EXCEPTION VALUE CAMPAIGN PICKERING CREEK WATERSHED Chester County, PA - Using the real world experiences gained in Green Valleys Association’s successful efforts in upgrading major portions of the French Creek watershed to Exceptional Value, the following is offered to help answer some concerns or questions one might have as to what effect this designation would have on businesses, farms or private residents within the proposed upgrade area. Exceptional Value designation is only accorded to those bodies of water that meet the most stringent chemical and biological criteria set forth by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. It is the highest level of protection afforded in the state. Unlike the High Quality designation, which permits water quality degradation if it can be proven there is social or economic need, with the EV designation, only discharges of equal or better ambient water quality are permitted. What will this designation accomplish? Because of the more stringent discharge requirements that accompany the EV designation, any body of water designated as EV will be further protected against point source and non-point source pollution. The result will be higher water quality, greater recreational value for such activities as birding, hiking and fishing, properly protected waters for migratory and resident wildlife, safer water quality for agricultural needs, and quite possibly higher property values for those properties within the watershed. What will it not do? The Exceptional Value designation does not prohibit development. Rather, by using the required Best Management Practices (BMPs), it fosters better planning and execution of development plans. The main change for new developments is to provide high quality treated water discharges or to use land application of such water. There are several examples of large developments that have been successfully approved in the upper portion of the French Creek watershed since the EV designation was received in 1998, among them are: the French Creek Golf Course Community in Warwick, East and West Nantmeal Townships and the Weatherstone development in West Vincent Township. It is also important and worthy to note that individual property rights are not violated by the granting of the EV designation. Background Experience In 1994, the Green Valleys Association (GVA) with its 38 co-petitioners filed a petition with the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board for the upgrade of the French Creek watershed from a designation of High Quality (HQ) to Exceptional Value (EV). In September of 1998, the French Creek watershed west of Route 100 and the Birch Run watershed were granted this upgrade. In 2003, Green Valleys and its 48 CO-petitioners successfully filed a petition to obtain an upgrade from HQ to EV of the lower reaches of French Creek, from the Kennedy Covered Bridge in East Vincent and East Pikeland Townships upstream to Route 100 in South Coventry Township as well as the entire Beaver Run. This petition was accepted by the Environmental Quality Board in February 2004 and is currently being reviewed. Conclusion GVA is optimistic that they will be successful with a petition to obtain Exceptional Value status for the proposed upgrade area of the Pickering Creek watershed given the strong scientific evidence EXCEPTION VALUE CAMPAIGN LOWER FRENCH CREEK/BEAVER RUN February 2005 – Analysis of samples collected last spring are underway and will be nearing completion in March of this year. Upon completion, DEP will issue a final report on their findings. If DEP’s report supports our upgrade request, then the report will be passed on to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission for their review.