The Brodhead Watershed Association's Greening Mountainhome Project is using 24/7 data loggers set up by volunteers Matt Dilger and Michael Johnson to keep track of water quality in the Mill Creek Watershed in Monroe County

The Mill Creek logger keeps track of temperature. It also tracks the depth of the water. Because even on hot summer days, healthy creek water stays cool, the way trout like it.

And even when it hasn’t rained for a while and creeks are low, cool groundwater keeps the creek flowing and habitable for trout and other creek critters.

The data logger also keeps track of something called “electrical conductivity.” Conductivity measures water’s ability to carry electrical current based on the concentration of ions in the water.

In Pocono streams, most conductivity comes from salt that’s washed off roads and parking lots.

Even salt that filters into the ground eventually reaches streams. In areas near interstates and other busy highways, salt levels are so built up in groundwater that conductivity remains high throughout summer.

Fortunately, the area’s headwater streams, including Mill Creek in the Upper Brodhead watershed, look good. Keeping them that way is the point of the data logger.

Knowing our streams, and keeping track of what’s affecting them, is part of loving where you live.

Find out more about Brodhead Watershed Association’s work to keep Mountainhome green, visit the Greening Mountainhome webpage. You can see data loggers throughout the Brodhead Watershed at monitormywatershed.org. Search for “Brodhead” for sites maintained by BWA and “East Stroudsburg” for sites maintained by ESU.

For more information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events, visit the Brodhead Watershed Association website or Follow them on Facebook.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Association.  Click Here to become a member.

How Clean Is Your Stream?

DEP’s Interactive Report Viewer  allows you to zoom in on your own stream or watershed to find out how clean your stream is or if it has impaired water quality using the latest information in the draft 2020 Water Quality Report.

(Photo: Volunteers Matt Dilger and Michael Johnson.)

Related Articles:

-- Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition Intern Gets His Feet Wet In Data Logger Project

-- South Mountain Partnership Spring Partnership Meeting May 14

[Posted: April 27, 2021]

5/3/2021