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What is a watershed, you ask? A watershed is not only the streams
and rivers that run through our land, but it is also the land
itself. Watersheds are all the waterways and the land through
which they run. They retain water, as well as transporting water
downstream to a larger body of water, such as an ocean.
There are many problems facing our watersheds these days, such
as suburban sprawl pressures, pollution, agricultural impacts
and changes to our land by natural disasters. But throughout
the country people are getting involved to learn more about
how they can improve the health of their watersheds, and also
to improve the quality of their drinking water.
In this episode of GreenWorks Television, we're traveling throughout
Pennsylvania to learn about some new techniques being used to
restore, protect, and even recycle the water we use.
Follow the links below to learn more about our watersheds:
The Swamp
Natural Stream Design
Let's
Go Fishing
Keystone College
Watershed Center
Mushroom Farming
 What
do you get when you take a hundred volunteers, a few hundred
wetland plants and a few shovels? You get things done. "The
Swamp" is a testament to the fact that when people work together
to achieve positive things — the results often exceed their
expectations.
"The Swamp" is located in Schuylkill
County, and is a manmade wetland that filters out harmful pollutants
from a nearby stream. Iron enters nearby waterways through abandoned
mine shafts, which become flooded by rains or the streams running
through or near them. These metals pollute our streams, killing
all the fish and plants living in them, and make the water unfit
for human consumption.
Be sure to find out how "The Swamp" has made a difference in
water quality in Schuylkill County.
 
Watch the Segment
Now!
Learn More:
Watersheds.tv
Schuylkill
County Trout Unlimited
Growing
Greener Grant Program
Back
to the Top
 What
do you get when you take a bunch of tree trunks, boulders,
and straw bails? Often times what you get is a naturally restored
stream channel. It may sound confusing, but it's the newest
technology being used to restore streams throughout the country.
Engineers have tried many techniques in the past to restore
streams that have been impacted by development or agriculture.
Some have been straightened, or have had their banks stabilized
with concrete and rock walls. The newest techniques look at
the natural energy and flow of a stream, and use natural products
to restore the banks and the flow of the waterway. This not
only makes the stream a healthier habitat for fish and plant
life, but will also cut down on flooding.
Watch
the Segment Now!
Learn More:
Natural
Stream Channel Design
Wildland Hydrology
Back
to the Top
 It
only takes one person to make a positive change. In this episode
Watersheds.tv met up with Bill Shaeffer to find out what inspired
him to begin a program for middle school students, to teach
them outdoor ethics and the basics of fishing.
Spotlighting highly motivated individuals, dedicated to improving
their environment is just one of the features of the Watersheds.tv
programming. Our hope is that by bringing these positive success
stories to the public that others will be inspired to get
involved in their own communities.
Watch the
Segment Now!
Learn More:
Watersheds.tv
PA
Fish and Boat Commission
Trout
Unlimited
Izaac Walton
League
Back
to the Top
 In
this segment of Watersheds.tv we're traveling to LaPlume,
PA to a very innovative watershed education program, offered
through Keystone College. The program takes a closer look
at the importance of having good water quality. It also uses
a very hands-on approach to identifying the critters living
in our streams, and how their presence or absence can tell
us a lot about the health of a stream.
Watch
the Segment Now!
Learn More:
Watersheds.tv
Keystone
College
Citizens
Volunteer Monitoring Program (CVMP)
Back
to the Top
 Sustaining
a viable farm takes an amazing amount of human energy and is
really demanding on the natural resources it takes to produce
a healthy crop. We traveled to the Chester County area to learn
how mushroom farming works, and how farmers are not only conscious
of the amount of water they use, but they've also developed
ways to reuse and recycle the water — every step of the
way!
Mushrooms require a dark, damp habitat to grow in and that requires
a lot of moist compost. Be sure to tune in to find out how mushrooms
are grown, and how these innovative farmers are making a difference
in their communities, and in the success of their crops.
Watch
the Segment Now!
Learn More:
Watersheds.tv
Chester County Conservation District
Back
to the Top
For more information about Watersheds, visit Watersheds.tv!
Visit Our
Watersheds, Part One now.
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