Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

08/22/2026

If you live in Pennsylvania, there's a good chance you've encountered the invasive spotted lanternfly. Only a few counties haven't documented sightings yet.

Not only does this insect damage crops and trees by sucking sap, it also deposits sticky "honeydew," which promotes the growth of sooty mold on plants.

This article from Penn State Extension will help you help report, identify and manage invasive spotted lanternfly ➡️

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08/21/2026

Summer is slipping by...have you spent a morning outside in the sun yet? 😎 They say taking a break from work can revive the spirit!

Volunteer with us to help maintain or plant a community garden! Come for all or part of the time.

🌻Thursday, August 27
🪻9 a.m.-12 p.m.
🌼Homer & Walz, Pittsburgh's North Side

Get details and register ➡️ https://waterlandlife.org/events-volunteer-opportunities/

08/21/2026

Have you ever wondered:
❓How WPC determines which lands to protect and why?
❓Why some of our properties are called nature reserves while others are called conservation areas?
❓What stewarding our preserves entails, and what you can do to help?

Attend our next free webinar on September 9 at noon to learn the answers to those questions and more! Register for "Managing and Stewarding WPC Preserves": https://bit.ly/4fRkRTp

Can't attend live? Register, and you'll receive a link to the recorded webinar to watch at your convenience.

Join the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for a free webinar, “Green, Black and Gold: WPC Greens the ‘Burgh!” A key partner in urban beautification efforts across the City of Pittsburgh, WPC is greening the city to welcome visitors for the 2026 NFL Draft!

08/21/2026

Pollinators love WPC’s community flower gardens!
Would your business, organization or family sponsor a garden and keep these insects buzzing? Sponsors help provide mulch, tools, native perennials and bright annuals.

Several gardens* need sponsors, including the gardens shown here:
💮Tri-boro Expressway, Turtle Creek
🏵️Brownsville Rd. & Ridge Rd., South Park
💮Rt 50 & Hope Hollow Rd., Scott Twp.
🏵️Rt 906 & Tyrol Blvd., Monesson

Contact Marah Fielden at [email protected] or 412-586-2320 to sponsor or learn more! Feel free to share.

*More gardens needing sponsors:
- Grant @ First Avenue, Pittsburgh
- Liberty Tunnels @ Route 51, Pittsburgh
- One Heinz St., Troy Hill (Pittsburgh)
- Greenfield Ave. & Irvine St., Greenfield (Pittsburgh)
- 7th St. & Forster St., Harrisburg
- Rt. 30 & Greengate Rd., Greensburg

08/20/2026

Kelly, Jude and Andy had a great time representing WPC at Outdoors for All in beautiful Allegheny Commons last weekend.
They talked with visitors, introduced them to WPC’s preserves and did some real-time tree ID.

It was a beautiful day spent connecting people with nature, place and the work of WPC, and a wonderful opportunity to meet so many great partners and organizations from across the Commonwealth!

Many thanks to Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, City of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and Outdoor Inclusion Coalition for hosting a wonderful event.

08/20/2026

High school students with the Young Naturalists, a program run by our partners at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, experienced "mothing" recently, thanks to WPC Senior Invertebrate Zoologist Pete Woods with the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP).

Pete visited the students at Powdermill Nature Reserve where he shared his knowledge about moths. At night, they learned how to use black light traps to survey for moths, and the following morning they studied the moths they had captured.

Several days later, Pete worked with the Young Naturalists again in Frick Park. The students set up moth traps, documented their catch on iNaturalist (including four new species for Nine Mile Run watershed!), and learned about biodiversity metrics.

This is the ninth year Pete has worked with the Young Naturalists program. We're thrilled to continue this partnership that provides opportunities for young people to engage with and learn about nature.

08/19/2026

Register now for the Pittsburgh Urban Garden Tour on Sept. 19. Learn how how these farms grow fresh produce, teach food skills,and turn empty lots into thriving green spaces!
WPC is happy to have supported each of these farms through our Community Garden Sustainability Fund, a partnership with Grow Pittsburgh.

08/19/2026

We're always happy to partner with Tubmill Trout Club Unlimited and other local organizations on projects that improve water quality.

Read about our work on two streams in Somerset and Westmoreland counties that will reduce sedimentation and help fish thrive 🐟 ➡️: https://yhoo.it/3ZNPhNX

We're happy to partner with Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Mountain Laurel Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Tubmill Trout Club Unlimited, Somerset Conservation District and others to improve these streams' health.
https://yhoo.it/3ZNPhNX

08/19/2026

"The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen." -- Frank Lloyd Wright

Experience Wright's vision of art in harmony with nature firsthand as you explore Fallingwater, the forest trails and the landscape that inspired one of the world's greatest works of architecture.

Plan your fall visit today and discover why Fallingwater continues to inspire visitors from around the globe ➡️ https://fallingwater.org/

Photo is by Christopher Little.

08/18/2026

Teens from the Black Forest Conservation Association's Junior Outdoor School, based in Potter County, recently visited our Bennett Branch Forest in Elk and Clearfield counties.

They toured our acid mine drainage treatment system, which has improved water quality in Cherry Run, and learned about the preserve and our work to preserve habitat, maintain trails and keep the forest healthy.

Long-time WPC volunteer Don Schmidt of PWHU (PA Wildlife Habitat Unlimited) recounted the history of the Bennett Valley and explained our tree planting project.

The teens learned about the history of the American chestnut and efforts to restore it, thanks to Lake Graboski of The American Chestnut Foundation.

We are happy to provide opportunities such as this one to inspire the next generation of naturalists and conservationists!