The January issue of Pike County Conservation District's newsletter highlights the results of its 2023 Water Quality Report, the multiple benefits of Pennsylvania's Forests and a series of upcoming educational programs.

Water Quality Report

Every year PCCD's Watershed Specialist, with help from other staff, monitors the quality of our local waterways by sampling for macroinvertebrate and fish indicator species-- wildlife that are sensitive to pollution.

The presence of good indicator species tells us that the water continues to be of a high quality and has low levels of pollutants. A lack of those indicator species would signal some further investigation.

Thankfully, all of Pike County's streams continue to indicate High Quality (HQ) or Exceptional Value (EV) water conditions!

Click Here to read the 2023 report and reports from prior years.

Pennsylvania's Forests

More than 60% of Pennsylvania is covered by forests, giving Pennsylvanians and visitors recreational opportunities and supporting thriving ecosystems.

Even in the winter when the leaves fall off the trees, the forest is still alive and supporting a wide variety of wildlife.

Click Here to out the article by PCCD Resource Conservationist Marianna Quartararo

Vote For The Lackawaxen River

The Lackawaxen River is one of three nominees for the 2024 PA River of the Year.

The Lackawaxen River flows through both Pike and Wayne Counties and offers many recreational opportunities including fishing, eagle watching, and kayaking to our community and its visitors!

If the Lackawaxen River receives the most votes, our friends at the Wayne County Community Foundation will receive the $10,000 and use those funds to run community activities on the river all year long, including a  River of the Year Sojourn down the river!

Click Here to vote by January 19.

Upcoming Events

Visit the Pike Conservation District’s Upcoming Events webpage for more learning opportunities.

For more information on assistance and services, visit the Pike County Conservation District website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates.

How Clean Is Your Stream?

The draft 2024 report has an interactive report viewer that allows you to zoom in to your own address to see if the streams near you are impaired and why.

Click Here to check out your streams.  Click Here for a tutorial on using the viewer.

Related Articles This Week - Watersheds:

-- DEP Announces Over $12 Million In Watershed Restoration, Stormwater Infrastructure Grants Funded In-Part By Mariner East Pipeline Penalties, Federal American Rescue Plan Funding  [PaEN]

-- DEP Chesapeake Bay Update: Funding Opportunities, Projects Supported; County Clean Water Updates; Much More!   [PaEN]

-- USDA Announces March 1 Application Deadline For Conservation Stewardship Program In PA  [PaEN]

-- Appalachian Region Independent Power Producers Assn. Accepting Applications For Mine Reclamation Grants  [PaEN]

-- Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professionals: Registration Now Open For Level I Training, Certification; PA DCNR Offering Scholarships  [PaEN]

-- PA Sea Grant, Partners Offer Choose Native Plants Workshops For Landscape Professionals In Erie, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia  [PaEN]

-- DEP: Shale Gas Operator Found Responsible For Water Supply Contamination After Investigation Documents Chemical Contamination Spread Across 3 Townships In Greene County  [PaEN]

-- Pike Conservation District: 2023 Water Quality Report; Pennsylvania's Forests; Vote For Lackawaxen River!  [PaEN]

-- Protecting Clean Water Together: What’s The Big Deal About Water Anyway? - By Carol Hillestad for the Brodhead Watershed Association   [PaEN]

-- Water At Risk Series: The Brodhead Watershed Association Helps Monroe County Municipalities Protect Clean Water - How About Yours? - By Carol Hillestad for the Brodhead Watershed Association   [PaEN]

-- Water Center At Penn Hosts Jan. 25 Webinar On Lower Delaware River Bacteria Study  [PaEN]

-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Hosts Jan. 12 In-Person Workshop On Climate Art And Networking For Watershed Leaders & Stewards  [PaEN]

-- Interfaith Partners For The Chesapeake Host Jan. 15 Webinar On Climate Change Impact On Black Communities  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Jan. 29 Webinar On Green Infrastructure And Salty Stormwater  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Lancaster Farmland Trust: The Salisbury Township Story - The Impact Of Community Outreach On Farm Conservation Work [Video] 

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Ad Crable: Volunteers Aim To Restore Stream With Artificial Beaver Dams

-- Huntingdon Daily News: Novel Penn State Tool Informs Land Use And Nutrient Control In Troubled Waters

-- McCall: Monocacy Creek Advocacy Group Concerned About Proposed Lehigh Valley Warehouse

-- Delaware RiverKeeper Jan. 5 RiverWatch Video Report 

[Posted: January 1, 2024]

1/8/2024