RESOURCES

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WAY has several cool videos on our YouTube Channel. Check them out!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4jMK_qSr-INeg1NHlkEdPw 

The York County Commissioners recognized this need for water quality monitoring (WQM) and committed to a partnership with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to fund the installation and operation of six state-of-the-art, real time, water quality monitors.  The monitors capture readings from about 90% of the water outflow from the County while continuously sampling of a number of parameters, every 15 minutes in real time, but most importantly they monitor sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus.  Through continuous monitoring and scientific analysis, we will know, within a few years, the quality of our streams AND whether the sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus levels are getting better or worse. Not only will water quality trends be apparent, but the Program also has the capability to conduct "hot spot" water sampling, where there is a spike in sampling data, to determine the pollutant source.

Learn more about our WQM program and check out our real time data by clicking below https://www.yorkccd.org/watersheds/water-quality-monitoring 

 The York County Planning Commission (YCPC) and York County Conservation District (YCCD) dedicated staff worked collaboratively with the York County Coalition for Clean Waters (YCC4CW) to develop the York Countywide Action Plan (CAP). The CAP sets forth four strategies to improve local water quality. These strategies include: (1) programmatic changes needed at the State level to enable the success of countywide water quality efforts, (2) policy and funding actions for the County and/or municipalities, (3) implementation of urban and agricultural BMPs to reduce pollutants, and (4) water quality actions achievable through the Conservation District’s funding programs.  

The deadline for implementing the CAP is 2025. In 2021, YCC4CW was merged with WAY. 

More information can be found at https://www.ycpc.org/459/York-Countywide-Action-Plan-for-Clean-Wa 

This Chesapeake Bay Pollutant Reduction Plan (CBPRP) represents a regional effort by York County municipalities to meet a component of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) permitting requirements. More specifically, the permitting requirements covered by this plan include Pollutant Reduction Plans (PRPs) for stormwater discharges to local surface waters impaired for nutrients and/or sediment, and Chesapeake Bay Pollutant Reduction Plans (CBPRPs) for stormwater discharges to surface waters located within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. As a regional plan, this CBPRP addresses both the local impairment PRP and CBPRP pollutant loading reduction requirements.

Read the plan by clicking below

https://www.ycpc.org/DocumentCenter/View/330/York-County-Regional-Chesapeake-Bay-Pollutant-Reduction-Plan-2018-to-2023-PDF

The goal of the Codorus Creek Beautification Initiative is to make the Codorus Creek an important resource for the entire City of York.  This 1.4-mile greenway project will create several new public access points to the creek, recreate, and revegetate the banks of the creek, and create a series of multi-use trails connecting residents and visors to the creek and other parts of the city.  For more information, visit https://www.yceapa.org/strategic-development/special-initiatives/codorus-creek-beautification/ 

 York County's MWS Program was started with the assistance of our program partners - the York County Conservation District and the Watershed Alliance of York.  The MWS trainees work on group projects and become official Master Watershed Stewards after volunteering the required 50 hours their first year. So far the program has been a great success, and we look forward to the program growing in York County and across the state too! 

 Interested individuals can contact Jodi Sulpizio, Natural Resources Educator and Master Watershed Steward Coordinator, at jrb143@psu.edu or (717)840-7429.

YAPSA is a diverse group of stakeholders from York and Adams Counties consisting of pharmacies, law enforcement, Guiding Hearts with Hope, the Watershed Alliance of York, Penn State Extension, and the York County Solid Waste Authority, to name a few. We are committed to protecting our environment and its inhabitants from the impacts of improper management of pharmaceuticals. For information on proper medication disposal, visit https://www.ycswa.com/free-medication-return-boxes/

Best management practices, or BMP for short, have been implemented across York County to help keep our water healthy and reduce the pollution entering our creeks, streams, and river. Take some time to travel around the County to see existing projects such as riparian forest buffers, rain gardens, bioswales, pervious pavement and more! Take the tour: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/d48f719ae0a64a448f2be72555e5288d