Born from a shared passion for the natural beauty surrounding our local streams, our group of neighbors united with a mission to revive and safeguard these waters. Together, we envision transforming them back into vibrant sanctuaries of life and serenity, inviting our community to join in rekindling a profound bond with nature. Our story is one of collective action, driven by the belief that to protect our environment, we must first fall in love with it anew.
As part of our team, you'll contribute to meaningful projects that not only protect but also celebrate our local waters as vibrant sanctuaries of life.
Use the form below to sign up today!2017
Groups of neighbors begin meeting and discussing how to save the old Churchill Country Club and turn it into community greenspace—including the little stream that flowed through it, the Chalfant Run.
This led to a much longer conversation about how to improve the stream after it left the old country club—and friends who lived along Thompson Run joined in, sharing hidden gems and old forgotten glens and rivulets.
Thus, the combined Chalfant Run-Thompson Run Watershed
2020
CRTRWA hosts its first public stewardship events—a cleanup at the former Churchill Valley County Club. Close to 100 people show up, including State Rep Summer Lee!!
Several more clean-ups and community events follow! The Allegheny Land Trust finalizes the purchase of the former Churchill Valley Country Club—the land becomes protected greenspace forever! CRTRWA begins its Environmental Educational programming, hosting Turner Elementary School Students at the new Churchill Valley Greenway.
2022
CRTRWA initiates strategic relationships with the University of Pittsburgh Center for Water Collaboratory to begin water sampling and research on the streams.
Patrick Shirey, PhD, funds a student, Andrew Clarke, who begins the water first sampling in over 30 years! Patrick Shirey and the Pitt Center for Water Collaboratory continue to do enormous amounts of research on the water and the flora and fauna of our streams.
2024
CTRWA becomes part of the 3RQ program, in collaboration with West Virginia University and the University of Pittsburgh Center for Water Collaboratory, to sample 11 strategic sites to collect data.
- The CRTRWA hosts its first intern from Carnegie Mellon Univeristy, Jack Sun.
- The CRTRWA continues to provide educational programming for area schoolchildren
- The Allegheny Land Trust is awarded 2.7 million for the first Chalfant Run AMD cleanup project!
The goal is to have another AMD abatement plan shovel ready by 2025-2026!
