The Gunpowder Valley Conservancy (GVC) is a Baltimore County-based land trust and watershed restoration nonprofit organization. Formed in 1989, GVC is committed to clean water for the two million people who live in, visit or benefit from the Gunpowder Watershed by preserving land, restoring ecosystems, and encouraging people to become environmental stewards.
Mission
To engage, connect, and inspire people to preserve and restore the Gunpowder Watershed
Vision
A Gunpowder Watershed that consists of:
- Healthy lands where native plants and animals thrive and where natural habitats are abundant
- Healthy waterways where streams flow clear and are connected to and nurtured by the land around them
- Healthy communities where residents, businesses, farms, and neighborhoods thrive and are empowered with the knowledge and resources to sustain the long-term interdependency of land, water, and people
Where we work
The Gunpowder Watershed drains 500 square miles from York County, PA through Baltimore, Carroll & Harford counties, to the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Most of the Baltimore area's drinking water supply comes from two reservoirs located within our watershed: Prettyboy and Loch Raven.
What is a watershed?
A watershed is a land area that channels rainfall to creeks, streams, and rivers, and eventually to drainage points such as reservoirs, bays, and the ocean. Everyone lives in a watershed. Our home watershed, the Gunpowder, is our direct connection to the Chesapeake Bay. Learn more about our neighboring watershed organizations.