Lehigh River Watershed Fund
In 2019, the Lehigh River Watershed Fund was established to support all manner of conservation, education, and outdoor recreation pursuits for the benefit of the Carbon County region.
Education
Education to encourage a greater understanding of natural resources
Ecological Restoration
Ecological restoration and maintenance projects for wildlife and human populations
Land Protection
Purchase or protect by other means land that is of high conservation value
Remediation
Remediation projects to enhance water quality
Access
Trail and access point improvements
Collaboration
Projects should demonstrate their relevance within the context of community, municipal, regional, or other agency plans and illustrate engagement/support of the appropriate partners within the community
Outfitter Support
The four outdoor adventure rafting companies operating in the Lehigh Gorge have pledged their support and advice. We gratefully acknowledge the support of:
Why do we need the Fund?
In no particular order, the following are a sampling of the recommendations made in the 2018 Lehigh River Watershed Conservation Management Plan completed by Wildlands Conservancy and the Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources:
Waterway Restoration
- Promote the benefits of dam removal and remove obsolete dams
- Restore migratory fish passage from the Delaware to the Lehigh River
- Promote the benefits of riparian buffers and incentivize municipalities to restore and protect their buffers
- Build a treatment system at Quakake Tunnel to mitigate the impact of mine drainage
- Install prescribed enhancements to Buck Mountain 2 and Lausanne Tunnel systems
Land Protection
Recommendations:
- Protect the highest priority properties and establish more land trust preserves throughout the watershed
- Secure remaining private properties along the Kittatinny Ridge
- Promote collaborative projects that expand state parks, forests, and game lands
- Promote economic benefits of smart growth and open space
- Fund initiatives that promote sound stewardship on conservation easements
Habitat Restoration
Recommendations:
- Educate the public about the state of and threats to our forests
- Pursue land preservation projects that protect grassland habitats and encourage conversion from lawns to meadows
- Expand programs that provide stewardship assistance to private landowners
- Work with municipalities to foster habitat restoration and protection
- Work with businesses to naturalize their landscaping and parking
Outdoor Recreation
Recommendations:
- Expand and facilitate access to the Lehigh River Water Trail
- Grow programs that promote the health benefits of getting outdoors
- Promote link between environmental restoration and the growth of the outdoor economy
- Educate the angling community about opportunities to improve fishing in the Lehigh basin
- Build trails/greenways that function as wildlife corridors too