Board approves $2,000 contribution to Keystone Water Resources Center after presentation

Representatives from the Keystone Water Resources Center described their Spring Creek watershed monitoring network to the Harris Township Board of Supervisors on Dec. 8 and asked municipalities to rejoin the network as annual contributors.

Bob Farrick, the group’s chairman, outlined the program’s history and role in providing independent, science-based water-quality and flow data used by local planners, state agencies and researchers. A watershed coordinator (contact: alice@keystonewaterresources.org) described the network’s scope — 36 monitoring stations including 22 streams, three wells and eight springs — and said the nonprofit has operated at a deficit since losing some institutional support and needs municipal contributions to sustain and expand monitoring.

Board members asked whether specific water authorities and the University Area Joint Authority were participating; presenters said municipal data are publicly available but some authorities provide annual contributions to add focused equipment and monitoring capacity tied to projects.

A board member moved to contribute $2,000 for 2026 to the Spring Creek watershed group (mover SEG 1154; second SEG 1156). The motion passed by voice vote (SEG 1194–1197). Staff and presenters discussed possible grant sources, hotel‑tax funding avenues and outreach to larger funders. Presenters said they will provide fact sheets on PFOS and chloride for local distribution in 2026.

The board’s vote allocates a modest recurring contribution to sustain Keystone’s monitoring network; the transcript records a voice vote but not a roll-call tally.