PA House environmental committee examines impacts of water pollution
Committee focused on potential state solutions to monitor & improve waterways
Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus February 10, 2026 | 2:53 PM
HARRISBURG, Feb. 10 – The state House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee held a public hearing this week at the state Capitol to receive testimony on impaired streams and waterways in Pennsylvania.
The recently released draft of DEP’s 2026 Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report indicated that 37% of PA stream miles are impaired in some way, which is up from 34% two years ago. Stream impairment in PA comes from three main sources: agricultural runoff, acid mine drainage, and urban runoff. Pennsylvania’s large agriculture industry, the significant number of abandoned mines scarring the landscape, and unfettered loss of porous green spaces to suburban sprawl all contribute to intensified siltation, and pathogenic and heavy metal contamination, leading to increased stream impairment.
Committee Chair Rep. Greg Vitali, D-Delaware, emphasized that Pennsylvania must strengthen its efforts to maintain and restore the state’s waterways.
“Today’s hearing gave this committee an opportunity to examine why so many of our waterways are impaired and how we can act at the state level to protect them,” Vitali said.
“Unfortunately, 37% of our stream miles are impaired, which is far too high. Our state must invest more in programs like the Environmental Stewardship Fund and the Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program and ensure adequate staffing to administer these initiatives. I am committed to finding solutions that allow state and local entities to collaborate on monitoring and remediation efforts to safeguard public health and safety.”
Jill Whitcomb, deputy secretary of the Office of Water Programs at DEP, highlighted the need for additional funding to maintain a proper workforce for monitoring and conservation.
“We must work with the General Assembly to ensure uninterrupted services through our water quality monitoring program and increased BMP implementation,” Whitcomb said. “More funding is essential to support work in all communities. It can help restore personnel to the General Fund or increase the Environmental Stewardship Fund, impacting not only the Chesapeake Bay watershed but the entire state. The Environmental Stewardship Fund is a critical tool in our efforts to ensure clean water for all Pennsylvanians.”
Dr. John Jackson, senior research scientist at the Stroud Water Research Center, explained the implications of impaired streams.
“When a stream is listed as impaired, it indicates a major loss of pollution-sensitive macroinvertebrate species, which affects aquatic life. This is not a minor change—it means pollution pressure is intense and not easily reduced,” said Jackson.
“Based on my experience and the work of colleagues at the Stroud Center, we need more projects, better projects, and aggregated projects to effectively address Pennsylvania’s impaired streams.”
Harry Campbell, PA Science Policy & Advocacy director at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, highlighted the return on investment provided by conservation projects, citing the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership as a success story.
“Emerging contaminants and new technologies demand more data, yet Pennsylvania’s monitoring program faces doing more with fewer resources,” Campbell said. “Since 1986, CBF has collaborated with state and federal agencies, local governments, conservation districts, community partners, and farmers. Our watershed resiliency program has helped thousands of farmers implement practices that protect soil, restore streams, and support local economies. The Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership has planted 8.7 million native trees, with the final total expected to surpass 10 million this year.”
Campbell added, “Proper funding of EPA programs is an effective investment in public health. By monitoring rivers and streams and applying precision conservation where pollutants originate, we can significantly improve stream health while maximizing public resources.”
Julie Wheeler, commissioner president of the York County Commissioners, described the county’s innovative approach after being reported as the second-highest contributor of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment to the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay.
“York County created a first-of-its-kind Water Quality Monitoring Program, which shows our waterways are cleaner than initially reported,” Wheeler said. “Better data leads to better decisions. Our program demonstrates that collaboration and innovation are key to success.”
Dr. Heather Hulton Vantassel, executive director of Three Rivers Waterkeeper, commended DEP for improvements in the Integrated Water Quality Report since 2024, including the Environmental Justice screening tool.
“However, the number of impaired waterways continues to grow,” Vantassel said. “Between the 2024 and 2026 reports, 2,845 stream miles previously unassessed are now classified as impaired. Addressing this requires significant DEP investment in resources for assessment, restoration, remediation, and policy implementation.”
Bobby Hughes, executive director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, stressed the importance of additional staff for stream recovery and grant management.
“With limited staff to work across watersheds and community groups, additional personnel are needed to serve as liaisons for programs and funding,” Hughes said. “DEP must strategically prioritize resources. This is a watershed moment for Pennsylvania’s coalfield communities, and investments in AMD remediation are critical.”
Vitali said that today’s testimony will additionally inform his questions for DEP during House Appropriations Committee hearings on the 2026-27 state budget on Monday, March 2.