In 2014, Jane Cook joined the second-ever training class of Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward volunteers.
She was already active in the Monocacy Creek Watershed Association, but since then, she has logged more than 1,000 volunteer hours educating the public and restoring local watersheds.
Erin Frederick, Penn State Extension’s statewide Master Watershed Steward coordinator, noted that over the years, Cook has continued to increase her expertise and grow as a leader.
“She now serves on the boards of the Monocacy Creek Watershed Association, Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley and Hanover Township Shade Tree Commission,” Frederick said. “She’s amazing!”
Rebecca Hayden, president of the Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley, also has worked closely with Cook.
“Jane is a volunteer leader in the best sense — she connects with and empowers other volunteers and members of her community watershed association,” Hayden said. “Her passion and focus make a difference on the ground in her community. Leading by example, Jane has naturalized her property and carries out extensive work on naturalization with native plants across the Monocacy Creek Watershed. The Lehigh Valley Master Watershed Steward program is very fortunate to have her as a volunteer.”
Cook explained that her journey to the Master Watershed Steward program was a logical next step in support of her work with the Monocacy Creek Watershed Association.
“Since the incorporation of MCWA in 1970, the organization has had varied amounts of activity, but it’s maintained an active role in doing riparian buffer work and involving residents in projects that help protect and preserve the amazing resource of the Monocacy Creek,” she said.
The MCWA applied for and received its first grant through the Lehigh Valley Greenways in 2021 to complete work in cooperation with Northampton County at Gertrude Fox Conservation Area in Hanover Township.
“This unique park follows the creek along Biery’s Bridge Road east of Center Street in north Bethlehem,” Cook explained. “The county had done extensive stream bank restoration work along a 30-yard stretch of the creek in that area. Volunteers helped create a walking trail with informative signage and planted native shrubs, trees and wildflowers. It turned an inaccessible section of county land into an oasis of calm in the city that’s wonderful to walk in all times of the year.”
More recently, Cook and other volunteers have worked in partnership with Bath Borough in Northampton County to improve the section of the Monocacy that flows through the town.
In early October of this year, the MCWA and Bath Borough volunteers planted a large native wildflower pollinator garden as a part of a new trail being developed along the creek.
With the increase in land development in the Lehigh Valley, Cook also stressed the growing need to be vigilant about the impact on bodies of water like the Monocacy, the Lehigh River and other tributaries.
“I’ve become much more aware of the many development proposals that are popping up all over the watershed. I work to inform residents of the potential impact these can have on our water resources,” Cook said.
She explained that many municipalities have low standards in their land-use and zoning ordinances when it comes to protecting waterways.
“Developers know they only have to meet these minimum requirements to get their projects approved,” she said. “The challenge is to strengthen existing codes to make them more protective of water resources that are so vulnerable to damage by land development that increases stormwater runoff and other pollutants.”
Frederick pointed out that there is no shortage of threats to the environment.
“The Master Watershed Steward program aims to empower anyone to help protect and restore our natural ecosystems,” she said.
“This program,” Cook added, “teaches community members about the importance of protecting the most valuable resource we have — water. I encourage anyone who has even a slight interest in learning more about what’s happening in their watershed to consider becoming a Master Watershed Steward. You’ll be exposed to things you didn’t even know were happening right in your area!”
The Penn State Master Watershed Steward program provides extensive training in watershed management to volunteers who, in return, educate the community about watershed stewardship based on university research and recommendations.
The program was established to strengthen local capacity for management and protection of watersheds, streams and rivers by educating and empowering volunteers across the commonwealth.
Anyone interested in becoming a Master Watershed Steward can learn more at the program’s website.
(Reprinted from Penn State News.)
Related Articles - Watersheds:
-- Pennsylvania Declares Drought Conditions In 35 Counties -- Berks, Schuylkill Counties In Drought Warning, 33 In Drought Watch [PaEN]
-- Low-Flow Water Conditions Trigger Big Jump In Susquehanna River Basin Water Withdrawal Restrictions, Most Shale Gas-related [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Now Accepting Applications For Consumptive Use Mitigation Grants; Nov. 20 Webinar [PaEN]
-- Environmental Quality Board To Consider Proposed Spill Notification Regulation; Blasting; NOx & VOC Corrections Nov. 12 [PaEN]
-- DEP Discovers Wastewater Release At Bear Lake Properties Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well In Warren County During Routine Inspection [PaEN]
-- Bradford Era: 7-Part Series Details Concerns Residents Of Cyclone, McKean County Have With Catalyst Energy Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well [PaEN]
-- Penn State Ag Council Recognizes Cong. GT Thompson, Chair of the US House Agriculture Committee; Members Of The PA In The Balance Farm Conservation Initiative Team; Student Jessica Herr [PaEN]
-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: As 2025 Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Deadline Looms, Officials Propose Next Phase [PaEN]
-- CBF: New Chesapeake Bay Assessment Reveals Concerns, New Restoration Data Tool Offers Hope [PaEN]
-- Dirty Work: Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership Adding 130,000 New Trees During Fall Planting Season In Pennsylvania [PaEN]
-- Coldwater Heritage Partnership Now Accepting Applications For Conservation Grants; Natural Gas Pipeline Mitigation Projects [PaEN]
-- Shapiro Administration Launches New Discover State Grants Website To Streamline Access To Government Funding Opportunities [PaEN]
-- USGS Releases New Video: Susquehanna River Story - What Does The Science Say About Water Quality? [PaEN]
-- Registration Now Open For PASA 2025 Sustainable Agriculture Conference Feb. 5-7 In Lancaster [PaEN]
-- PA Forestry Assn. 138th Annual Symposium - What Makes A Healthy Forest; Awards Program Nov. 16 In State College [PaEN]
-- PA Assn. Of Environmental Educators Now Accepting Nominations For Annual PAEE Awards, Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences Awards [PaEN]
-- Penn State Extension Hosts Dec. 9 Webinar On PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' In Land-Applied Biosolids - Research Update And Discussion [PaEN]
-- Help Wanted: Foundation For Pennsylvania Watersheds - Grants Program Administrator [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- The Allegheny Front: PA Receives Another Round Of Record-Level Federal Funding For Abandoned Coal Mine Cleanups
-- Chesapeake Bay Program: Chesapeake Bay Shows Slight Water Quality Improvement In 2020-22 Assessment Period
-- Williamsport Sun: State Of The Susquehanna River - A Closer Look At Our River
-- ABC27: Dover Township, York County Issues Mandatory Nonessential Water Use Restrictions
-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Ad Crable: Workforce Shortage Slows Progress On Stream Buffers In Pennsylvania
-- Lancaster Clean Water Partners Blog: Cocalico Creek Watershed Association’s Collaborative Path To Restoration
-- Aquatic Resource Restoration Company: Bringing Oil Creek Back To Life - A Floodplain Restoration Project In York County
-- TribLive: Nature Focus Of Artwork Featured In Loyalhanna Watershed Association’s 40th Annual Auction
-- MCall Guest Essay: Delaware River Basin Commission Should Help Fight Climate Change - By Tracy Carluccio, Delaware RiverKeeper Network
-- Delaware RiverKeeper Nov. 1 RiverWatch Video Report
[Posted: November 2, 2024] PA Environment Digest
No comments :
Post a Comment