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Photo Contest 2026 - Details Coming Soon 〰️

Who Are We?

The Octoraro Watershed Association (OWA) is dedicated to protecting and preserving the natural and historic resources of the Octoraro Watershed.  OWA was established in 1967 by a group of Chester, Lancaster, and Cecil County residents dedicated to protecting water quality, promoting sound land use practices, and raising environmental awareness.

OWA’s goals and objectives are to increase the number of stakeholders that are actively participating in conservation practices; increase educational awareness of the environment; increase membership; and increase activities that promote conservation, resulting in better water quality.

Explore our Mission

What We Do

Outreach & Implementation

Engaging communities through educational events and real-world projects that inspire long-term care for our local environment.

Restoring streamside habitats by planting native trees and shrubs that improve water quality and support biodiversity.

Discover our Work

Buffer Plantings

Stream Monitoring

Tracking stream conditions through regular data collection to guide conservation efforts and advocate for healthy waterways.

Our Watershed

The Octoraro Watershed is a 208-square-mile area spanning Lancaster and Chester Counties in Pennsylvania and Cecil County in Maryland. The eastern edge of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed is formed by the Octoraro Watershed, with headwaters in Pennsylvania and an outfall into the Lower Susquehanna in Maryland, with a population of around 45,000.

In 1983, the Octoraro Watershed Association played a significant role in the designation of 34 miles of the East and West branches and the main stem of the Octoraro Creek into the Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers Program. This was one of Pennsylvania's initial Scenic River designations. In 1986, the association formed the Octoraro Taskforce, which studied the problems of the Watershed and made recommendations to the townships and boroughs for stream corridor protection. Additionally, a Watershed Conservation Plan was developed in 1998 with the aid of a community task force and a grant from Pennsylvania DCNR.

Learn more

Our Partners

We could not do it without our Funders, Partners, Donors & Members past and present. 

Thank You All!

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Make a Difference

Join OWA

Get Involved

Volunteer

Take action

Donate

Give to Protect

Join a growing community that cares deeply about protecting local streams, forests, and wildlife through year-round conservation efforts

Contribute your time and energy to help with planting, outreach, and stream work that makes a lasting impact on the environment.

Help us restore stream health, expand education programs, and preserve natural spaces for future generations to enjoy and explore.

Voices from Our Community

  • "The Octoraro Watershed Association and our nursery share common values: to enhance water quality in our streams, protect the environment, and support our local communities and residents."

    — Jim MacKenzie

    President (Octoraro Native Plant Nursery)

  • "OWA is a vital partner for the Chester County Water Resources Authority in efforts to protect and restore streams in the western portion of the County."

    — Seung Ah Byun

    Executive Director (Chester County Water Resources Authority)

  • "We are grateful for OWA because of the people and the trusted relationships that OWA has created. As local leaders, they prompt projects that help us collectively get to the community's clean water goals."

    — Allyson Gibson

    Executive Director (Lancaster Clean Water Partners)

  • "As a key partner in the Octoraro Source Water Collaborative, OWA helps carry forward the momentum for monitoring and the Collaborative's overall strategy."

    — Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay

  • “LandStudies has always appreciated the work OWA has done to promote water quality improvement in the Octoraro Watershed. OWA is the first watershed organization we partnered with over 30 years ago when we worked with Pat Fasano on a number of restoration efforts that pioneered the future of watershed restoration.”

    — Kelly Gutshall

    LandStudies, Inc.

  • "OWA has been a valued partner in helping Stroud Water Research Center in advancing watershed restoration in the Octoraro watershed."

    — Lamont Garber

    Stroud Water Research Center

  • “OWA has been a valued partner in Helping us with our mission. They have consistently been a liaison and a resource to help connect the Conservation District to then many farmers who operate and produce commodities within the Octorara watershed.”

    — Chris Strohmaier

    Chester County Conservation District

  • “OWA is an important partner advancing water quality efforts across the Octoraro Watershed.”

    — Amanda Goldsmith

    Lancaster County Conservation District

  • “OWA has been a long-standing partner helping CSCD provide the community with information, education, and technical assistance in conserving the Cecil county's natural resources.”

    — Chris Brown

    Cecil County Soil Conservation District

  • "OWA has been an integral and effective partner for municipalities in our Region meeting our Stormwater Action Initiative objectives at substantial savings to taxpayers; a visible point of contact for residents seeking to make a difference."

    — David Ross

    Oxford Region Volunteer Environmental Advisory Council