Mountain Watershed Association

Southwestern PA watershed advocacy and restoration nonprofit with expertise in abandoned mine drainage, shale gas impacts, and water quality enforcement.

Mountain Watershed Association protects the Indian Creek and Youghiogheny River watersheds in Fayette, Westmoreland, and Somerset counties. The organization runs passive treatment systems for abandoned mine drainage, monitors water quality at hundreds of sites, and advocates on issues like shale gas extraction, pipeline construction, and coal refuse disposal. MWA has served as a model for citizen-led watershed protection across Appalachia. MWA provides technical assistance to other watershed groups on AMD remediation, permit review, and water monitoring. The Youghiogheny Riverkeeper program (a Waterkeeper Alliance affiliate) brings additional legal and advocacy resources. Partnerships with academic researchers at Penn State and the University of Pittsburgh support science-based advocacy.