It has been noted that perhaps more than any other river, the Susquehanna is considered Pennsylvania's river. The Susquehanna basin encompasses more of the state's land area than any other basin - 20,960 square miles or 46% of the state.  More than three-quarters of the entire basin lies in Pennsylvania. At Sunbury, the Susquehanna is joined by its largest tributary, the West Branch of the Susquehanna. Two major subs of the West Branch are Sub Basins 9 and 10, which include the Big Bend Watershed are from Lock Haven to Sunbury, PA. Included are watersheds of Pine, Lycoming, Loyalsock and Muncy Creeks.  These sub basins also encompass much of Lycoming, Clinton, Union, Montour, and Sullivan Counties and portions of Tioga, Bradford, and Northumberland Counties. Total watershed area includes over 3,500 square miles. A Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) report in August 2001 indicated that water quality of only 26% of the total watersheds in the area had been assessed at that time. Causes of impairment included non-point source pollution attributed to agricultural and road runoff (greater than 75%).

The State of Pennsylvania, its Growing Greener initiative and most recently the Environmental Futures Planning Process, has identified Water Quality as a main agenda for the 21st Century and recognizes the importance and participation of local watershed groups to the improvement and maintenance of this resource. Over 50 active watershed groups exist in this Lower West Branch of the Susquehanna Basin.

The Clear Water Institute (CWI) has been developed to be a resource on water issues and to partner with watershed groups for education and protection of the water quality of the West Branch of the Susquehanna watershed.