PA State Water Planning Hoss Liaghat, P.E. Chief, State Water Plan Section Office of Water Resources Planning Tom Wolf, Governor Patrick McDonnell, Secretary

Statement of Need DEP is conducting review and update of State Water Plan We need individuals in various sectors to serve on regional committees and State-wide committee We need your help in getting nominations Appointments are made by Governor 6 Regional Committees and 1 State-wide committee The Department of Environmental Protection is seeking individuals to serve on committees advising the Department in the review and update of the Commonwealth’s State Water Plan.  This review involves the re-establishment of six (6) regional committees representing the Great Lakes, Ohio, Potomac, Upper/Middle and Lower Susquehanna and Delaware Planning Regions (see map below).  Members of the committees are appointed by the Governor, from nominations provided by regional and state-wide organizations.

Regional Committees The Department of Environmental Protection is seeking individuals to serve on committees advising the Department in the review and update of the Commonwealth’s State Water Plan.  This review involves the re-establishment of six (6) regional committees representing the Great Lakes, Ohio, Potomac, Upper/Middle and Lower Susquehanna and Delaware Planning Regions (see map below).  Members of the committees are appointed by the Governor, from nominations provided by regional and state-wide organizations.

DEP Coordination State-wide Committee Regional Committees The Department of Environmental Protection is seeking individuals to serve on committees advising the Department in the review and update of the Commonwealth’s State Water Plan.  This review involves the re-establishment of six (6) regional committees representing the Great Lakes, Ohio, Potomac, Upper/Middle and Lower Susquehanna and Delaware Planning Regions (see map below).  Members of the committees are appointed by the Governor, from nominations provided by regional and state-wide organizations.

Roles of Committees Advise the Department and make recommendations on State Water Plan deliverables on Past, Present and Future issues Role of Committee Members:  The role of committee members is to advise the Department and to make recommendations to the statewide committee regarding the deliverables such as finalizing the Critical Area Resource Plans (CARPS), and to direct the state water plan review and update efforts throughout the process.   Tentative Agenda for Plan Review/Update and Deliverables: Finish old business – Finalize the Critical Area Resource Plans (CARPs) for Marsh/Rock Creek in the Potomac Basin, and Laurel Hill Creek/Back Creek in the Ohio Basin. Create a cohesive product.  Build upon the new website for the SWP that will house all relevant information, be up-to-date, user-friendly, and be readily accessible by the public. Convert the paper Atlas into online Water Atlas. Consolidate the State Water Plan document, State Water Plan Principles document into one State Water Plan. Provide public access to water withdrawal data for informed decision making at all levels. Work with regional and state committees to determine the adequacy of the existing SWP: Review and evaluate work contained in the existing SWP Review and evaluate the work of others (SRBC, DRBC, other states) Review and evaluate emerging issues (climate change, climate change adaptation, water usage associated with natural gas drilling) Discuss Long term items: Develop a sustainable funding model. Identify legislative, regulatory, and programmatic changes to improve the SWP process and product. Develop a work plan to accommodate regular, timely, and substantive reviews of the SWP into the future.

Roles of Committees Past: old business Completion of Critical Area Resource Plans Major achievements of previous plan: Ability to share that information with others Development of models to assess general water availability State-wide “screening” of water availability Identification of initial “Critical Water Planning Areas” Three draft “Critical Area Resource Plans” Contribution to assessing in-stream flow needs. Role of Committee Members:  The role of committee members is to advise the Department and to make recommendations to the statewide committee regarding the deliverables such as finalizing the Critical Area Resource Plans (CARPS), and to direct the state water plan review and update efforts throughout the process.   Tentative Agenda for Plan Review/Update and Deliverables: Finish old business – Finalize the Critical Area Resource Plans (CARPs) for Marsh/Rock Creek in the Potomac Basin, and Laurel Hill Creek/Back Creek in the Ohio Basin. Create a cohesive product.  Build upon the new website for the SWP that will house all relevant information, be up-to-date, user-friendly, and be readily accessible by the public. Convert the paper Atlas into online Water Atlas. Consolidate the State Water Plan document, State Water Plan Principles document into one State Water Plan. Provide public access to water withdrawal data for informed decision making at all levels. Work with regional and state committees to determine the adequacy of the existing SWP: Review and evaluate work contained in the existing SWP Review and evaluate the work of others (SRBC, DRBC, other states) Review and evaluate emerging issues (climate change, climate change adaptation, water usage associated with natural gas drilling) Discuss Long term items: Develop a sustainable funding model. Identify legislative, regulatory, and programmatic changes to improve the SWP process and product. Develop a work plan to accommodate regular, timely, and substantive reviews of the SWP into the future.

Roles of Committees Future: Emerging issues Develop sustainable funding model Climate Change Legislative, regulatory and programmatic changes Improvement to SWP process Role of Committee Members:  The role of committee members is to advise the Department and to make recommendations to the statewide committee regarding the deliverables such as finalizing the Critical Area Resource Plans (CARPS), and to direct the state water plan review and update efforts throughout the process.   Tentative Agenda for Plan Review/Update and Deliverables: Finish old business – Finalize the Critical Area Resource Plans (CARPs) for Marsh/Rock Creek in the Potomac Basin, and Laurel Hill Creek/Back Creek in the Ohio Basin. Create a cohesive product.  Build upon the new website for the SWP that will house all relevant information, be up-to-date, user-friendly, and be readily accessible by the public. Convert the paper Atlas into online Water Atlas. Consolidate the State Water Plan document, State Water Plan Principles document into one State Water Plan. Provide public access to water withdrawal data for informed decision making at all levels. Work with regional and state committees to determine the adequacy of the existing SWP: Review and evaluate work contained in the existing SWP Review and evaluate the work of others (SRBC, DRBC, other states) Review and evaluate emerging issues (climate change, climate change adaptation, water usage associated with natural gas drilling) Discuss Long term items: Develop a sustainable funding model. Identify legislative, regulatory, and programmatic changes to improve the SWP process and product. Develop a work plan to accommodate regular, timely, and substantive reviews of the SWP into the future.

Roles of Committees Present: Adequacy of current plan Deployment and communication of water use data for public use and planners Development of decision support tools Website Conversion of Water Atlas to Digital Story Map(s)

Meetings:When and Where As soon as committees are fully reconstituted 18 to 24-month time Quarterly basis Primarily webinars and/or conference calls Reimbursement of travel expenses Meetings will begin as soon as committees are fully reconstituted and public notice requirements are fulfilled. Then, over the course of an 18 to 24-month time, regional committees will meet on a quarterly basis, primarily through webinars and/or conference calls to help guide and advise a Statewide Committee on the development of the regional components of the State Water Plan. Procedures for reimbursement of travel expenses incurred in performance of committee duties will follow established management directives and policies relating to such committees.

How to Volunteer Provide to the Department: a letter of interest addressed to Governor Tom Wolf, A resume A nominating letter from state-wide or regional organizations. How - Steps to volunteer: Planning Directors who wish to serve are to provide to the Department a letter of interest addressed to Governor Tom Wolf, a resume, and a nominating letter from county governing body (Commissioners) of the Planning Commission. Attached is further instructions for nominations, and a sample nomination letter. Directors will be notified of successful appointments.

Who to Contact Hoss Liaghat, P.E. Chief, State Water Plan Section Planning Region/Committee DEP Liaison email phone Ohio Derrick McDonald emcdonald@pa.gov 717-772-5637 Upper Susquehanna Rhonda Manning rmanning@pa.gov 717-772-4472 Lower Susquehanna Aaron Ward award@pa.gov 717-772-5618 Great Lakes Tim Bruno tibruno@pa.gov 814-835-1477 Delaware Mike Hill mihill@pa.gov 717-787-0630 Potomac Joe Sieber josieber@pa.gov 717-787-4726 Hoss Liaghat, P.E. Chief, State Water Plan Section Office of Water Resources Planning 717-772-5664 aliaghat@pa.gov http://dep.pa.gov/statewaterplan