The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy has announced the winners of its 2006 environmental awards which honor those projects and organizations that have committed their time and energy to help protect the watershed.

The 2006 winners are:

· Municipal Environmental Award - Montgomery County Conservation District

The Conservation District has been striving to reduce soil losses throughout the County and as a result protecting the water resources that otherwise would be polluted by construction and agricultural run-off. We commend their efforts at increasing tree cover throughout the Watershed, for assisting watershed farmers by installing streamside fencing and riparian buffers and for managing the County-wide TreeVitalize effort, making it possible for all of Montgomery County's environmental organizations to participate.

· Land Use Environmental Award – TreeVitalize

Trees are the most important stormwater management and pollution control device available today. TreeVitalize is committed to restoring tree cover throughout southeastern Pennsylvania, thereby improving water quality conditions with each project. TreeVitalize has provided more than 1000 trees for use by the PWC in projects at the Collegeville Dam site, locations around the Green Lane Reservoir and at the East Greenville Water Treatment Plant site. TreeVitalize is supported by the PA Horticultural Society, DCNR, DEP and corporate sponsors.

· Corporate Environmental Award - Aqua Pennsylvania

Aqua PA has assisted the PWC in a variety of ways for many, many years. In addition to regular financial contributions, Aqua PA is a major supporter of the TreeVitalize program, thus providing trees throughout the watershed. In addition, Aqua PA supports the Conservancy's annual Stream Clean-up both financially and with Aqua PA volunteers, they test the Conservancy's water supply regularly to ensure its safety for our program participants and staff, and Aqua PA is a vital partner on nearly all of our conservation projects.

· Protector of the Watershed - Valley Forge Audubon Society

VFAS is located at Mill Grove, John James Audubon's boyhood home in Audubon PA. VFAS and Audubon National have undertaken a campaign to restore Mill Grove, preserving one of the most important properties along the Perkiomen Creek. In addition, VFAS has preserved the Meng Preserve in Lower Frederick Township. The Meng Preserve consists of acres of vulnerable diabase soils and forest lands on Stone Hill in Lower Frederick Township. Preserved lands on Stone Hill are critical to protecting water quality in Swamp Creek.

· Friends of the Watershed - Adam & Gwen Supplee

Adam & Gwen know the meaning of stewardship! Adam was instrumental in establishing the native plant "McCabe Garden" at the PWC headquarters. Adam & Gwen have both volunteered for conservation projects throughout the watershed including the basin naturalization project in Lower Providence and the Upper Frederick Scioto Creek effort. They were team leaders at the Collegeville Dam revegetation site, helping to plant more than 600 trees in record time. And they lead teams in the annual Stream Clean-Up. Gwen also serves on the PWC Special Events Committee.

· Kids Making a Difference - Boyertown High School Science Class

Rick Thomas's Science classes may have calluses on their hands but they also have a deep understanding of what it means to get involved! Over the last year, these Boyertown High School Science classes have invested hundreds of hours planting trees and shrubs in riparian buffers along the Perkiomen Creek and its tributaries in Upper Hanover and Collegeville. Great Attitudes and strong hands - what a combination!

· Teaching Excellence - Jim Coffey, Upper Perkiomen High School

Jim's students have been nominated for an award to be presented by the Schuylkill Action Network during Drinking Water Week in May. He is very modest about his involvement in inspiring these kids to work so hard for environmental issues but Jim has been teaching about water quality, stormwater management and watershed protection for more than a decade. In 2005 he convinced the Upper Perkiomen High School to make some changes to how they managed their stormwater on school property and directed his classes in planting the water gardens and swales.

The awards will be presented on March 23, at the Barn at Birchwood, Collegeville. For more information, contact Lori Horning at lhorning@perkiomenwatershed.org

2/3/2006