Mountain Watershed Association

The Mountain Watershed Association, home of the Youghiogheny Riverkeeper, is a small, community-based, non-profit organization concerned with the protection, preservation, and restoration of the Indian Creek and greater Youghiogheny River watersheds.

MWA has been in existence since 1994, and currently has over 2,000 members and supporters. In 2003, we partnered with the Waterkeeper Alliance to become home of the Youghiogheny Riverkeeper.

Our major purposes include bringing about remediation of the numerous abandoned mine discharges in the Indian Creek watershed, promoting cooperative community efforts for stewardship, and encouraging sound environmental practice throughout Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands region.

We have a unique approach in that we pursue on-the-ground restoration of past damage while also advocating on local issues (primarily coal and shale gas extraction) as well as regional and national issues that have a local impact.  We hold polluters and environmental regulators accountable in order to protect communities and the environment.  

We conduct patrols, pursue increased stream protections and unsuitable for mining designations in sensitive areas, advocate for tighter regulations on shale gas development.  We use state and federal laws to ensure communities and our water are protected.  We file complaints with regulatory authorities and investigate citizen complaints.  

We conduct extensive water quality monitoring around the Youghiogheny River watershed, and we’re currently developing the Indian Creek Valley Trail and the Youghiogheny River Water Trail.