Watersheds of South Pittsburgh, PA
Cooperative Implementation of the Integrated Watershed Management Plan for Saw Mill Run Our Approach Project OutcomesProject Goal
WaterNow partnered with Watersheds of South Pittsburgh to develop a framework for multi-municipal cooperation on the restoration of Saw Mill Run watershed and the implementation of its Integrated Watershed Management Plan. The template agreement and roadmap created through this project will support collaboration between upstream and downstream municipalities, breaking down barriers to the effective management of the watershed, and serving as an example that can be replicated in other watersheds throughout the region and beyond.
Our Approach
A classic example of an urban stream, Saw Mill Run flows through 12 municipalities, including the City of Pittsburgh, encountering densely developed commercial and residential areas along its course. Watersheds of South Pittsburgh, in partnership with the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority and the 11 municipalities within the Saw Mill Run Watershed, developed an Integrated Watershed Management Plan that lays out a roadmap to restoring the watershed and addressing flooding and water quality issues. However, progress has been slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
WaterNow collaborated with Watersheds of South Pittsburgh to reinvigorate this initiative and develop the political buy-in needed for cooperation in restoring the watershed. The project included research into successful multi-municipal watershed restoration projects elsewhere and a survey conducted with key stakeholders in the watershed and the region. In collaboration with Watersheds of South Pittsburgh, WaterNow developed an initial template agreement for the approval of the watershed’s communities, which would create a collaborative group focused on stormwater among the communities of the Watershed and establish shared goals and procedures. To support the new collaborative effort, WaterNow also created a guide to decision points that the group will encounter in preparing to pool funds and implement stormwater management projects throughout the watershed.
Outcomes
By laying the groundwork for effective implementation of stream restoration and green infrastructure in the watershed, the finalized collaborative agreement will protect watershed residents and businesses from future flooding while restoring the ecological quality of a degraded urban stream. By taking a collaborative approach, communities will be positioned to take full advantage of their combined land area and local funding streams, pursue grant opportunities, and tackle operations and maintenance of these projects. Stay tuned for further updates as Watersheds of South Pittsburgh works to recruit communities and kickstart the new collaboration.
