Lehigh Valley Watershed Flow

Upcoming Events and Current Happenings to Share

November 2, 2022

Bushkill Stream Conservancy

Planted 200 saplings and 30 shrubs and larger trees.
Discussed our future direction of the BSC goals. The education and outreach committee has a date set for meeting.
Discussed officers and potential board members for 2023.
Discussed possible new meeting place. Will try meeting room at Tony’s Pizza for November.

Cook’s Creek Watershed Association *

Martins Jacoby Watershed Association

Working on stream monitoring plans
Ongoing conversation on pending developments and land acquisitions
Provided comments to the DRBC on the Portland Water Authority’s water withdrawal request.
Upper Mount Bethel Preserve – there are meetings scheduled on passive and active recreation use of the fen site.
Minsi Lake Greenway Corridor and Stewardship Plan is in final draft

Monocacy Creek Watershed Association

Continuing to make progress on creating the Gertrude Fox Conservation Area trail, with the addition this week of the trailhead “ramp” and the planting of the 35+ WCLV native perennials along the overlook. Signage should be delivered and installed in the next couple weeks.
Participated in the Monocacy Farm Food Festival on October 16, getting contact info from 10 new Monocacy Creek fans as a bonus.
Beginning the planning stages of a live stake nursery at the Farm.

Fry’s Run Watershed Association

Bertsch Hokendauqua Catasauqua Watershed Association

BHCWA hosted an open discussion on combating warehouses, which many present were able to attend! A lot of good talk was had and some action plans were made, but most importantly an open line of communication was established between the various municipalities to help us tie our efforts together.

A TapTalk is being held in the BHCWA watershed at Blocker’s Coffee House in Catasauqua! On November 17th Zachary Rudd from the PA Fish and Boat Commission will be speaking at 6 o’clock. The cafe is opening up just for us so come enjoy a cup while listening to a great presentation!

Saucon Creek Watershed Association

Completed October Projects

Future Projects

Northampton County Parks

Recent accomplishments

Planted 7 acres of former crop field in native warm season grass & wildflower seeds at Wayne Grube Park.
Prepared four 100 square meter experimental agroforestry plots at Wayne Grube Park & planted one of them; the other three will be planted yet this fall.
Submitted DCNR Grant App for recreational & infrastructural improvements at Minsi Lake Park.
Removed, cleaned & stored indoors for the winter, 72 Purple Martin nesting gourds from four gourd towers at Louise Moore & Minsi Lake Parks—each tower supports 18 gourds.
Began 3^rd year of autumn treatment (spraying, girdling & removing) of invasive understory shrubs in Matson’s Woods—a 6-acre old growth woodland at Louise Moore Park.

Plans

1^st year in a 2-year plan of contract spraying Phragmites on Minsi Lake later this fall: postponed to next year due to early frost kill.
2^nd year in an ongoing plan to spray cut Japanese knotweed this month in the Minsi Lake Greenway with parks staff: postponed to next year due to early frost kill.
Had to postpone spraying Japanese knotweed at Fry’s Run Park due to early frost kill.
Cut down trees & shrubs along nearly 2000 linear feet of stone rows in 3 meadows at Totts Gap Conservation Area in order to expand nesting habitat for Bobolinks & Eastern Meadowlarks; secured quote for tree removal.

Events

3^rd Annual Northampton County Festival was successfully held at Louise Moore Park on 10/08
Wildlands Conservancy delivered 4 outdoor recreation & environmental education programs for NorCo Park.

MWS Program

Recent Activities

9/30 Installation of Pollinator Garden/Demo Meadow in Upper Nazareth
10/16 Successful Paddle and Pizza at Lake Nock with LL Bean
10/18 MWS, MG, & 4-H had a display at the LV Greenways Open House at Jacobsburg State Park highlighting Future Master Watershed Steward Programming
10/20-21 Sorted and delivered the MWS Annual Native Tree and Shrub Sale
10/20 Homeowners Guide for Stormwater program in partnership with Lehigh County Conservation District and Lehigh County Authority
10/21 Assisted Master Gardeners install the Native Shrub Demo Garden at the Lehigh Extension Office
10/24

Upcoming Activities/Events

Hiring new Master Gardener Extension Educator – at offer stage.
11/7 – 9AM Coffee with the Coordinator
11/17 – TapTalk: PA Fish and Boat, Zach Rudd, Blockers Coffee House in Catasauqua, PA
Brad is working on a DEP Environmental Education Grant for Youth Environmental Education Programming – Rain to Drain, Watershed Decisions, and Future Master Watershed Steward Programs.
Planning MWS 10 Year Celebratory trip to Chincoteague Bay Field Station with MWS Charlie Kopcho

Aquashicola Pohopoco Watershed Conservancy

Tobyhanna Creek Tunkhannock Creek Watershed Association

Updates

Warnerstowns Falls Hike went well on 10/22 with some new faces attending
TCTCWA will be expanding the Tunkhannock Creek sensor network in mid-November. In the process, Geoff will be attending a Stroud workshop to learn how to assemble and program a remote sensor from scratch.

Little Lehigh WS

Wildlands

Wildlands has many public education events upcoming: https://www.wildlandspa.org/events/