Regional Models

Upstream Pittsburgh: (Nine Mile Run Watershed Association):

“In 1990 a group from CMU spearheaded the Nine Mile Run Greenway project, in partnership with the City of Pittsburgh, planning departments, and established a plan for stewardship, reclamation, and best management practices of Frick Park. They identified a need for a professional watershed association to be a key facilitator in the $7.7 million restoration project, called the NMR Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration.”

We believe that Upstream Pittsburgh is the role model and proof that large scale projects that deal with water require a professional watershed association to be a key facilitator. We plan to mirror their work and evolution in the 4 mile run watershed and Monongahela peninsula.

Negley Run Task Force & Living Waters Larimer:

“an interdisciplinary collaboration to engage community, creatives, and professionals in urban ecosystem regeneration. With the City and related agencies, the Task Force will support innovative rainwater stewardship and conveyance strategies. The Task Force’s approach will introduce habitat, (bio)diversity, ecological function, and stormwater stewardship into municipal, agency, and private development plans and programs that may otherwise lack a holistic systems perspective to watershed conservation and management, and CSO and flood control.”

The Negley Run Task Force is a model for the community based water task force and also an excellent example of JEDI principles in the water resource space. JEDI was integrated from the beginning of the project and brought the true communities together to achieve real integrated water resource planning. We are not different from this organization and hope to have very similar outcomes, programs, and goals. The leader of this task force, John Stephens, is a mentor for this application and the initial concept of this application.

Hazelwood Initiative: Environmental Development Committee:

“Releaf Great Hazelwood will be driven by an engaged and informed community and supported by non-profit organizations, city agencies, and private property owners. Great Hazelwood’s urban forest will be better maintained to preserve current resources and will equitably grow through the celebration of diversity while emphasizing native species to increase the environmental, economic, and health benefits that trees provide for future generations.”

MWP will work directly with Hazelwood Initiative to come alongside its work and program areas. MWP will listen and learn from the needs of the community to help develop funding and support for its listed priorities.

Watersheds of South Pittsburgh

Watersheds of South Pittsburgh (WoSPgh) is a rallying point for people who are concerned about the health of their local streams, watersheds, and communities. WoSPgh exists because there is a growing movement among residents who are concerned about increased flooding, unsightly litter and toxic pollution, and abandoned lots or industrial storage areas along Saw Mill Run and Streets Run. WoSpgh consolidates the knowledge, resources, and passion for improving our local watersheds that was dispersed between smaller organizations with similar missions, including the Saw Mill Run Watershed and Streets Run Watershed Associations. In doing so, WoSPgh has become the leader in the charge to improve the watersheds of both streams. Through the experience of our staff, our dedicated volunteers, and engaged communities, we understand the issues and long-term solutions needed to restore Saw Mill Run and Streets Run while simultaneously improving the communities along their banks.

MWP looks forward to learning the tools and techniques used to develop the first Integrated Water Resource Plan for a watershed in Southwestern Pennsylvania. This organization is a model for the region and a mentor for MWP.

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In the big picture, MWP is lucky to have so many successful and powerful models to build with and alongside, but based on the historical nature of geographical boundaries to watershed organizations, will not be overlapping in geography. We don’t seek to differentiate ourselves, we view these efforts as mentors and hold the same outcomes as possibilities. We want to bring the same success and services achieved to new and currently underrepresented communities. It is time that Hazelwood, Glen Hazel, The Run, Greenfield, Squirrel Hill and Oakland had a similar organization to those listed above to provide integrated water resource management and community activation.