHTS CWO ACCOMPLISHMENTS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.PAWATERSHEDS.ORG.

INSURANCE: WE PROVIDE NON-PROFIT WATERSHED ORGANIZATION MEMBERS ACCESS TO REDUCED RATES FOR GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE THAT WOULD BE PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE THROUGH OTHER AVENUES. BY ACCESSING THIS PROGRAM, POWR'S MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS CAN HOST MORE ACTIVITIES. THE SAVINGS STRETCH THEIR RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THE PROTECTION, RESTORATION, AND ENJOYMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA'S WATER RESOURCES, AS WELL AS ENABLING THEM TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS THAT FOSTER STEWARDSHIP, COMMUNICATION, LEADERSHIP, AND ACTION. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.PAWATERSHEDS.ORG.