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 he
volunteer stream monitoring program of the Connoquenessing
Watershed Alliance is providing invaluable knowledge about
the health and sources of problems within the Connoquenessing
watershed. Rallying the troops to collect this information
is Dave Lamperski.
“Water monitoring is not a glamorous job, but it
is irreplaceable in helping to expand our understanding
of all the forces at work within the watershed,”
Dave explained. “I cannot offer enough praise to
the people who have faithfully taken monthly samples in
all kinds of weather to help gather data for this scientific
report.” Dave is the president and one of the founders
of the Connoquenessing Watershed Alliance. In the program’s
second year, the group received a Growing Greener grant
for $86,740 to assess a 430 square-mile portion of the
Connoquenessing watershed. With guidance from consultants
at Killam Associates, volunteers are collecting and testing
water sampled from 18 sites along Connoquenessing Creek
and its tributaries.
.jpg) Portions
of the study conducted so far reveal a generally healthy
watershed, and problem areas are being documented
for consideration as future restoration projects. Dave’s
success demonstrates that committed volunteers can make
all the difference in identifying and eliminating sources
of pollution in Pennsylvania’s watersheds. Learn
More: Visit
www.GreenWorks.tv (GreenWords “Watershed Volunteers”)
.jpg)  ilma
runs a “mobile monitoring” program in Washington
County. Simply put, Wilma drives through her community
with scientific equipment in the back of her minivan,
conducting tests on the
health of various waterways.
When first on the move, Wilma took samples from just three
sites. Now, through a recently received grant and other
help from DEP, she keeps tabs on as many as 20 sites.
Her mobile monitoring is making a difference, not only
by identifying areas that need help, but also documenting
the positive impact of all the cleanup efforts in Washington
County.
Being on the road can be grueling, but Wilma knows that
the health of our rivers and streams is important —
both for wildlife and for our own drinking water. With
this in mind, Wilma is determined in her desire to create
a healthier environment. Learn More: Visit
www.GreenWorks.tv (GreenWords “Mobile Monitoring”).
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 ids
that grow up in the city don’t often have the opportunity
to enjoy the great outdoors, but for some young people
in York, Bill Shaffer is about to change that. Described
as a “super guy” by his colleagues, Bill Shaffer,
coordinator of “Kids Hooked on Fishing,” is
giving city and suburban kids an opportunity to get outside
and experience nature.
.jpg) An
avid angler himself, Bill decided that kids in York were
missing out on a great way to appreciate the environment
and have fun at the
same time. After researching and securing funds to purchase
fishing equipment for York area middle schools, Bill has
volunteered his time to visit schools to teach students
the finer points of fishing, angling and enjoying all
that Penn’s Woods have to offer.
By instilling the next generation with a sense of awe
and respect for the world around them, Bill is molding
lifelong stewards of the
environment. Learn More: Visit
www.GreenWorks.tv (GreenWords “Kids Fishing”).
 or
residents of Elk County, fishing in the Little Toby Creek
watershed seemed like an unattainable dream. Yet, after
a 30-year campaign to restore the watershed, Bill Sabatose,
president
of the Toby Creek Watershed Association, is making that
dream a reality.
.jpg) Little
Toby Creek is once again showing signs of life after decades
of acid mine drainage polluting its waters. The turning
point came with a $1.2 million Growing Greener grant awarded
to Headwaters Charitable Trust, which in turn sponsored
a grant to the Toby Creek Watershed Association. The restoration
project will finally eliminate the acid mine drainage
into Little Toby Creek.
“This used to be a dead watershed,” Bill recalled.
“Little by little, as DEP funded acid mine drainage
projects, the Little Toby began to recover.”
Bill and the Toby Creek Watershed Association have been
instrumental in the recovery of Little Toby Creek and
their relentless perseverance demonstrates that no watershed
is without hope of restoration. Learn More: Visit
www.GreenWorks.tv (GreenWords “AMD”).
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GreenWorks and Watershed Weekly are on the lookout for
environmental volunteers worthy of the honorable title
“Watershed Hero.” The GreenWorks website features
selected volunteers and highlights their efforts, giving
them some well-deserved credit. Do More: Nominate
a “Watershed Hero” you know by emailing
talktous@greenworks.tv. If your hero is chosen, we’ll
send you a free GreenWorks t-shirt for recognizing his/her
efforts. To hear stories of heroes already featured, visit
www.GreenWorks.tv
(GreenWords “Watershed Hero”). |
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 Want
to learn more about something you hold near and dear?
Every week, the Watershed Weekly website profiles people
and groups working on issues that directly affect the
water we all share. From fishing and swimming to mining
and storm runoff, you’ll visit rivers, streams and
even your own faucet. |
 Ready
to get involved in environmental
protection by joining or forming a
watershed group? The Pennsylvania
Organization for Watersheds and Rivers
POWR) can help you get started. |
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