Watershed Stewardship:  Who is protecting our water resources?

Everyone assumes natural cycles and resources have an amazing capacity to rejuvenate themselves. We assume that  local, state or federal government agencies are protecting our water resources, and as a result, we will have enough clean water for many years into the future. While there are private organizations and public sector agencies working to protect these resources, the broad spectrum of water resource protection and the crucial importance of this resource to our existence makes this an issue of critical concern to every individual. Successful protection of the resource over the long-term means everyone must consider their individual responsibility for watershed stewardship. 

Water Conservation: What can you do at home?    

Pike County Watershed Groups

The Lackawaxen River Conservancy
Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management District
Twin & Walker Creek Conservancy

Assistance available for Watershed groups:

Consortium for Scientific Assistance to Watersheds (C-SAW) is a team of specialists who provide eligible watershed groups or local project sponsors Program Management and Scientific Technical Assistance through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's (PADEP) Growing Greener Program. The service is at no cost to eligible groups.

Pike County Conservation District Groundwater Study
The Pike County Comprehensive Groundwater Assessment established a Groundwater Level Monitoring Network and completed a Reconnaissance of Groundwater Quality, both of which provide baseline information on County groundwater resources to support current and future water resource planning, management and protection initiatives.  Groundwater level data may be viewed at http://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/countymaps/PA_103.html. A link for the Groundwater Quality report on findings visit http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2009/5129/

Water Quality DATA for Pike County
The District's Watershed Conservation efforts include a county-wide water quality monitoring program, watershed education, outreach and stewardship activities. The monitoring program was initiated in 1987 to assess and track surface water quality in rapidly developing Pike County .One of the first of Its kind among PA's 66 conservation districts, the program has evolved into a watershed-based tool for focusing attention on Pike County's High Quality and Exceptional Value waterways. Eighteen watersheds are monitored at baseline, non-point source and sewage treatment locations.

2009 Report Environmental Quality of Pike County Streams Using Bioassessment Techniques
2008 Report Environmental Quality of Pike County Streams Using Bioassessment Techniques
2007 Report Environmental Quality of Pike County Streams Using Bioassessment Techniques
2006 Report Environmental Quality of Pike County Streams Using Bioassessment Techniques

Household Water Testing

Water Quality - Your Private Well: What Do The Results Mean?
From the Wilkes University Center for Environmental Quality Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences
For more information about the Environmental Quality Center, please contact:
Mr. Brian Oram, Professional Geologist (PG)
Drinking Water Testing Laboratory Director
Wilkes University
Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences

Web Tool Maps Critical Characteristics for PA’s Streams and Watersheds
The U.S. Geological Survey has released a new web-based application, Pennsylvania StreamStats, allowing users to delineate watersheds, determine their characteristics, and obtain stream-flow statistics quickly and easily anywhere in the state. Users can select locations of interest from an interactive map or enter latitude and longitude to obtain information for these locations.