|
|
|
 |
Watch these videos online with Real Player. If you do
not have Real Player, click
here to download it for free.
Additional information on this topic provided below. |
|
Take a Walk... and Experience Your Watershed
By Kelly Meinhart, Producer
 et
out there and celebrate the diversity in your watershed by taking
a long walk on a beautiful day, or even on a not-so-beautiful
day, to experience the sights and sounds, investigate new paths,
and to take a closer look at everything around you.
|
 hen
talking about watersheds, most of us think of the rivers and
streams in our backyards; but watersheds are really much more
than that. Watersheds include all the trees, plants, rocks,
stones, and even the ground holding them all together. Watersheds
are everything that a drop of water touches or passes through
on its journey to a larger body of water. So when you’re
hiking in the woods behind your house, you’re really hiking
in your watershed.
 ay
is Watershed Awareness Month in Pennsylvania, a statewide initiative
that began last year to increase the public’s awareness
about watersheds. The theme of this year’s event is “Take
a Walk in Your Watershed” and watershed advocates are
encouraging everyone to get involved. Governor Ed Rendell officially
declared May as ‘Watershed Awareness Month,’ and
supports the month-long celebration of watershed festivals,
walks, clean-ups and much more. Both the Pennsylvania Senate
and House also support the initiative, and representatives from
both spoke at a rally held on May 1st at the State Capitol to
officially kick-off the festivities. Acting Secretary for the
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Kathleen McGinty
also spoke at the Capitol event in support of increased awareness
and protection of our watersheds.
|
| |
|
|
| Click on the photo
to enlarge it. |
|
|
 he
rally and month-long program was organized by a group of very
spirited and dedicated advocates for the environment, especially
for watersheds. Ed Wytovich and Ann Devine are the two leaders
of the planning committee, and two folks who have made it their
mission to make Watershed Awareness Month a success. Both are
extremely passionate about watershed protection, and it shows.
Ed is a Science teacher at Upper Dauphin Middle School where
he actively involves his students in watershed efforts and in
creating a voice for the environment. Some of Ed’s students
traveled to Harrisburg for the rally to support the initiative
and to be an integral part of the rally itself. Ed is also responsible
for remediating waters affected by abandoned mine drainage in
Schuylkill County. Ed’s motto:
" Take a walk
in your watershed and remember that famous word from the Dick
and
Jane books, LOOK!! And see that the land is connected to the
water and whatever
we do to the land we do to the water and also to ourselves."
 nn
is the Community and Watershed Liaison for the Susquehanna River
Basin Commission (SRBC), one of five river basin commissions
in the state who have been charged with monitoring and regulating
the withdrawals from these basins. Ann not only protects watersheds
through her position at SRBC but she also gets involved in monitoring
activities in her own watershed as well. Ann writes:
“I
really enjoy working as a ’watershed steward,’
because, not only am I working to improve the
environment, it's also such a meaningful activity. I especially
enjoy working with volunteer
organizations and youth groups as they collaborate to make
a difference within their own
watersheds and communities to improve and protect their water
resources.”
|
| |
|
|
| Click on the photo
to enlarge it. |
|
|
 d
and Ann are part of the highly successful initiative to improve
water quality in Pennsylvania that began with the Growing Greener
Grant program. Three years later, there are over 375 local,
volunteer watershed associations actively monitoring and restoring
Pennsylvania’s 100+ watersheds. These groups are essential
to protecting and improving the health of the over 83,000 stream
miles that traverse through Pennsylvania, and it’s many
of the same folks who are looking out for the land as well.
ay
is a great time of year to get outside for a walk to take a
look at all that surrounds you, and to think about how things
work together – or in some cases how they work against
each other. Take a look not only at the beautiful trees, wildflowers,
rivers and streams – but also at how we have altered nature
for our own benefits. Changes that have been made in the name
of advancement don’t always seem to be the best answer;
for instance, take notice of the number of parking lots and
sidewalks in your own neighborhood. Take the time to consider
how paving over the ground affects rain water, and it’s
ability to get back into the ground. And how does that affect
us in the long run?
atershed
Awareness Month is not only a month for bringing awareness to
our daily lives, but it is also a time for education and celebration.
Watershed and conservation organizations across the state are
hosting a variety of events and programs to involve the community
and to educate both children and adults. So join the wave and
learn more about your own backyard – your watershed.
|
| |
|
|
| Click on the photo
to enlarge it. |
|
|
For more information about Watershed Awareness Month and activities
planned across the state, check out the following websites:
Susquehanna River
Basin Commission
Pennsylvania
Center for Environmental Education Calendar of Events
|
|
|
|
