Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful (KPB), with funding from the Department of Environmental Protection's Coastal Resources Management, has announced its new Waterway Steward Program, developed with funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The program's purpose is to engage Pennsylvania water trail users in community science and build long-term stewardship of water trails while providing valuable data to tell the story about litter in and along Pennsylvania's waterways.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful received a $40,000 Coastal Zone Grant from the DEP Coastal Resources Management Program to establish the Waterway Steward Program and facilitate cleanups in the Delaware Estuary. DEP is supporting this innovative program to turn residents who use Pennsylvania's streams, rivers, and lakes into stewards of these waters, helping to document and reduce the trash pollution that threatens water quality for people and aquatic life.

DEP and other state agencies are working with KPB to foster littering prevention and litter reduction initiatives through a statewide Litter Action Plan.

Being a waterway steward involves collecting litter and stream health data when the steward is recreating in or near water. When they are finished, they can dispose of the litter properly and report the data collected to KPB. Stewards can choose where they want to clean, and it can be a different waterway each time.

The Waterway Steward program is geared toward water trail users, anglers, outdoor and waterway enthusiasts, and all those who care about the health, safety, and quality of Pennsylvania's waterways. To be a waterway steward, individuals must be at least age 18. Stewards can conduct cleanups individually or organize their family and friends to join a cleanup.

Participants are encouraged to share stories online. KPB will compile and share results with the larger community and use this data to further educate Pennsylvanians about the importance of keeping waterways clean.

To complete an application to be a waterway steward, visit http://www.keeppabeautiful.org and choose Programs, then Waterway Steward.