The Equinunk Watershed Alliance – Its Background
The watershed of Equinunk Creek, in Wayne County in Northeast Pennsylvania, encompasses an area of 38,700 acres, emptying into the Delaware River. National Park Service-designated and protected Wild and Scenic River. The Equinunk watershed has suffered greatly in recent years, most notably from the devastating “50-Year”, “100-Year” and “500-Year” f
loods of 2004, 2005, and 2006, respectively. There is continuing degradation from regular high water events. Concerned about protecting the integrity of the Equinunk watershed, in the years following these disastrous major floods, a group of area residents started organizing a community-supported Equinunk Watershed Alliance. As the Equinunk Watershed Alliance (EWA) states in its informational brochure,
“Our true quest is to be good neighbors who strive to assist in seeking ways to clear our clogged waterways, thus preventing future flooding and possible harm to our neighbors and their properties. We applaud the ways that our forefathers have taken care of the Equinunk watershed for generations and we seek ways to continue that task and work together with others who care, proceeding on in this worthy cause. We are thankful for our pristine waterways and seek ways to educate and encourage our children to someday be good stewards of the land and the water, as our ancestors were, and as we strive to continue to be, through the Equinunk Watershed Alliance.”
The Equinunk Watershed Alliance became a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation on November 30, 2009 and gained federal 501(c)(3) status on January 5, 2011. Its ten-member Board of Directors meets regularly and the organization convenes an annual General Membership Meeting in May. Annual membership dues are nominal: $10 Individual and $15 Family. In addition to the support of its members, the EWA has received financial support from the Friends of the Upper Delaware River, Inc. [FUDR] and on September 28, 2013, the EWA collaborated with the Upper Delaware Council on the very successful, first-ever “Strides Across the Delaware,” a 5K Run/Walk in the Equinunk, Pennsylvania – Lordville, New York, area, crossing the interstate
bridge over the Delaware River at Lordville. As stated in the organization’s Bylaws, adopted on November 30, 2008, the Purposes and Policy of the Equinunk Watershed Alliance are:
“The purposes of the Alliance shall be to protect against flooding and preserve the environment, history, culture, and economic viability of the Equinunk area watershed. The resources of the Alliance shall be dedicated to sound planning and management strategies that will insure the protection and preservation of the natural integrity of an entire ecosystem. Continuing research and education serve as foundations for informed decisions regarding policy formulation. Stewardship of the EWA region will promote a safe, healthy and secure quality of life standard for present and future generations. In order to further these purposes the organization will support scientific and educational activities within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code of 1954, as amended, including:
(a) Creating public awareness of the need for methods of protection of the
Equinunk watershed;
(b) Support scientific investigations and research;
(c) Collection, interpretation, and dissemination of information and data; and
(d) Such other means as appropriate and consistent with the restrictions set forth in any Articles of Incorporation.
