MCWA TO HOST LECTURE BY LANDSTUDIES, INC.

MCWA TO HOST LECTURE BY LANDSTUDIES, INC.

The Monocacy Creek Watershed Association will host a presentation entitled “Economic Ecology” by Kelly and Mark Gutshall of LandStudies, Inc., on Tuesday, October 16, 2018, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, at Illick’s Mill in Bethlehem. All are invited to attend. This lecture should be of particular interest to local environmental groups and watershed associations, as well as those involved in municipal planning.

The presentation will take place immediately following the MCWA regular monthly meeting scheduled for 6:00 PM.

Based in Lititz, PA, LandStudies, Inc. is well known for assisting communities with environmental improvement projects, and has been actively focused on stream and wetlands protection and restoration. As stated on their website (https://landstudies.com):

“LandStudies, Inc. is an award winning environmental design/build firm with experience since 1989 using natural systems to improve the environment. We are recognized throughout PA and the mid-Atlantic region for our innovative, sustainable work restoring streams, floodplains, and wetlands, and creating natural landscapes with a goal of improving water quality and wildlife habitat.”

Topics to be discussed in the LandStudies presentation will include:

• Flood Reduction/Pollution Removal
• Watershed Action Plans
• Legacy Sediment/Floodplain Restoration
• Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4)
• Regional Scale
• Cost/Benefit Analyses for Watershed Improvement Projects
• Maintenance
• Empirical Data vs. Models
• Case Studies

EVENT: Lecture – “Economic Ecology”, by Kelly and Mark Gutshall of LandStudies, Inc.

WHEN: Tuesday, October 16, 2018, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM

WHERE: Illick’s Mill, 100 Illick’s Mill Rd., Bethlehem, PA 18017. 2^ndFloor

WHO: All interested parties are welcome to attend.

Correction...

The last post incorrectly stated the start time for tonights meeting as 6pm.  We will start at 7pm as usual.  Sorry for the confusion.

Monthly Meetings are Back!

We're Baaaaack!! 

Our regularly scheduled monthly meetings are back, starting this Tuesday September 25th, 7pm.  Meetings are held @ the DAR House, 8th Ave in Bethlehem (in the Rose Garden Park).
This month we will be featuring :

• PA Fish & Boat Commission Waterways Conservation Officer, Zach Rudd with an brief update on PFBC happenings.

• We will also be having our first ever gear reduction event!  This is not a sale, but a way to "pay it forward" and get rid of any gear you no longer use or need.  So bring along those rods, reels, fly tying tools etc that are collecting dust and see if someone else can use it.  **If you bring it and can't get rid of it, you have to leave with it!**

• Chapter Update:  a brief update of the topics discussed at the Board of Director summer planning meeting. 

• Pizza and light refreshments!!

As always, meetings are free and open to the public. We hope to see you there.

Volunteers STILL needed for this weekend's project

Members,

The fish habitat project set for this weekend is still in need of volunteers to help place rocks in- stream.  Without volunteer support, this project will be difficult to finish.  These types of projects are crucial to improving in- stream habitat for fish, their food, and the overall health of the stream.  Please contact Michael Harrington directly if you can help:

610-392-1428 (mobile)
tq3222@yahoo.com

Volunteers Needed for habitat project

In- stream rock habitat project

 A local landowner who owns property on a section of the Monocacy Creek near Altoonah Rd, has reached out to local conservation groups to help complete an in- stream fish habitat project.  He is looking for at least 6 volunteers (working in pairs) for both Saturday, Sept. 22nd and Sun., Sept. 23.  Volunteers will need to be able to lift large rocks, and then place them in the stream.  Due to limited parking space, please don’t volunteer if you cannot assist.  If we get more than 6 per day, we can work in two shifts.  The exact details still need to be ironed out (start time, parking, etc.). Michael Harrington will be the point person on this project, and you can get in touch with him directly (email or call) if you are  interested in helpping out:

Michael Harrington 610-392-1428 (mobile)
tq3222@yahoo.com

Stream Lines Fall-Winter 2018-2019

Upper Delaware Diesel Spill

Upper Delaware Diesel Spill

There was a spill of up to 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel from a train derailment  into the Upper Delaware River near Deposit, NY early Thursday morning.   For more info, click here.

If you are on the River and observe any impacts, please see below to report them.


Action item!

The NY Department of Environmental Conservation is asking everybody who spends time on or near the river to contact them if they see any evidence of impacts to wildife/habitat or fuel oil build-up, especially in the quiet eddies and pools near the riverbanks.  Look for a reddish/brownish sheen on the surface of the river that looks similar to brake fluid or transmission fluid.Please take a picture of any observed impacts with GPS coordinates and send them to info@fudr.org if you see negative impacts of the spill and we'll forward them to the NYSDEC. 

Caddisflies, Engineering a System

THE MONOCACY CREEK WATERSHED ASSESSMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN

Compiled by Wildlands Conservancy, the following report was generated with the input of many volunteers, including members of the Monocacy Chapter. It outlines the issues that face our watershed, and provides ideas for mantaing and improving the quality of the natural habitat in and around the Creek.

A little PSA from Monocacy TU....

It's hot, REALLY hot...please consider giving the trout a break when temps are at their highest.  The stress of being caught coupled with higher water temps can lead to delayed deaths.  Just because they swim away in good shape does not mean they will survive.  If you still want to fish, there are plenty of non- trout options:  Smallmouth bass, Pickerel, panfish, carp, etc are all available close by.  Thanks and lets hope for cooler temps as the Trico hatch get started in July!