Clean Water Conversations (Lancaster Clean Water Partners)

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In our premiere episode, we talk with Chris Thompson, the District Manager of Lancaster County Conservation District, about the origins of Lancaster Clean Water Partners.

If your organization would like to become a partner, please go to https://lancastercleanwaterpartners.com/partner-sign-up/

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In this episode, we chat with Monique Dykman, the MS4 Environmental Specialist at Londonderry Township (and yes, she explains what MS4 is).  We discuss the Conewago Floodplain Restoration Project, how Allyson and Monique met...and Kenn's love of a good meadow.  And, of course, we play another round of lightning round conservation trivia! 

For more information about the Conewago Creek Restoration Projects, go to https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/c3a1e7e257f54ad59b237e1d40417fa9

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The train keeps a' rollin'!
In this episode, we chat with Lamonte Garber; Watershed Restoration Coordinator at Stroud Water Research Center, conservation rock star, and Good Natured Pennsylvanian!  We talk about streamside buffers, what makes Pennsylvania special in the water world and how a Swiss army knife differs from a jogging light.
And we play a tricky round of conservation lightning round trivia!

Picture of Swiss Army Knife and running light

For more information about Stroud Water Research Center, click here.

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In this episode, we talk with Digital Operations Marketing Director for LNP Media Group and 2023 Lancaster Watershed Leadership Academy graduate, Sally Reynolds. We learn about her take on news coverage of clean water, her involvement with Lower Susquehanna Riverkeepers and what a bubblegum welder is.  And, of course, we play a round of trivia.

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In this episode, we talk with Molly Deger, the Deputy Director of Public Works in the Sustainability & Environment Division for the City of Lancaster.  We discuss the City's combined sewer overflow, neighborhood engagement and the Climate Action Plan.  We even have a debate over the number of sleeping bag shapes!  If you know the correct answer, please let us know at info@lancastercleanwaterpartners.com.

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In this episode, we talk with Steve Campbell, the Director of Public Works for the City of Lancaster and a member of the Board of Trustees for Lancaster Clean Water Partners.  We hear from Steve about the Combined Sewer Overflow, green infrastructure and his very interesting backstory.  Kenn gets buzzed for using an acronym and Allyson is rendered speechless by Steve's icebreaker answer.

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We hit the big time with this episode's guest!  Adam Ortiz is the Regional Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency!  He talks about collaboration, the work being done in PA and tests the limits of the acronym rule.  He also "phones a friend" during trivia (that's new)!  What a treat to have him on the show!

Don't forget to tell us what you like most about spring.  We will pick a random response and give the sender a prize!  info@lancastercleanwaterpartners.com

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Lancaster Water Week is June 7 - 15, 2024

In part 1 of 2, we are talking with Kelly Snavely and Keith Williams from Lancaster Conservancy.  Along with a team of volunteers, they are planning this year's celebration, which boasts over 60 events all across Lancaster County.  We find out more details about Lancaster Water Week, find out the titles of Kelly and Keith's autobiographies and play half a round of trivia.

Thank you to Lancaster Water Week presenting sponsor the High Foundation, and all other sponsors and partners for making this celebration of our streams and rivers possible. Learn more and register for Water Week events happening June 7-15, 2024 at www.lancasterwaterweek.org.

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We are back with part 2 of our Lancaster Water Week conversation with Kelly Snavely and Keith Williams of Lancaster Conservancy.  
The 8th Annual Lancaster Water Week will be held June 7-15, 2024!
Special thanks to the event sponsor, High Foundation.

For more information and event schedules, go to LancasterWaterWeek.org

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In this episode, we talk with Carly Dean, the Director of Chesapeake Tributary Initiatives for Chesapeake Conservancy.  We hear from Carly about the Chesapeake view of the work being done in Lancaster County, the Conservancy's work with GIS (Geographic Information Systems) mapping and her favorite Halloween costume .  You can see the character on which it was based at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15YNpxpP0DgJV7a1RwHUgcGkFmxQV5es1. 
It was a blast having Carly on the show!

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This season finale is a celebration of the stories, the guests and the fun of our first season.  This episode was recorded live on Facebook from Stauffer Run in Lancaster, PA, so the audio is not as clear as it normally is.  To see the video, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzPBBWdoq2A.  Special thanks to Christina Martin, who served as our technical director during the live recording.
Thank you to everyone who made season 1 a success.  We will be back in September with season 2!

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We are back and kicking off season 2 with a doozie!
Lauren Beal is the Executive Director of the Lancaster STEM Alliance, the Associate Director of Educational Partnerships at IU13 and a member of the Board of Trustees at Lancaster Clean Water Partners.  She talks about the amazing programs available to students through Lancaster STEM Alliance and IU13, tells us who she would add to Mount Rushmore and celebrates getting an acronym buzz!

Links to programs and events mentioned in the episode:
Workforce 2030 Summit: https://www.lancasterstem.org/workforce-2030/
Inspire Lancaster: https://www.lancasterstem.org/inspire/

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In this episode, we're talking about Lancaster Watershed Leadership Academy with Matt Royer, Associate Director of Partnerships & Engagement at Penn State, a        member of the Board of Trustees for Lancaster Clean Water Partners and co-founder of Lancaster Watershed Leadership Academy and Cathleen Anthony, Pennsylvania Projects Associate, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and a graduate of the 2023 Lancaster Watershed Leadership Academy class.

To apply, nominate a potential scholar or to learn more about Lancaster Watershed Leadership Academy, click here. 

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We sat down with Terry Kauffman and Justin Sauder, two of the partner leads in East Earl Township.  What a great story about collaboration with landowners, foresight by leadership and a municipality making a difference!  We also played the most mixed-bag round of trivia.

For information about the Clean Water Fund Awardees, go to https://lancastercleanwaterpartners.com/clear-water-fund-small-implementation-grantees-announced/

For more information about the work East Earl Township is doing, go to https://www.eastearltwp.org/

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We are doing something a little different to celebrate the middle of season 2.  This is a short but sweet episode. We are introducing the backbone organization aka, our awesome internal team here at Lancaster Clean Water Partners!  

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On this episode, we chat with Acting Deputy Secretary, Office of Water Programs at Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Jill Whitcomb.  This was a really fun episode as we discuss the successes of the collaborative network, her past at the Lancaster County Conservation District and her hometown that was named after a bar.

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In This episode talk with Dave Koser and Kim Shorter from Lancaster County Community Foundation about the ExtraGive to be held on November 22.  It is an informative, entertaining, laughter-filled, acronym buzz-fest!  

A 24-hour opportunity of giving to benefit organizations (CBOs) that enhance our lives in Lancaster County, the ExtraGive is a community celebration of giving inspiring thousands of individual donations and shining a light on the work of our community benefit sector. Since they launched the first Extraordinary Give in 2012, our community has raised more than $100 Million for regional organizations.

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In this episode, we talk with Hilary Harp Falk, the President and CEO of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) about the Bay, network building, Lancaster's reputation and spaghetti pizza.  This is an amazing opportunity to learn a few things from the founder of Choose Clean Water Coalition.  If you're not careful, you may learn a thing or two.

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This week, we talk with Mike Lasala, the CAP Coordinator Team lead.  He is also a Specialist/Analyst and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Program Manager from LandStudies, Inc.  He discusses the Countywide Action Plan, the team's purpose, steps beyond 2025...and darn near breaks our acronym buzzer!

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Thank you for a great first year!  
In this finale of both season 2 and our first year, Allyson and Kenn talk about their list of awesomeness for the year of the show, play highlights, give updates have a little fun and, of course, dodge acronyms.   

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Season 3 kicks off with a chat with Jenna Mitchell Beckett, Pennsylvania State Director and Agriculture Program Director at the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and is also the current Chair of the Lancaster Clean Water Partners Board of Trustees.  She discusses her beginnings at Lancaster County Conservation District and her work in collaboration with some pretty conservation-minded corporations and plays a "mother" of a round of trivia.

We are also delighted to welcome our first sponsor; Chesapeake Conservancy, working to conserve and restore the natural and cultural resources of the Chesapeake Bay watershed for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of this and future generations.  

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In this episode, we are chatting with Brian Gish, the Senior Watershed Planner at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF).  He discusses CBF's focus on local waterways, tells some great personal stories,  avoids acronym buzzers like he's walking through a minefield and tells us about the local legend of the Albatwitch.

This episode is sponsored by Chesapeake Conservancy.

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On January 28, 2025, a memorandum was released from the White House Office of Management and Budget that,“Federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to the disbursement of Federal financial assistance.” Although that edict was rescinded, some funding sources remain unavailable.

In this episode, Allyson and Kenn discuss the ripple effect of this decision, how it affects our partners and how we, as a collaborative network, can lean on each other for support, wisdom and encouragement to keep pushing toward our shared goal of clean and clear by 2040.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

https://www.choosecleanwater.org/fundingfreeze

https://collectiveimpactforum.org/resource/defending-and-advancing-democracy-and-equity-in-collective-impact-work/ 

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In this episode, we are talking about the Blue-Green Connector project, Lancaster Science Factory and learning through the Covid years with the Director of Education & Environmental Strategy at the Little Conestoga Creek Foundation through the Steinman Foundation, Emily Landis.  She is a fun guest, an excellent storyteller and plays a mean game of mixed-bag trivia.