Financed through a 2001 Growing Greener grant, the Baker Creek Watershed Association (BCWA) was chartered in February, 2001. The impetus to form a group arose from the growing concern in the community about the deteriorating condition of Baker Creek, especially as it flows through the Borough of North East, PA in Erie County. Baker Creek originates in the ridge south of the borough, flows through North East Township, through the borough, joins with Sixteenmile Creek at the western border of the borough, and empties into Lake Erie.

Sections of the creek are part of municipal property, and this encouraged the group to be able to apply for financing, working cooperatively with the Borough officials. The 2001 grant was used to publicize the effort, to hold organizational meetings, to sponsor a Creek Clean-Up Day, and to print informational brochures for distribution throughout the community. A storm drain stenciling project will be complete in Summer 2002.

The response has been gratifying. As the community?s awareness of Baker Creek?s condition has heightened, property owners along the creek have started to work on reducing pollutants, and also on reconstruction and replantings. Other community groups have become affiliated, including boy scout troops, church organizations, senior citizens, the North East Cultural Center, and the high school ecology club. The BCWA received a 2002 Growing Greener grant to do an engineering analysis of this portion of Baker Creek, which will enable an action plan to be developed. Once the action plan is in place, the group will work over a course of years to repair, restore, and rehabilitate Baker Creek.

Diana Hatfield, Secretary, BCWA