Claysville woman wins county ‘Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’ award
When Donna Riggle learned she was the recipient of a Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful award for Washington County, she was was self-effacing.
“Actually, this should be a Buffalo Creek Watershed Association and a community award,” Riggle wrote in response to an email inquiry.
She pointed to community cleanups organized by BCWA members, often scouts and parents from Boy Scout Troop 1031 in Claysville, and community members who volunteer, most notably and frequently, Jay Dutton and Mike Zajac.
“We also owe thanks to Donegal Township’s road crew that picked up the bags and bags of trash after many of our cleanups,” she said.
Riggle, a Claysville area resident, has also advocated for the revival of Dutch Fork Lake, which was drained in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan in September 2004. Torrential rain caused serious damage to the lake’s emergency spillway, and it was drained as a precaution, languishing for years as a forest of small trees grew from the mud that remained.
Many state and local officials and citizens also took up the cause of restoring the aquatic and wildlife habitat. At a now-closed local swimming pool, the Buffalo Creek Watershed Association drew attention to the lack of a lake and its accompanying fishing, boating and bird-watching.
After several million dollars of state money and a natural gas drilling bonus was dedicated to reconstructing the dam’s spillway and building a protective covering for the embankment of the 91-acre lake, it reopened in 2013.
“I was the biggest pain in the neck,” Riggle said of her focus on lake restoration.
Riggle has been with Keep Washington County Beautiful since its inception in 2009, noted Laurie Popeck, who nominated Riggle for her recruiting skills.
Riggle also helps distribute educational materials at various outreach events including the Washington County Fair, Agricultural Days, and the Sportsmen’s Show.
“Donna is the true spirit of the environment and we are so happy to honor her with this award that is long overdue,” Popeck wrote in her nomination. “On behalf of the Washington County Affiliate of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, we thank Donna for her hard work and efforts.”