The Conewango Creek Watershed Association and the Chautauqua-Conewango Consortium will hold their annual meeting and gala from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at the Audubon Community Nature Center in Jamestown.

Guest speakers Lisa Ronald and Fred Akers of the Wild and Scenic River Coalition will join the event via Zoom at 7 p.m.

The coalition’s goals are to “safeguard” rivers all across the country, “advocate” for free-flowing rivers, and “network” river advocacy groups together to increase the power they can exert.

“The Wild and Scenic Rivers Coalition formed in 2018 as part of the Wild and Scenic Rivers 50 th Anniversary,” CCWA’s Sue Nielsen said. “As an umbrella for all types and sizes of river groups, the coalition has a growing national membership of more than 50 large, nationally-active advocacy groups, small local river friends groups, land-management focused organizations with rivers as a portion of their portfolio, volunteer groups, river stewardship groups, environmental journalists, university scientists, and others.”

The Clean Water Act of 1972 turns 50 years old this year.

The creek was named the 2015 Pennsylvania River of the Year through the Pennsylvania Organization for Watershed and Rivers and was declared “rich in aquatic life and home to at least two rare fish species.”

Those interested in attending the gala are asked to RSVP by calling (814) 726-1441 or by visiting www.conewangocreek.org by Friday, Oct. 7.