The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) focuses on conservation and water quality monitoring efforts with a goal of improving water quality of impaired streams. NWQI efforts are focused on preventing agricultural impacts to streams through the mitigation of sediment runoff and excess concentrations of nitrates, phosphorus, and other agricultural nutrients.

In 2019, the Pennsylania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Source Water Protection Program, in collaboration with the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and partners, identified 5 Watersheds with agricultural impairment for the NWQI readiness phase. The NWQI readiness phase involved the development of watershed assessment plans to determine critical source areas for pollutants, outreach plans, output and outcome goals, monitoring plans, and more. These watersheds were identified as follows:

  • - Beaver and Upper Yellow Creeks, Bedford and Blair Counties
  • - Maiden Creek, Berks County
  • - Swatara Creek, Lebanon and Dauphin Counties
  • - Upper Kishacoquillas Creek, Mifflin County
  • - Warrior Run, Northumberland County

The Maiden Creek and Swatara Creek Watersheds were further selected for source water protection pilot projects, for the improvement of public drinking water sources. The DEP is currently partnering with NRCS in the implemention of efforts at the Maiden Creek and Swatara Creek Watersheds of Pennsylvania. For further information, the USDA has developed the following NWQI fact sheets, detailing project implementation and water quality observations:

Maiden Creek NWQI Success Fact Sheet

Swatara Creek NWQI Successes Fact Sheet

The DEP is a proud partner of the NWQI and will continue to collaborate with partners in protecting Pennsyvania drinking water resources.