Headwaters History Highlights
Decades of Achievements: Milestones in Headwaters Charitable Trust's Journey
1988
Board of Trustees form Headwaters Charitable Trust
1989
1st project: Brewery Run Stream bank stabilization project completed in Elk County - $157,500
1990
Wood Products Video Library: 18 videos used for vocational training and improved wood product production/management (region-wide) – Bell of PA and PA Rural Electric provided funding.
1991
5 canoe access sites developed along the Clarion River in Elk County - $55,000 Stackpole Hall Foundation, PA Fish and Boat Commission.
1992
Sustainable Agriculture Program was initiated with a $35,000 grant from Pew Charitable Trust to address consumer demands about food safety while keeping farms economically productive. Sponsored 1st Statewide Sustainable Ag Conference held in Center County with 550 farmers in attendance.
1993
Began annual fundraiser to support recreational trail projects.
1994
Genesee River habitat improvement program started with a $144,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency.
1995
Worked with the US Forest Service constructing a timber bridge on the Clarion Little Toby Trail in Elk County through the Wood in Transportation Program.
1996
Developed vocational manuals in forestry for vocational schools.
1997
Headwaters partners with Smartwood to implement the sustainable forest certification program on both private and public forests.
1998
Three new wetlands were built in the Mill Creek Watershed to improve water quality and fish habitat.
1999
Kane area community revitalization plan completed with support from the Rockey Mountain Institute, Heinz Endowments and USDA Forest Service.
2000
14 projects completed including the transfer of the North Fork Dam in Potter County to the County Commissioners to support local recreation at the facility, purchasing 1,275 acres in the Moshannon Creek Watershed in Clearfield and Centre Counties to preserve riparian areas and providing public use for the land.
2001
22 projects completed, Best Management Practice study completed for region on forest management, constructed a wastewater treatment facility at the cannery at Rockview Prison.
2002
Master plan for the Wolf Creek Trail (Fall Creek to McMinn summit) completed. Began fundraising for the acquisition of 968.24 acres of the Gulf USA property in Snowshoe Township Center County.
2003
24 projects completed totalling $1,633,896 including the Toby Creek Kyler Run Abandoned Mine Drainage System Jefferson County.
2004
Initiated 9 new projects, and completed 10 projects Feasibility study completed to connect Brockway to Brockville and onto Piney Dam and the Clarion River (40+ miles)water trail.
2005
Initiated a Biomass Feasibility Study for the Northcentral Region.
2006
The Trust reorganized to focus on alternative energy, expansion of agriculture/ forestry best management practices and actively building new partnerships to increase private funding in water quality and recreational trail development.
2007
Completed the feasibility study for a Wood Burning Electric Generation Plant in Cameron County on behalf of the Cameron County Industrial Development Authority. The report was a component of a larger feasibility study regarding the wood to energy.
2008
Began implementing a farmer’s market capacity building program, and completed greenway plans in the 6 counties in the Northcentral PA Planning and Development Commission region.
2009
Began implementing a Fuels for Schools Program in Kane (McKean Co.) and Penns Valley (Centre Co.) which incorporates biomass boiler systems, hosted the Central PA Biomass Energy Workshop.
2010
Contracted with CGG Veritas for seismic testing on Trust-owned property to determine the level of Marcellus Shale.
2011
Discussions with various gas companies Marcellus Shale gas lease agreements on Trust owned property.
2012
Design for an abandoned mine drainage active treatment plant begins due to a Consent Order issued by the PA Department Of Environmental Protection. First Active Treatment Plant in the Mill Creek Watershed to replace the failed passive treatment system.
2013
Initiated discussions on establishing the Sandy Lick Water Trail from DuBois in Clearfield County to Brookville in Jefferson County.
2014
Initiated a community garden program in Elk County.
2015
Completed 2 Acid Rain projects restoring a total of 27 miles of stream in the Allegheny National Forest increasing brook trout numbers.
2016
Joe Humphreys, a Fly Fishing Legend is a guest speaker at Headwaters Annual Fly Fishing event. Joe coached participants and demonstrated casting techniques.
2017
Completed the Railbanking of the final 4 miles of the Knox and Kane Railroad corridor from Mt. Jewett to Kinzua Bridge State Park.
2018
Completed the acquisition of the 74-mile Knox and Kane Railroad at a cost of $1.95M.
2019
Received grants from 2 Pittsburgh Foundations and PA DCNR for the design of road crossings on the Knox and Kane Rail Trail totaling $526,000.
2020
Covid 19 slows work efforts. New Business Plan for the Trust approved by the Board of Trustees. Start working on a water project in Arnot, Tioga County.
2021
Began working with the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority on an abandoned mine issue under the historic Inclined Plane.
2022
Received a congressional earmark from Congressman GT Thompson for work on the Knox and Kane Rail Trail.