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Clean Water Institute |
The Clean Water Institute (CWI) will
provide a forum, a unique link, to the natural resource heritage of
North Central Pennsylvania, The West Branch of the Susquehanna River
and major tributaries (including, but not limited to, Pine,
Loyalsock, Lycoming and Muncy Creeks). The goals of the CWI are to
provide:
- SERVICE to local watershed
and environmental groups by developing and coordinating internships
and independent study projects where Lycoming College students can
assist in data collection and analysis of watershed projects.
- EDUCATION and training
programs, seminars and workshops on environmental issues, stream
restoration, habitat improvement and water quality will be offered
to watershed groups, schools and other public forums. An archive of
historical water quality data will be assembled and updated with
information from ongoing projects and made available to the public.
- ANALYSIS by our water
testing laboratory will provide watershed groups with technical
assistance in design, collection and interpretation of water
chemistry, macroinvertebrate, plankton and fish data.
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CWI Established Through State Grant |
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The scenic banks of the Loyalsock Creek
in Montoursville are the site of a Susquehanna River study by
Lycoming College's Clean Water Institute. Funded by a $20,500
Growing Greener grant, this project brings a Pennsylvania community
together to solve its environmental problems.
"This grant is making possible our
study of 75 miles of the West Branch Susquehanna River and its
major tributaries," said Lycoming College Biology Department
Chair Dr. Mel Zimmerman. "The data will be made available to the
public and the institute will assist townships, watershed groups
and others trying to obtain and interpret water-quality
information."
This study will help set a
baseline for the health of the watershed, and will be a useful
tool to monitor the watershed's health in the future. The
Institute will collect and assess historical water quality,
bottom-dwelling aquatic insects and fish data from the lower
West branch Susquehanna River as well as Pine, Lycoming,
Loyalsock and Muncy creeks. Periodic reports will be
issued and workshops conducted for the general public during the
course of the two-year study.
Dr. Zimmerman envisions community
involvement to identify areas along the river where
opportunities for maintaining and improving the river exist.
Taking advantage of the resources available, Dr. Zimmerman is
working toward the restoration and protection of Pennsylvania's
environment.
The project also compliments the
efforts of the Northeast Pennsylvania Conservancy to develop a
River Conservation Plan for a 75-mile segment of the lower West
Branch. The plan will result in the identification of "special
places" along the river, desired recreational activities, needed
improvements and other opportunities for maintaining and
improving the river.
During the first round of "Growing
Greener" grants, DEP awarded nearly $5 million to watershed
organizations, local governments and educational institutions in
Northcentral Pennsylvania.
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CWI Contributiuons
Recognized by DEP Secretary David Hess |
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CWI students
recognized by Secretary Hess.
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