In an ongoing effort to restore and preserve the streams and creeks that cut through southeast Butler County, conservation groups are conducting public meetings next week to get the public's perspective.

The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania hosts a meeting Wednesday in Worthington, just over the Armstrong County line, to gain feedback on the Buffalo Creek Watershed for an overhaul to the group's original conservation plan from 2008, according to Sarah Koenig, the society's regional director. The meeting will cap a months-long public engagement effort during which 100 people filled out online surveys about the watershed, which includes the Todd Nature Reserve and is situated in Armstrong and Butler counties, flushing out into the Allegheny River.

Additionally, the Audubon Society and volunteer-run nonprofit Butler-Freeport Community Trail Council were given a $54,000 preservation grant from the state to plant trees to provide a buffer against pollution and runoff along about six acres in the watershed. The trail council maintains hiking paths in the area.

“Residents and other folks are seeing other things than what we're seeing, so we get that extra perspective from their area,” said Chris Ziegler, president of the Butler-Freeport Community Trail. “A lot of stream banks are on private property, so they're seeing things we don't. My priorities might be different (from) a landowner's, but all interests are worth investigating and, hopefully, we could build partnerships.”

The Audubon Society will work with the council since the watershed, which covers about 171 square miles, is also a bird sanctuary designated as an Important Bird Area. And the state grant money happens to coincide with the society's efforts to update their conservation plan.

“I expect riparian buffer restoration to continue to be a priority in this update,” Koenig said, noting that many people who filled out the survey said that the watershed faces many issues, including litter and housing development.

“They appreciate the quiet remote, rural character of that area,” Koenig said. “People in general want to see more recreational areas.”

WHO: Audubon Society of Western PennsylvaniaWHAT: Public meeting on the future of the Buffalo Creek WatershedWHEN: 6:30 p.m. WednesdayWHERE: Worthington Civic Center in Worthington, Armstrong County