LAKE WALLENPAUPACK WATERSHED MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

What LAKE WALLENPAUPACK WATERSHED MANAGEMENT DISTRICT does

Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management District (LWWMD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Hawley, Pennsylvania, established in 1979 as the first watershed management district in Pennsylvania. Formed by Pike and Wayne counties and 14 townships, the organization operates across a 219-square-mile watershed encompassing Pennsylvania's third-largest lake (5,700 acres, 13 miles long, 52 miles of shoreline) with a small staff of 1-10 employees. Its mission is to protect and improve lake water quality through three core functions: continuous water quality monitoring since 1980, education and outreach, and the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce nutrient pollution and address harmful algal blooms (HABs).

The organization's core "products" are programmatic rather than commercial. The Water Quality Monitoring program collects monthly samples from May to October tracking physical parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, oxidation reduction potential), water chemistry (phosphorus, nitrogen, total suspended solids, alkalinity), and biological indicators (phytoplankton and zooplankton populations), with annual reports published since 2006. Education and Outreach programs include community presentations, school collaborations, publications, and the HAB Lab mobile education trailer built in partnership with Lacawac Sanctuary. Watershed Protection encompasses BMP deployment across agricultural runoff, stormwater, streambank, lakeshore erosion, and dirt/gravel road sedimentation. The organization administers two major grant mechanisms: the Cost-Share Program (up to 50% match, capped at $10,000 per project) and the Dirt, Gravel, and Low-volume Road Maintenance Program, which deployed $713,110 across 30 project sites serving ten community associations in the 2023-2024 cycle.

LWWMD operates as a grant-funded nonprofit rather than a revenue-generating enterprise. Primary funding flows from Brookfield Renewable Partners (lake owner since 2015) through the FERC Relicensing Settlement Agreement of 2006, and from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Growing Greener Program. It maintains operational partnerships with the Penn State Center for Dirt, Gravel, and Low-Volume Road Studies, Pike County Conservation District, Wayne Conservation District, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Lacawac Sanctuary, and the Pennsylvania HABs Task Force. The organization is led by Executive Director Nick Spinelli, is independently governed without parent-company ownership, and uses its website, Facebook, community events, and publications as primary outreach channels.

Name

LAKE WALLENPAUPACK WATERSHED MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

Legal name

Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management District

Website

https://wallenpaupackwatershed.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management District is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that monitors water quality and implements best management practices across the 219-square-mile Lake Wallenpaupack watershed in northeastern Pennsylvania, serving local residents, landowners, farmers, and community associations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Watershed Management Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Watershed/Source Water & Raw Water Quality Monitoring (intakes, reservoirs, groundwater) (EUANAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Microbiology & Pathogen Monitoring (Legionella, Coliform, HABs) (EUAHACAI), Water Quality Monitoring (Surface Water, Stormwater, Drinking Water) (EUAHACAC), Water, Wastewater & Stormwater Compliance (BPAHAJAJ), Erosion Control & Stormwater BMP Maintenance (IMAIAIAG)

Keywords

• Watershed management services
• Water quality monitoring
• Nonprofit environmental conservation
• Best management practices
• Lake protection programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Hawley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LWWMD protects Lake Wallenpaupack water quality through three core activities: (1) water quality monitoring since 1980 with monthly sampling of physical, chemical, and biological indicators; (2) education and outreach via community presentations, school programs, and publications; and (3) watershed protection through Best Management Practices implementation including agricultural BMPs, stormwater management, and erosion control projects. The organization also operates grant and cost-share programs (Cost-Share Program and Dirt/Gravel/Low-volume Road Program) that fund landowner and community association projects, plus the HAB Lab mobile education trailer for Harmful Algal Blooms awareness.

Product overview

The Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management District (LWWMD) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit environmental organization, not a technology company. It offers a suite of conservation and watershed management services centered on protecting Lake Wallenpaupack. The core offerings include Water Quality Monitoring (conducting sampling since 1980), Education and Outreach Programs (community presentations, school programs, youth engagement), and Watershed Protection through Best Management Practices implementation. Supporting programs include a Cost-Share Program providing financial assistance to landowners for erosion and pollution reduction projects, a Dirt/Gravel/Low-volume Road Maintenance Program with training and grants, the HAB Lab mobile education trailer for Harmful Algal Blooms awareness, and annual Water Quality Reports documenting lake conditions since 2006.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Quality Monitoring Long-term lake water quality monitoring service running since 1980, collecting monthly samples from May to October on physical attributes (temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, oxidation reduction potential), water chemistry (phosphorus, nitrogen, total suspended solids, alkalinity), and biological indicators (phytoplankton and zooplankton populations). For the LWWMD organization and its watershed stakeholders.
• Education and Outreach Programs Community education programs including presentations to local associations and civic organizations about watershed management, conservation, and ecology; invasive species awareness through brochures and signs; youth engagement through school collaborations and field trips; and publications including rack cards, brochures, newsletters, and social media. For local residents, schools, civic organizations, and the broader community.
• Watershed Protection (Best Management Practices) Implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) including agricultural BMPs (heavy-use areas, manure storage systems), stormwater management projects, and erosion control measures to address pollution from agricultural waste, stormwater runoff, streambank restoration, lakeshore erosion, and sedimentation from dirt/gravel roads. For landowners, agricultural producers, and the watershed community.
• Cost-Share Program Financial assistance program for landowners providing up to 50% match of project cost (maximum $10,000) for projects protecting water quality including shoreline erosion stabilization, streambank erosion stabilization, stormwater improvements, and agricultural improvements. Funded by Brookfield Renewable through the FERC Relicensing Settlement Agreement of 2006. For residential, commercial, and community landowners.
• Dirt, Gravel, and Low-volume Road Maintenance Program Training and competitive grant program for community associations to address road maintenance issues and correct sediment and nutrient pollution from dirt, gravel, and low-volume roads (fewer than 500 vehicles per day) within the Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed. Conducted in partnership with Pike County Conservation District, Wayne Conservation District, and Penn State Center for Dirt, Gravel, and Low-Volume Road Studies. Requires 25% match from applicants.
• HAB Lab Mobile education trailer developed in partnership with Lacawac Sanctuary to educate the community about Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). Available to community partners for festivals, programs, and special events. Contains general information about HABs and is designed to help educate the community about cyanobacteria, blue-green algae, and toxin risks.
• Water Quality Reports Annual water quality reports published from 2006 to 2024 documenting sampling data, analysis, and lake conditions. The 2006 Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management Plan serves as the guiding document for lake care. For watershed stakeholders, agencies, and the public.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of BMP projects implemented including stormwater management, erosion control, lake shore stabilization, and agricultural runoff control projects
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Lacawac SanctuarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to obtain grant funding for building the HAB Lab, a mobile education trailer available to community partners for festivals, programs, and special events to educate the community about Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs).
• Penn State Center for Dirt, Gravel, and Low-Volume Road StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership providing expertise and technical guidance for the Environmentally Sensitive Dirt, Gravel, and Low-volume Road Maintenance Program. Partners share technical bulletins, presentations, and best practices for road maintenance.
• Pike County Conservation DistrictmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 2023-2024 Dirt, Gravel, and Low-volume Road Program to address road maintenance issues and correct sediment and nutrient pollution within the watershed.
• Wayne Conservation DistrictmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 2023-2024 Dirt, Gravel, and Low-volume Road Program to address road maintenance issues and correct sediment and nutrient pollution within the watershed.
• Pennsylvania Fish and Boat CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with LWWMD and volunteers to build and install 20 'porcupine cribs' fish habitat structures in Lake Wallenpaupack on September 12, 2018.
• Pennsylvania Lake Management SocietyminorOthersListed as a resource link under Important Links on the Resources page. Non-profit organization supporting lake management in Pennsylvania.
• North American Lake Management SocietyminorOthersListed as a resource link under Important Links on the Resources page. Organization dedicated to the science and management of lakes and reservoirs.
• Pennsylvania HABs Task ForcemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide task force coordinating monitoring and response efforts for Harmful Algal Blooms across multiple agencies including the Department of Health, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Fish and Boat Commission. LWWMD advocates for development of comprehensive HABs management strategy.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• River Network: National nonprofit that supports local watershed groups through capacity-building, training, and resources. Comparable as a small-staffed mission-driven organization advancing community-based watershed protection and education.
• Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay: Nonprofit that engages communities in watershed restoration through on-the-ground projects, education, and policy advocacy. Directly comparable as a community-driven watershed nonprofit focused on BMPs and water quality improvement.
• Lacawac Sanctuary: Regional nonprofit field station and ecological research/education center in NE Pennsylvania. Direct peer as a small 501(c)(3) that co-developed the HAB Lab trailer with LWWMD and shares mission overlap in lake ecology and public education.
• Stroud Water Research Center: Independent freshwater research and education nonprofit in Pennsylvania that conducts long-term watershed monitoring and education. Highly comparable as a science-driven nonprofit focused on stream and watershed health in the Mid-Atlantic.

Broad incumbents

• Delaware River Basin Commission: Interstate federal-state compact that manages water quality and quantity in the Delaware River Basin. Overlaps with LWWMD on watershed-scale water quality monitoring and cross-jurisdictional coordination, but with regulatory authority and far broader footprint.
• Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Largest independent conservation organization dedicated to Chesapeake Bay restoration. Comparable mission in watershed protection, education, and BMP advocacy, but operates at regional scale with significantly larger resources and staff.
• Susquehanna River Basin Commission: Interstate compact managing water resources in the Susquehanna River Basin, which includes the Wallenpaupack watershed. Comparable regulatory-adjacent role in water quality monitoring and watershed planning for PA waterways.

Others

• Pennsylvania Lake Management Society (PALMS): Statewide nonprofit association supporting lake stewardship and management in Pennsylvania. Comparable mission focus on lake water quality; functions as an industry/peer association rather than a direct service provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wallenpaupackwatershed
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lake-wallenpaupack-watershed-management-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LAKE WALLENPAUPACK WATERSHED MANAGEMENT DISTRICT