A&P Watershed Conservancy
By Producer, Kelly Meinhart
 here are many
challenges facing a watershed these days. Maintaining water
quality, transporting sediment downstream, acid rain, abandoned
mine drainage, nutrient management…the list could go on
and on. In the past, local streams and rivers were considered
conduits for our waste. Our human waste, our automobile wastes,
our household wastes, wastes of any kind - "wash it downstream
and it will simply go away." If we weren't intentionally
dumping our wastes, our factories were doing it for us, by either
dumping their wastes directly into the water or by killing the
surrounding habitats with their polluted byproducts.
 hile we cannot
say that these practices have ceased in our modern day understanding
of the environment, we can say that we understand more about
the causes and affects of our actions. We now understand much
more about the delicate systems that work together. A very wise
man once said, and continues to say, "Whatever we do to
our land - we do to our water." How true this simple phrase
is.
 ennsylvania,
as we all know, has taken a very proactive, aggressive approach
to correcting the wrongs done to our land and to our water.
This approach has given every one of us the opportunity to take
pride in our land, and to create a healthy environment for our
futures. Our elected officials have given the residents of our
great commonwealth a challenge - the challenge of leading by
example.
 'm pleased to
say that in our 104 beautifully diverse watersheds, that we
have hundreds of watershed devotees who are leading by example,
and inspiring others to do the same. The momentum is catching,
with new watershed organizations forming in the smallest of
communities. And so, I would like to introduce one of the newest
organizations to take on the challenge. The Aquaschicola/Pohopoco
Watershed Conservancy - or A&P Conservancy - as we'd like
to say, to keep things simple.
here is the
Aquaschicola/Pohopoco? You ask. It's my hometown watershed.
The watersheds encompass a beautiful, yet very delicate area
of the Poconos, just below the plateau, and stretching to
the Lehigh. The watersheds stretch from the town of Palmerton
and the Lehigh River - all the way to Kresgeville and the
Mountain Laurel-lined Pohopoco, where I fished as a kid.
here are many
threats facing the A&P watersheds. The Pohopoco is situated
in Monroe County - which ranges in rank from first to third
as one of the fastest growing counties in the state. The water
quality of the Pohopoco is generally very good, but the developmental
pressures of the Poconos are knocking on its door. The Aquaschicola
faces a different threat, and one that has impacted its waters
for many years. Previous processing of heavy metals at the
Zinc Corporation of America's smelter operation in Palmerton
resulted in zinc, cadmium, and lead settling upon the North
slope of the Blue Mountain, leaving the mountains barren and
the waters tarnished. This site is now an EPA superfund site,
and although the area is seeing a rebirth - the water quality
must continue to be monitored due to heavy lead levels in
the ground.
he A&P
Conservancy was formed less than a year ago, with its main
focus to educate the public about these unique and threatened
watersheds, and to engage their interest in protection efforts.
To celebrate Watershed Awareness Month, the group held its
first official community get-together, aimed at gaining support
along with introducing educational programs to residents of
the watersheds. Helped out by many, the group organized a
'get to know your macros' tour of the Pohopoco - which was
generously presented by Carl Meyer, a Resource Conservationist
with the Monroe County Conservation District, followed by
a 'wildflowers of the stream' tour offered by Darryl Speichler,
Watershed Specialist for Monroe County.
ith the birth
of this watershed group, I have high aspirations that the waterways,
where I fished as a kid, will remain pristine, and that those
which have been imperiled for years will continue to see a rebirth
within their banks. Please join me in welcoming the A&P
Watershed Conservancy to the ever-growing list of watershed-minded
advocates within Pennsylvania who not only lead by example,
but whose examples are making a real change in our environment |
