The Center for Watershed Research and Service at St. Francis University in Loretto, Cambria County was founded in 2011 with support from the Foundation of Pennsylvania Watersheds through the 2011 GenOn Energy Inc. settlement agreement.

The Center’s mission is to provide expert assistance and manpower to amplify the watershed restoration efforts of domestic and international nonprofit organizations and to advance the watershed restoration body of knowledge through--

-- Real class projects in the service of nonprofit partners;

-- Student-professor research teams investigating fundamental and applied research questions of interest to nonprofit partners;

-- Service-learning internships pairing student interns and mentoring professors with nonprofit partners; and

-- Mobilization of the SFU student body for large volunteer events held by nonprofit partners.

The Center’s most recent newsletter includes articles on just a few of the Center’s recent projects--

-- Measuring water quality in Bradley Run near the Gallitzin Municipal Wastewater Plant;

-- Studying acid mine drainage and remediation at the Swank 13 mine near Frugality, PA;

-- Installing weirs to measure stream flows near Indiana, Portage and Windber;

-- Eliminating invasive species along the Stonycreek River; and

-- Working with partners: Clearfield Creek Watershed Association, Kiski Conemaugh Stream Team, Laurel Highlands Conservation Coalition, Sandyvale Memorial Gardens, and

Natural Biodiversity.

(Photo: Derek, Rafaela, Bruna, Ryan and Andrew posing by their recently-installed weir at the Swallow Farms acid mine drainage treatment system. This will save Shade Creek Watershed Association time and money while helping improve data quality.)

Nonprofit organizations who could use technical assistance or volunteers, please contact Debra Nagel, the Center for Watershed Research and Service’s Communications Coordinator, by calling 814-471-1143 or sending email to: dnagel@francis.edu.

2/9/2015