An Update on Watersheds 2045
Posted October 25, 2023
With more than 2,300 miles of streams and 21 different watersheds, Chester County is home to an abundance of water resources. Furthermore, about 70% of the county's water drains into sources of drinking water supplies for southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware.
Kate Hutelmyer, Water Resources Planner for the Chester County Water Resources Authority, provided an update on the new Draft Plan for Chester County's waterways — Watersheds 2045 — at the Chester County Planning Commission's October Board Meeting. This plan provides an update from the county's original Watersheds Plan (2002) and is designed to empower communities and stakeholders to protect, sustain, enhance, and enjoy our shared water resources.
Since the adoption of Watersheds back in 2002, the county has seen significant improvements in water protection and quality over the last 20 years. The vision of the new Plan, which looks ahead another 20 years to 2045, is as follows: "In 2045, we envision sustainable Chester County water resources that provide clean water, support healthy aquatic and wildlife habitats, enable thriving communities, and offer abundant and accessible recreational opportunities for all."
Kate noted they broke down the Plan into five parts: assessing where we've been; understanding where we are; identifying the challenges; setting the course; and tailoring the approach to meet general needs and opportunities. Currently, the draft Plan is available for reviewing online and open for public comment through November 17.
The plan should be presented (and hopefully adopted) in December of this year.
For more information and to view the Draft Plan, visit www.chesco.org/water.