|
|
People are working all over the Commonwealth to protect our watersheds.
Watersheds are everywhere, but what are they?
A watershed is an area of land within which all precipitation drains
into a single major body of water. Put another way, it is the geographic
area that feeds a stream, creek, wetland or aquifer. Small watersheds
feed into larger watersheds, which feed into even larger river basins,
which eventually feed into oceans and seas.
Each watershed is very unique, and can supply and retain water in
very different ways. Some watersheds may experience times of drought,
while nearby watersheds remain fertile and healthy. Much of this depends
upon aquifers, the natural underground water storage tanks which are
cyclically recharged by rainfall and snow. Aquifers affect soil moisture
and support all life living within the watershed.
This show focuses in on some of the stories of people who are getting
into the flow of things and helping to protect Our Watersheds!
 Ever
wondered what chasing a ball down hill has to do with water quality?
Well, quite frankly, neither did we, until we visited with Steven
Greene at the Pennsylvania Resources Council.
When rainfall hits the ground, the water that isn't absorbed into
the earth makes its way downhill, eventually gathering in aquifers.
As the water moves, it picks up sediments and anything else it passes
over, carving away at the landscape.
 The
PRC has developed an innovative school curriculum called "From Raindrops
to Rivers" that enables kids to really grasp this concept. By plotting
the course a ball takes as it rolls downhill, students are able to
visualize the ways in which water flows over the landscape.
Join us in this fun-filled segment, as Steven leads students from
the Radnor Middle School through a variety of hands-on, outdoor
experiments designed to educate young people - and now you, the
viewer - about different aspects of watersheds and the water cycle.
Watch the Segment Now!
Learn More:
Pennsylvania Resournces
Council
 One
of the largest threats to rivers and streams is the bank erosion
that occurs after heavy storms. This erosion occurs for many reasons,
including development of property immediately adjacent to the water.
Activities like mowing and hedging decrease the stability of vegetation
that normally holds streambanks in place.
The Delaware Riverkeeper Network has been mobilizing people to
fight streambank erosion for years - and they do so for good reason.
Not only does erosion eat away at people's yards, the sediment that
is carried downstream is often deposited someplace else, causing
clogs that change streams' routes and even cause flooding.
 In
this segment, we visit the Riverkeeper for a day of hard work on
the waters' edge at Green Lane Creek. By re-grading the banks, planting
shrubs and trees and installing some protective netting made of
natural fibers, volunteers can go a long way in restoring the health
of our waterways. Join us to see the results for yourself.
Watch the Segment
Now!
Learn More:
Delaware
Riverkeeper
 Our
waterways face many obstacles along the way, and are sometimes stopped
in their trek by our marvels of engineering - dams. Many of these
dams have long since been abandoned, and no longer serve any of
the purposes for which they were originally constructed. These dams
are a nuisance to many species living in the waterway - including
human beings. For fish, insects and birds, they cause the water
to stagnate and block routes of migration that had previously been
open for centuries. They can also lead to ice jams, muddied water
and various other eye-soars for their aesthetically sensible neighbors.
 Recently,
many communities have felt a surge of support to remove abandoned
damns. In this segment, we travel to Pottstown to witness the removal
of a damned dam on the Manatawny Creek. You'll meet with the scientists
who support dam removal as a way to improve the health of our rivers,
and learn from the local residents who made this particular removal
possible.
Watch the Segment Now!
Learn More:
Manatawny
Creek Ecological Studies of Dam Removal
 The
1960s and '70s witnessed a rush of much-needed environmental legislation
designed to protect our air, water and soil. As great as these new
laws were, however, they obviously did very little to protect Americans
from environmental damage already done.
The commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a long legacy of coal mining,
and today faces major water contamination issues due to the hazardous
drainage coming from old, abandoned mines. Unlike the better-regulated
mines of today, mines that were left-for-bust in the 1940s and '50s
have become a major threat to environmental quality and public health.
Every time it rains water enters these mines, travels over miles
of exposed metals, and then makes its way into our creeks and streams
carrying various toxic sediments.
The Pennsylvania Department of Abandoned Mine Reclamation has been
working far and wide to repair the damage caused by these mines.
In this segment we catch up with one of their crews to learn how
their critical work is improving the health of a waterway near Tremont.
This show focuses in on some of the stories of people who are getting
into the flow of things and helping to protect Our Watershed!
Watch the Segment Now!
Learn More:
Bureau
of Abandoned Mine Reclamation
 What
is a "sojourn" you ask? It's simple. A sojourn is a group of individuals
who all share a common love for nature and take some time out of their
hectic lives to join together and paddle down a stretch of river -
either by canoe or by kayak.
 These
groups of up to 150 people are known to travel a hundred miles or
more, during an adventure that lasts anywhere from a weekend to a
whole week. Many sojourners commit to the entire trip, while others
steal away for just a day trip to learn more about the river in their
own backyard.
In this segment, we travel downstream to hear what the paddlers have
to say about this unique experience. Join us for an exciting view
of Pennsylvania's rivers - as we become "sojourners" ourselves! You
won't want to miss this uplifting story.
Watch the Segment Now!
Learn More:
2003
Pennsylvania River Sojourn Information
River Sojourns
For more information about Watersheds, visit Watershed
Weekly!
|
