he Lititz Run Watershed Alliance is comprised of a cohesive group of Local Citizens, Businesses, Farmers, Conservation Organizations and Local, State and Federal Government Representatives.

he community and lifestyle within the Lititz Run Watershed, Lancaster County is changing from rural to rural/suburban. Active agricultural enterprises abut residential lands that surround the historic town of Lititz, Pennsylvania. Inherent non-point source (NPS) pollution problems associated with agricultural production exist in Lititz Run. In addition, the degrading effects associated with converting open space to impervious surfaces are occurring as a result of suburban sprawl development.

on-point source pollution associated with stormwater run-off, erosion and sedimentation, and nitrogen and phosphorus loading are responsible for the degradation of Lititz Run. This community is improving its water quality through a comprehensive long-term watershed management strategy that combined techniques in natural resource management, land use planning, education and community involvement in addressing non-point source pollution. A brief list of associated projects includes agricultural management plans throughout the watershed, natural channel design using fluvial geomorphology, planning and construction of a regional water quality facility, creation of GIS database and mapping of mitigation banking sites and water quality monitoring data, streambank stabilization and establishment of forested riparian buffers along the stream; along with public educational material such as a brochure and video about the watershed as well as a watershed education booklet (1999 rivers conservation plan).

his has been the first effort of this type in the area. The success of the initiative is evident through the formation of an active community group and receipt of over $400,000 in grants and donations for improving the watershed. A group of 15 - 20 community residents have gathered monthly over the past two years to discuss watershed issues. This group known as The Lititz Run Watershed Alliance (LRWA) has been very instrumental in soliciting input, support and involvement from citizens, businesses, non-profit affiliations, farmers, and local, county, state and federal governments. With over sixteen individual projects installed or in planning stages, the initiative is showing results that are both tangible and intangible. Tangible results include improvement in water quality as demonstrated in the monitoring program established by faculty and students from the local high school, sighting of a Black Crowned Night Heron at the created wetland of the regional water quality facility, improved wildlife habitat along a restored section of a stream, and the revegetated banks of Lititz Run. Intangible results include the aesthetic beauty of the wetlands and increased community awareness of natural resource issues. The initiative's success will resound throughout the community for years to come as the momentum builds and the planning efforts it was designed to initiate start to take shape.

For more information, or to join the Lititz Run Watershed Alliance, please call 717 626-8900.

Information for this page was found at:
http://www.epa.gov/owow/showcase/lititzrun/summary.html
http://www.warwicktownship.org/LRWA/lrwa.htm

To watch another video about the Lititz Run Watershed, visit:
http://www.greenworks.tv/waterquality/lititz_watershed.htm

For more information about the projects described, and others going on in this watershed, visit:
http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/counties/Lancaster/Lititz_run_watershed.htm

For a detailed listing of the events that have shaped the restoration efforts in this watershed, visit http://www.epa.gov/owow/showcase/lititzrun/history.html