DEP Opens State Water Plan For Public Comment

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is inviting the public to review a draft of the 2022 Pennsylvania State Water Plan, which was released today.

The DEP has released its 2022 draft, which identifies water resource priorities and recommends actions to achieve them regionally and statewide. According to the DEP, the plan provides expert recommendations to assist community leaders regarding Pennsylvania’s water resources projects. Pennsylvania has six water planning regions, including the Great Lakes basin and Upper/Middle Susquehanna, Lower Susquehanna, Potomac, Ohio, and Delaware river basins. The agency has identified and is developing Critical Area Resource Plans for four watersheds listed as Critical Water Planning Areas because they cannot meet current or future water needs. They include Marsh and Rock Creek watersheds (combined) in Adams County, Back Creek watershed in Fayette County, and Laurel Hill Creek watershed in Somerset and Fayette counties.

“The Pennsylvania State Water Plan is a powerful tool for all Pennsylvanians working in a professional or volunteer capacity to manage or protect our waters,” said DEP Acting Secretary Ramez Ziadeh. “I thank the many committee volunteers who shared their expertise to develop this robust draft plan, and encourage everyone to review it and share their thoughts. Public participation is critical to finalizing a plan that sustains Pennsylvania’s invaluable water resources.”

Comment On the 2022 Pennsylvania State Water Plan

DEP is accepting comments on the 2022 State Water Plan through September 19, 2022. They can be submitted via the DEP eComment system, emailed to ecomment@pa.gov, or mailed to:

DEP Policy Office

Rachel Carson State Office Building

P.O. Box 2063

Harrisburg, PA 17105.

* All comments must include the commenter’s name and address.

For more information on State Water Plan committee meetings, please visit their website.