Environmental Protection & Conservation
What is DelCo doing?
- Mineral Hill is Preserved
County Council purchases world-famous geologic site along Ridley CreekMineral Hill, a world-renowned natural resource in Delaware County, is now preserved by Delaware County Council, which purchased the 46.2-acre landmark, famous among rock buffs for its wealth of stone specimens and crystals.Read more… - Open Space Initiative – Delaware County Council Partners with municipalities to preserve open space. Read more…
- The Planning Department works with municipalities to preserve Open Space, create greenways and protect our watersheds.
- Natural Heritage Inventory – The County is currently having a Natural Heritage Inventory completed by the Western PA Conservancy. This Inventory will document the County’s areas of biological importance and species of concern
- Supporting Municipal Cleanup Activities – Council recognizes the efforts of the many Watershed Associations in the County to keep our streams and watersheds clean, including the Chester-Ridley-Crum Watersheds Association and Darby Creek Valley Association.
County Council members Jack Whelan and Christine Fizzano Cannon joined volunteers during the annual Chester-Ridley-Crum Watersheds Association Stream Cleanup.
Delaware County’s Natural Resources
From farmland, open spaces, and woodland, to rivers, creeks, watersheds, and tidal areas, Delaware County is home to many scenic areas and sensitive natural resources which deserve care and protection for the benefit of both current and future generations. Even in our County’s most urbanized areas, parks, street trees, and community gardens provide opportunities for people to interact with nature and greatly improve our quality of life.
Protecting Our Environment
Modern life poses a constant threat to natural systems, whether from development pressures and industrial pollution, or even simply from traffic congestion and litter. Delaware County is committed to reducing these threats as much as possible, while at the same time improving our natural resources and promoting their many benefits. The Delaware County Conservation District was created with the mission of ensuring the wise use of Delaware County's natural resources and protecting and restoring the natural environment through the conservation of its soil, water, and related resources. The Conservation District works with individuals, governmental units, and the regulated sector of society to prevent environmental degradation and advocate remediation of past environmental damage.
What can you do?
Whether as an individual or as part of an organization, there are plenty of ways you can take action to help the environment in Delaware County. Check out the Delaware County Environmental Network or one of the many municipal Environmental Advisory Councils (EACs) – click here to search for EACs by county – to find out how you can get involved in environmental protection. Take part in a stream cleanup or other event with either the Chester-Ridley-Crum Watersheds Association or the Darby Creek Valley Association. You can also take measures to protect streams on your own property. Even something as simple as planting trees in your community can add beauty and environmental benefits. For information on other preservation and conservation methods, contact the Environmental section of the Delaware County Planning Department, or check out the resources they have available online.
Get out and enjoy it!
An easy way you can support the protection of the natural environment is to enjoy its many scenic and recreational opportunities by visiting a park or other protected natural area. Whether it’s a local or county park right around the corner, or a larger state park or forest, recreational open space benefits the health of both the natural environment and the people who use it! The Natural Lands Trust is a great resource for local open space resources as well as ways you can help protect them.