|
Enviro. Science:
Home
Courses
Faculty
Student
Experiences
Picture
Gallery
L.E.A.F.
Clean
Water Institute
Biology
Department
Contact
Us
CWI Resources:
Department
Home Page
Environ.
Sci. Home
CWI
Home
About
CWI
CWI
News
CWI
Services
CWI
Projects
CWI
Reports
CWI
Staff
Contact
CWI
External
Links
Keystone
Stream Team
CWI
Logo
CWI
Poster
SRHCES
|
|
Clean Water Institute News
|
|
H.S.
Student Conducts Research at Lycoming College |
Posted:
Apr 8, 2008 |
|
Vanessa Pizutelli, a senior at Colonia High School,
Colonia, NJ, conducted research on the Eastern
Hellbender Salamander with the assistance of Dr.
Peter Petokas while visiting Lycoming College in the
fall of 2007. Her project, entitled "Evidence of
Saprolegnia Growth Suppression in Cryptobranchus
alleganiensis Mucoid Secretions" recently won
Second Place at the NJ Regional Science Fair and
Honorable Mention at the Monmouth University Junior
Science Symposium. Vanessa has been invited to
participate at the National Junior Science and
Humanities Symposium in Orlando, Florida, and will
attend Cornell University following graduation. |
|
Faculty
and Students Attend the PA Academy of Sciences |
Posted:
Apr 7, 2008 |
|
Dr. Mel Zimmerman
and Dr. Peter Petokas, and undergraduates Brent Hile
('09), Nicole Rhodes ('08), and Jen Yuda ('08)
attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences Annual
Meetings held April 4-5, 2008, in Grantville, PA.
Jen Yuda presented a paper during the Aquatic
Ecology session chaired by Dr. Zimmerman.
Brent Hile, Nicole Rhodes, and Dr. Petokas gave
poster presentations on their research projects.
The meetings were also attended by Dr. Mary
Morrison, and undergraduates Peter Via and Ashley
Campbell. |
|
Zimmerman & Petokas at Lehigh Valley Conference |
Posted:
Mar 31, 2008 |
|
Dr. Mel Zimmerman
and Dr. Peter Petokas were invited speakers at the
Lehigh Valley Watershed Conference held in
Fogelsville, PA, on March 28, 2008.
Their presentation was entitled Stream
Restoration Past, Present, and Future - In Search of
the Silver Bullet. |
|
Zimmerman Invited Speaker at Lycoming County Banquet |
Posted:
Mar 27, 2008 |
|
Dr. Mel Zimmerman was the
invited speaker at the 48th Annual Lycoming County
Conservation Awards Banquet held in Pennsdale, PA,
on March 25, 2008.. His presentation was
entitled The Susquehanna River Watershed: The
Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. |
|
CWI
Awarded an IMC/KIZ Business Development Grant |
Posted:
March 1, 2008 |
|
Dr.
Zimmerman and the Clean Water Institute have also
been awarded (March 2008) a second $5,000 grant from
IMC/KIZ - Center for Business and Workforce
Development to work with Cromaglass Corporation
of Williamsport (a manufacturer of wastewater
treatment systems) to test a new process for
improved nitrogen and sediment removal. Funds
will be used to support supplies and a student
intern during the summer. |
|
Zimmerman & Petokas at Keystone Coldwater Conference |
Posted:
Feb 25, 2008 |
|
Dr. Mel
Zimmerman and Dr. Peter Petokas participated in the
Keystone Coldwater Conference held on February
22-23, 2008, at the PennStater Conference Center in
State College, PA. Dr. Zimmerman presented a
three-hour Headwater Taxonomy and Field
Identification of Macroinvertebrates workshop
and they both presented a posters on the Keystone
Stream Team and Hellbender Research projects. |
|
Dr. Mel
Zimmerman Interviewed on Global Warming Issue |
Posted:
Jan 4, 2008 |
The Williamsport
Sun-Gazette published an interview with Clean Water
Institute director Mel Zimmerman on the issue of
Global Warming on Monday, December 31, 2007.
Dr. Zimmerman stressed that although the trends are
alarming, we can't be sure that humans are the
primary cause or that the weather and climate
changes are not a natural phenomenon. Read the
full text of the article here.......
Sun-Gazette Article |
|
Dr. Mel
Zimmerman Studies Tropical Ecology in Belize |
Posted:
Nov 5, 2007 |
|
From
October 28 to November 3, 2007, Dr. Mel Zimmerman
was one of 11 College faculty to participate in a
workshop held in Belize on "Teaching Tropical
Field Biology in Central America." The
workshop was funded and organized by Dr Eugene
Kaplan, Distinguished Professor of Conservation and
Ecology, Hofstra University. Participants
spent three days at the Cottentree Lodge Field
Station ( outside Punta Gorda) to study tropical
forest ecology and three days at the Marine TREC
field station on San Pedro Key. Please use
this link to view photos...
http://www.lycoming.edu/biologydept/zimmerman/zimmbelize.html |
|
Hellbender Research Featured in Wilkes-Barre Paper |
Posted:
Sep 17, 2007 |
|
On Sunday, September 16th,
the Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader ran two feature
articles on Hellbender salamander research being
conducted by Dr. Peter Petokas and student interns
from Lycoming College Clean water Institute.
The outdoor writer for the paper, Mr. Tom Venesky,
spent a day with Dr. Petokas on Lycoming Creek to
experience what it takes to catch and tag the giant
salamanders. |
|
Japanese Students and Teacher Visit Lycoming |
Posted:
Jul 20, 2007 |
|
On Monday July 9th,
two Japanese High School students (Shinya Bouta and
Masato Nitta) and one Japanese teacher (Tatsumi
Morita) arrived from Hiroshima, Japan to
Williamsport, PA. These students were on Fulbright
scholarship to present their research on the DNA
sequence comparison of the Japanese, Chinese, and
American giant salamanders.
Their week was a busy
one. They spent Tuesday morning touring Lycoming
College’s campus. The afternoon consisted of
sharing information and current research between
Lycoming College students and the Japanese
students. Shinya and Masato from Super Science High
School (SSH), Hiroshima presented their work on the
Giant Japanese salamander and the DNA sequences
found. Dr. Peter Petokas and Arianna Brawn
presented their work on the Eastern Hellbender.
Since the Giant Japanese salamander is endangered in
Japan, these students had little experience with
handling these creatures, so on Wednesday the
students and teacher spent an entire day out in the
field. They snorkeled and waded, flipped rocks,
hand captured, and helped collect data on Hellbender
salamanders (something they were not used to).
Thursday and Friday was spent touring Williamsport
where they visited the Little League Museum,
Reptiland, cruised on the Hiawatha, and ate at local
restaurants.
View
pictures from their visit. |
|
Summer 2007 Interns and Projects |
Posted:
July 20, 2007 |
|
It is summertime once again and
the Lycoming College's Clean Water Institute interns
are busy. They have been trained and are
currently working on their individual projects
assigned by Clean Water Institute director, Dr. Mel
Zimmerman. These projects include:
1. Monitoring
stream sites along Lycoming Creek including stream
restoration near Roaring Branch and continued AMD
analysis in watershed.
2. River monitoring along a 75 mile stretch of
the West Branch of the Susquehanna between Lock
Haven and Sunbury.
3. Second year evaluation of
the Riparian Buffer Project at the
PP&L Montour Preserve along Chillisquaque Creek.
Interns will also look at plant survival rates of
these plants along he creek.
4. Small mammal trapping
survey to look at species diversity of the Riparian
Buffer Project at PP&L Montour Preserve along
Chillisquaque Creek. Dr. Dave Broussard and a
few interns helped with this project.
Pictures
5. Monitoring along Mill Creek and Rose Valley
Lake.
6. Monitoring study on Eagles
Mere.
7. Sixth year follow-up study
of the Big Bear Creek Stream
Restoration Project including an evaluation of the
tributaries for impact of acid precipitation.
8. Working with Susquehanna River Heartland
Coalition for Environmental Studies (SRHCES) to develop a
technical advisory group of college faculty and
interns to assist watershed groups.
9. Second year monitoring of
Eastern Hellbender populations in tributaries of the
West Branch of the Susquehanna.
10. Working with Cromaglass Corp. to test
efficiency of one of their SBR sewage treatment
systems.
Cromaglass Website
11. Developing a State of the
Heartland Report Card for the Susquehanna River with
SRHCES.
12. Continued data entry of
water quality parameters in POWR
Funding: This years projects are supported by
grants from Degenstein Foundation, PA Fish and Boat
Commission, Growing Greener Grants to Lycoming
College CWI (with partners from SRHCES), and a
Growing Greener Grant to Lycoming Creek Watershed
Association.
The students working on these various projects
include: Arianna Brawn
(Portsmouth, NH), Kate Olsen (Muncy,
PA), Michelle Taylor
(Montoursville, PA),
Brent Hile (Linden, PA), Jen Stinner (Bangor, PA),
Brittany Barto (Hugesville, PA), and Tapuwa Munjoma
(Baltimore, MD).
|
|
Roundtable Discussion |
Posted:
July 10, 2007 |
Dr. Mel Zimmerman
can be heard as one of eight panel discussion
members of the West Branch Susquehanna River
Restoration Coalition being interviewed for an
hour segment of "Boroughs to the Bay and Beyond" - a
Roundtable discussion on Sunday July 15th being
played on 6 sister stations of Sunbury Broadcasting.
After the segment airs, it can be heard again from
the archives of the Roundtable series on
http://www.WKOK.com.
|
|
3rd Hellbender
Symposium |
Posted:
June 14, 2007 |
|
From June 10th to June 13th,
Dr. Peter Petokas,
as well as two students:
Brent Hile and
Arianna Brawn, spent the days discussing
Hellbenders at the 3rd Hellbender
Symposium held at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling,
WV. The first day of the conference was spent
out in the streams in search of Hellbenders.
Most groups found between 7 and 9 Hellbenders at
each stream site. The second day of the
conference was spent presenting papers on current
research, results, and future work. Brawn
presented 1 paper (the only undergraduate to
present) and Petokas presented 3 papers at the
symposium.
|
|
Exploring Roatan |
Posted:
June 14, 2007 |
|
This year’s (2007) Tropical Marine Biology (BIO 329)
May term course included a weeklong field trip to
the Roatan Institute for Marine Science,
located in Bay Islands, Honduras. The reefs around
Roatan are part of the Meso-American reef (the
second largest barrier reef system in the world).
You can view the
poster of the trip or visit the blog at
http://hondurasmay.blogspot.com
|
|
A Day
at Indian Park |
Posted:
June 14, 2007 |
On Friday May 25th, 2007,
Dr. Mel Zimmerman
and Clean Water Institute Interns -
Arianna Brawn,
Kate Olsen,
Amber Rock,
and Nicole Rhodes,
participated for the 6th year in the
Montoursville Ground Water Education
at Indian Park in Montoursville. This program
involved four classes of 4th grade
students from Lyter Elementary and four classes from
Loyalsock Valley Elementary schools. The students
spent the day rotating between programs on water
testing and drinking water by Montoursville Borough
staff, watersheds by DEP staff, ground water
simulation by staff from Larson Design, and aquatic
life of Nicely Pond and local streams by Lycoming
Clean Water Institute (CWI) staff. CWI, with the
help of Carey Entz—
Lycoming Co. Watershed specialist and Lycoming
College alumni— demonstrated fish collection and
identification with a seine, aquatic macro
invertebrate identification, and some biology of
some local amphibians, including the Hellbender
salamander and other reptiles.
View pictures |
|
Dr.
Petokas Presents to R. B. Winter Trout Unlimited |
Posted:
April 21, 2007 |
Dr. Peter Petokas
gave a presentation to the
R. B. Winter Trout Unlimited
group
in Lewisburg, PA, on Wednesday, April 18, 2007. His
presentation was entitled "Kiss
a Hellbender and Free a Prince," and Other
Hellbender Tales
and included live
Hellbender salamanders for a hands-on experience
with the giant creatures. On Wednesday, April 11,
2007, Dr. Petokas gave a presentation at PP&L's
Montour Preserve in
Washingtonville, PA. His presentation was entitled
In Search of Pennsylvania's Loch Ness Monster:
The Eastern Hellbender. Biology faculty
member Dave Broussard
assisted with the presentation.
|
|
Lyco
Places First in PA in Seventh Annual RecycleMania |
Posted:
April 17, 2007 |
Lycoming College
students, faculty and staff placed first in the
state and 11th in the nation [in Targeted
Material-Bottles and Cans] in the Seventh Annual
RecycleMania competition. Final results show that
Lycoming College recycled an average of 11 lbs of
materials per student during the ten-week
competition that concluded last week. This
year a record number of 201 colleges and
universities competed in RecycleMania in the nation,
including 11 higher education institutions from
Pennsylvania.
|
|
CWI
Students and L.E.A.F. Assist with Park Cleanup |
Posted:
April 8, 2007 |
On March 31st,
2007, about 30 volunteers labored through brambles,
fallen branches and poison ivy to clean up about a
quarter-mile stretch of woods and wetlands in
Susquehanna State Park off Reach Road in
Williamsport. Five students from Lycoming
College also participated:
Kathryn Stoufer,
Gary Sherman,
Jennie Yuda,
Melissa Spink
and Jordan Greene.
They were members of the college’s organization
called L.E.A.F. (Lycoming Environmental Awareness
Foundation), a club “dedicated to the promotion of
environmental awareness within Lycoming College and
the community through the use of educational
programs, local field activities and outdoor
recreation.”
L.E.A.F. Website
Williamsport Sun-Gazette Article
|
|
Dr.Mel
Zimmerman and CWI Interns Attend PAS 2007 |
Posted:
April 4, 2007 |
Dr. Mel Zimmerman
and CWI interns
Arianna Brawn,
Neihl Williamson,
Lindsey Postaski,
Chris Dempsey,
and
Nicole Rhodes
attended the Annual Meetings of the
Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences
in Pittsburgh, PA, on March 31-April 1, 2007.
Dr. Zimmerman presented a paper on
Use of an On-site Sequencing Batch Reactor to
Satisfy a Total Nitrogen Discharge Limit;
Neihl Williamson presented a poster entitled
Population
Structure and Habitat Preferences of the Eastern
Hellbender;
Arianna Brawn
presented a poster entitled
Physical Abnormalities in the
the Eastern Hellbender; Chris Dempsey
presented a paper entitled
Vegetation
Analysis and Population Study of the White Tailed
Deer at PPL Montour Preserve Montour County, PA;
and Lindsey Postaski and Nicole Rhodes presented a poster entitled
Water Quality Assessment of the Lower West Branch of
the Susquehanna River.
Photos from
the 2007 PAS Annual Meeting
|
|
Dr.
Petokas Presents at Kettle Creek Outdoor Show |
Posted:
April 2, 2007 |
Dr. Peter Petokas
gave a presentation at the
Kettle Creek Valley Outdoor Show
in Cross Fork, PA, on Saturday, March 31, 2007. His
presentation was entitled
The Hellbender
Salamanders of Pennsylvania and their History in the
Kettle Creek Watershed and included live
Hellbender salamanders for a hands-on experience
with the giant creatures. On Sunday, April 1, 2007,
Dr. Petokas gave a presentation to the
Keystone Divers group
in McElhattan, PA. His presentation was entitled
Hellbender Tales: Observations of an Underwater
Naturalist. CWI intern
Christine Hensler
assisted with the presentations.
Kettle Creek Valley Outdoor Show
|
|
Dr.
Petokas Meets With Japanese Exchange Students |
Posted:
March 27, 2007 |
Dr. Peter Petokas
met with Japanese exchange
students on March 27, 2007, at
Bergen County Technical School
in Hackensack, New Jersey. Funded by a
Fulbright
award, the high school students and their teachers
are here to participate in molecular DNA studies of
the relationship between the Japanese Giant
Salamander and the North American Hellbender
salamander. Dr. Petokas gave a PowerPoint
presentation that was translated into Japanese by
one of the visiting exchange students. Since
none of the students from the U.S. or Japan had
actually seen a Hellbender salamander, Dr. Petokas
brought two live hellbenders along for a "hands-on"
experience.
Photos of
Dr. Petokas with Japanese Students
|
|
Dr.
Petokas Attends Expedition Susquehanna Premiere |
Posted:
March 24, 2007 |
Dr. Peter Petokas
attended the Pennsylvania
Educator-of-the-Year award ceremony, reunion of
Expedition Susquehanna
students, and the premiere of the new documentary
"Expedition Susquehanna" on March 24, 2007, at the
C. Ted Lick Wildwood Conference Center in
Harrisburg, PA.
Dr. Petokas
and
Dr. Mel
Zimmerman
are both featured in the documentary which
will premiere on Pennsylvania public broadcasting
stations, including WVIA, on April 19, 2007.
Photos of
Expedition Susquehanna Students on Loyalsock Creek
Expedition Susquehanna Website
|
|
CWI at
PA-TWS Annual Spring Conference |
Posted:
March 20, 2007 |
Dr. Peter Petokas
and CWI interns
Arianna Brawn,
Neihl Williamson, and
Kevin Arvai
attended the
Pennsylvania Chapter of the Wildlife Society, 2007
Annual Spring Conference and Workshop
held in State College, PA, on March 17, 2007.
Dr. Petokas and interns Brawn and Williamson
presented papers on research projects with the
Eastern Hellbender salamander.
Conference Abstracts and Photos
Pennsylvania Chapter of the Wildlife Society
|
|
CWI has
Chapter in New CUR Publication |
Posted:
February 21, 2007 |
Dr. Mel Zimmerman
has a chapter entitled "The Clean
Water Institute at Lycoming College" published in
Developing and Sustaining a Research-Supportive
Curriculum: A Compendium of Successful Practices
edited by K. K. Karukstis and T. E. Elgren and
published by the
Council on
Undergraduate Research
(CUR).
Authors across
disciplines and from a variety of types of
institutions have contributed over 30 chapters and
50 "highlights" describing curricular approaches,
methods and techniques developed for their courses
and programs of study to enhance the research
experience of students and the research culture of
their institutions.
CUR Publications
|
|
Mel
Zimmerman Takes-the-Helm on POWR Board |
Posted:
February 18, 2007 |
Dr. Mel Zimmerman was
elected Chairman-of-the-Board of the
Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers
(POWR). POWR has an office staff of four in
Harrisburg, PA, and is a non-profit organization
that advocates for the protection, restoration and
enjoyment of water resources in the Commonwealth and
conducts programs that foster stewardship,
communication and leadership. POWR maintains a
statewide watershed data base, provides liability
and legal support to watershed groups, and
coordinates the PA River Sojourns. Dr. Zimmerman has
served as vice-chair of the POWR board for the past
two years.
Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers
|
|
Upcoming West
Branch Restoration Symposium III |
Posted:
February 12,
2007 |
The third annual
West Branch
Susquehanna Restoration Symposium
will be held Friday and Saturday, April 27 & 28,
2007, at the
Genetti Hotel, Williamsport, PA.
The purpose of the symposium is to promote the West
Branch Susquehanna Restoration Initiative, which is
aimed at the cleanup of abandoned mine drainage
(AMD) throughout the West Branch Susquehanna
watershed. For details on the symposium and
travel directions, please download the symposium
registration brochure......
Restoration Symposium III Registration Brochure
|
|
Zimmerman Interviewed On AMD Issue |
Posted:
February 7,
2007 |
Amy Wolfe with Trout
Unlimited recently spoke on the West
Branch Susquehanna Restoration Initiative to the Lycoming County Audubon Society.
Her presentation described abatement and remediation
projects on tributaries of the Susquehanna River and
the need for additional funding to mitigate acid
mine discharge.
Following
the presentation, a Sun-Gazette reporter interviewed
Dr. Mel Zimmerman. Details of the interview
can be read in the online Sun-Gazette article.....
Acid
mine drainage efforts continue on West Branch of
Susquehanna |
|
Keystone Stream Team -- In The News! |
Posted:
January 22,
2007 |
Keystone Stream Team accomplishments and ongoing
projects are highlighted in the current issue of
PA Environmental Digest. Dr. Mel Zimmerman
is the current chairman of the Keystone Stream Team
and Dr. Peter Petokas is the webmaster and project
coordinator. Click here to read
the article......
Keystone
Stream Team Completes More Projects |
|
Colleges of Distinction Recognizes CWI |
Posted:
January 17,
2007 |
The Lycoming College
Clean Water Institute is featured in the current
issue of "Colleges
of Distinction". CWI's three recent
Growing Greener awards are highlighted in the
electronic newsletter.
Click here to read
the article........
Colleges
of Distinction Recognizes Lycoming |
|
Recent Hellbender Presentations |
Posted:
December 22,
2006 |
Dr. Peter Petokas, Research Associate in the Clean
Water Institute, recently made several public
presentations on his study of the Ecology and Status
of the Eastern Hellbender Salamander in
North-Central Pennsylvania. Peter spoke at the
North Pennsylvania Conservancy banquet in Lock
Haven, PA on October 23, 2006, at the Pennsylvania
Biological Survey Amphibian and Reptile Technical
Committee meeting in Harrisburg, PA on October 24,
2006, at the Warrensville Area Lions Club meeting in
Warrensville, PA on November 7, 2006, the Lyceum
Group meeting in Johnson City, NY on November 8,
2006, and at the Northern Appalachian Research Lab
in Wellsboro, PA on December 21, 2006. Peter took live Hellbender salamanders with
him to his presentations and was also accompanied by
his summer interns, Arianna Brawn and Neihl Williamson.
List of Hellbender Presentations
|
|
Several
New Grants Awarded to CWI |
Posted: November 29,
2006 |
Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced a $27
million investment to clean up streams and rivers,
address serious environmental problems at abandoned
mine sites and revitalize communities across the
state. The money will finance 153 projects through
Pennsylvania's traditional Growing Greener Program
and the voter-approved Growing Greener II bond
initiative. Lycoming College's
Clean Water Institute
received three
Growing Greener awards to provide: 1) support
for the
Keystone Stream Team website and stream
restoration initiatives, 2) support a technical
assistance system for watershed groups in the West
Branch of the Susquehanna River, and 3) startup
costs for the Rose Valley/Mill Creek Watershed
Association. Please visit the
Lycoming College News webpage for more
information......
Lycoming College News |
|
CWI
Data Input to POWR Database - Summer 2006 |
Posted: September 26,
2006 |
As of August 2006, Lycoming College Clean Water
Institute has entered data into the POWR database
for 16 watersheds, 149 sites, on 708 days with 6,464
total data entries for chemical or physical
parameters. Data was submitted for the sites
that were collected summer of 2006, along with all
past data of which the Clean Water Institute keeps
hard copies on file. CWI interns entered data
site by site, and it is now available as a web
resource for participating members of the PA
Watershed Data System.
List of Watershed and Monitoring Sites |
|
From
the Branches to the Confluences Conference |
Posted: September 26,
2006 |
|
On September 23, 2006, Dr. Peter Petokas, Dr. Mel
Zimmerman, and Arianna Brawn (members of the
Lycoming College Clean Water Institute) attended the
From the Branches to the Confluence: The Upper
Susquehanna River Basin and its Communities
conference held at Bucknell University. The
morning speaker was Will Baker, the president of the
Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the lunch speaker was
Ann Swanson, the executive director of the
Chesapeake Bay Commission. A poster session
followed the forums. Posters by various
organizations and students' research were on
display.
Agenda
PA Environmental Digest Summary of Conference
Compiled Abstracts of Speakers
Sun Gazette Article about Conference |
|
Kayak Trip Down the Mighty Susquehanna |
Posted: September 11, 2006 |
|
On Saturday Sept 9, 2006 a group of 17 (students and
faculty) from Lycoming College participated in a
LEAF (Lycoming Environmental Awareness Foundation)
Kayak trip (7 miles along the West Branch of
Susquehanna River starting in Montgomery and ending
in Watsontown) as part of the North Central PA
Conservancy River Awareness Program. Kayaks and
instruction were provided by Canoe Susquehanna
outfitters (www.paddlehappy.com).
Pictures
More pictures |
|
Roatan: Marine Biology Trip |
Posted: August 29, 2006 |
|
Dr. Zimmerman completed a 40 hour workshop (August
11-19, 2006) in Tropical Marine Ecology at the
Roatan Institute for Marine Science (RIMS) at
Anthony's Key, Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras,
Central America. The workshop participants
included high school teachers and faculty from SUNY
Buffalo, SUNY Fredonia and the Niagara Falls
Aquarium and was co-sponsored by COSEE (Center for
Ocean Science Educational Excellence) - Great Lakes.
Link to
Blog
Poster
Pictures
Dr. Zimmerman is planning a May 2007 course trip
for Lycoming College Students. Information may
be obtained concerning the trip at the following
links:
May Term 2007 Itinerary and Expenses
Passport Application |
|
2006 Summer Summary |
Posted: August 2,
2006 |
|
Two new interns have joined the CWI team: Tanya Fry
(Hugesville, PA) and Nicole Rhodes (Julian, PA).
Summer is winding down and the interns are in their
last few weeks of their internship. Their
summer progress can be viewed in the following
poster. |
|
Keystone College Workshop |
Posted: August 2,
2006 |
|
On July 20th - Dr. Mel Zimmerman and CWI intern
Lindsey Postaski ran a morning workshop for 30 high
school aged students at the Woodland Resources
Adventure Camp held at Keystone College. This
years theme was "A Focus on Everything Wet" and ran
for 5 days with various programs coordinated by the
Endless Mountains RC&D. After a general
introduction to the collection of aquatic
invertebrates and fish, during the CWI workshop,
students collected and identified macroinvertebrates
and also collected fish with an electro-fishing
unit.
Pictures from the workshop |
|
Hellbender Article |
Posted: August 1,
2006 |
|
Dr. Peter Petokas and his interns (Neihl Williamson
and Arianna Brawn) were featured in an article
published in the Williamsport Sun Gazette on July
23, 2006. The article outlined their
Hellbender summer research, what they hope to
accomplish in their study, and what they have
already found concerning the Hellbender populations.
Read full article here |
|
River Clean-Up |
Posted: August 1,
2006 |
|
On Saturday July 29th, members of the Lycoming
College Clean Water Institute ( Dr. Mel Zimmerman,
Arianna Brawn, Lindsey Postaski, Michelle Taylor,
Neihl Williamson and Alex Tankeloff) participated in
a Susquehanna River clean-up in an area 5 miles
north of Lock Haven, PA. The clean-up was organized
by the Clinton County CleanScapes and PA Clean Ways.
Almost 100 volunteers participated including scuba
divers, kayakers, and road crews. The combined
efforts of 94 volunteers removed 0.74 tons (1,554
lbs.) of trash including 234 tires and one bowling
pin collected
Lindsey -- see attached photos.
Pictures
from the Clean-Up |
|
Summer 2006 Interns and Projects |
Posted: June 14,
2006 |
|
It is summertime once again and the interns are
busy. They have been trained and are currently
working on their individual projects assigned by
Clean Water Institute director, Dr. Mel Zimmerman.
A new project to this organization includes a
Hellbender Research project run by Dr. Peter
Petokas. These projects include:
1. Monitoring
stream sites along Lycoming Creek including stream
restoration near Roaring Branch and continued AMD
analysis in watershed.
Monitoring Program
2. River monitoring along a 75 mile stretch of
the West Branch of the Susquehanna between Lock
Haven and Sunbury.
3. Monitoring of a Riparian Buffer Project at the
PP&L Montour Preserve.
Riparian Buffer
Workshop
4. Monitoring along Mill Creek and Rose Valley
Lake.
5. Monitoring study on Lakes Makoma and Eagles
Mere.
6. Monitoring along Big Bear Creek Stream
Restoration Project.
7. Farm soil survey at farms selected by Endless
Mountain RC&D.
8. Working with Susquehanna River Heartland
Coalition for Environmental Studies (SRHCES) to develop a
technical advisory group of college faculty and
interns to assist watershed groups.
9. Continued support on projects along Buffalo
Creek, Blackhole Creek, Pine Creek, Muncy Creek, and
Loyalsock Creek.
10. Continued GPS location of dry hydrants for
Endless Mountain RC&D.
11. Monitoring of Eastern Hellbender populations
in streams. Pictures
12. Working with Cromaglass Corp. to test
efficiency of one of their SBR sewage treatment
systems.
Cromaglass Website
Funding: This years projects are supported by
grants from Degenstein Foundation, PA Fish and Boat
Commission, Growing Greener Grants to Lycoming
College CWI (with partners from SRHCES), and a
Growing Greener Grant to Lycoming Creek Watershed
Association.
The students working on these various projects
include: Arianna Brawn (Portsmouth, NH),
Alex
Collins (Loyalsock, PA),
Tyler Machamer
(Williamsport, PA),
Brittane Miller (Turbotville,
PA), Kate Olsen (Muncy, PA),
Lindsey Postaski
(Milford, PA), Michelle Taylor
(Montoursville, PA),
and Neihl Williamson (Jersey Shore, PA).
Lycoming College Media Summary
|
|
Barn Owl Banding |
Posted: June 29,
2006 |
On June 28, 2006 CWI interns (Kate Olsen and
Michelle Taylor) took part in banding
Barn Owls near Turbotville, PA in Northumberland
county coordinated by PA Game Commission.
Wayne Laubscher, from the PA Game Commission, ran
the banding of these owls. The PA Game
Commission has listed the Barn Owl as a "priority
specie" due to their decline in populations,
degradation of their habitats, and less prey.
Pictures
PA Game
Commission Website
Species of Concern List |
|
Expedition Susquehanna Makes a Side Trip to
Loyalsock Creek |
Posted: June 26,
2006 |
|
Expedition Susquehanna is a program, put on by the
Chesapeake Bay Foundation, that allows 12 high
school students (from MD, NY, and PA) to travel down
the Susquehanna River. They begin in NY and
end at the Chesapeake Bay. By the end, the
students will have canoed for 30 days covering over
400 miles of the pristine areas as well as the
polluted areas of the Susquehanna River. Their
days consist of canoeing as well as talking with
citizens about restoration efforts and various
educational programs. On June 22, Lycoming College
CWI faculty (Zimmerman and Petokas) as well as
Summer Interns (Olsen, Miller, Taylor, Machamer,
WIlliamson, Postaski, and Brawn) spent Thursday on
Loyalsock Creek where the students from Expedition
Susquehanna stopped by to help with the Hellbender
survey, perform water chemistry, and seine.
Later on in the day, the students traveled to
World's End State Park where they helped electro
fish.
Other programs from the day included speakers
from Bucknell and Bloomsburg University.
Pictures
Expedition Susquehanna
PA Environment Digest
Poster |
|
Virginia Stream Presentation by Dr. Mel Zimmerman |
Posted: June 26,
2006 |
On Wed. June 21 — Dr Mel Zimmerman gave a
workshop/presentation to the Virginia Highlands
Alliance Action Program ( the Virginia version of
the Stream Team) at their summer meeting in Madison
, Virginia. Steve Talley of Canaan Valley Institute
hosted the meeting. After a full morning of
presentations about the Keystone Stream Team
projects and lessons learned, the group spent the
afternoon touring some natural stream channel design
projects in the area.
Pictures |
|
Lycoming Biology Dept. Participates in Ferrell Elementary
School Field Trip |
Posted: April 27,
2006 |
|
On April 19th, 2006, Dr. Zimmerman, Chris Mason, and
Allison Raymond presented the ecology of a stream to
Muncy Elementary school kids from Ferrell Elementary
School in Picture Rocks. This included
presentation of fish and macroinvertebrates.
Pictures |
|
Lycoming College Biology Dept. and Bishop Newman
collaborate on stream survey |
Posted: April 27,
2006 |
|
On Dec. 5, 2005, high school students and Dr.
Zimmerman and some Biology majors from Lycoming
College monitored the chemical, physical, and
biological characteristics of Millers Run Creek,
Loyalsock Township. Techniques for fish and
macroinvertebrate collection were demonstrated by
Lycoming students and water quality parameters were
tested.
Pictures |
|
Loyalsock Park Clean Up |
Posted: April 27,
2006 |
|
On April 8th, 2006, LEAF members and Biology majors
Allison Raymond, Nicole Rhodes, and Chris Mason
along with Dr. Zimmerman and many volunteers joined
CleanScapes and the Loyalsock Parks & Recreation
Department in promoting community safety as
Riverfront Park was cleaned up. Flood related
debris was removed from the banks of the West Branch
Susquehanna River.
Pictures |
|
Dr. Zimmerman on WKOK |
Posted: April 27,
2006 |
|
Dr. Mel Zimmerman was part of a panel on April 13th
from 11am-noon on WKOK (Sunbury Broadcasting
Company- news radio 1040)- "Leaders and Law Makers"
hosted by Mark Lawrence. The prgram featured a
discussion on what can be done in the Susquehanna
River Basin to help clean up the Chesapeake Bay.
Also on panel was Brain Auman from SEDA-COG, Matt
Ehrhart and John {age of the Chesapeake Bay
Foundation, and Marel Raub of the Chesapeake Bay
Commission. The program also ran on WKOK.com.
News Radio 1070 WKOK |
|
Lycoming College Biology Department participates in
the Pennsylvania Academy of Science. |
Posted: April 05,
2006 |
|
The
Biology Department participated in the 82nd
Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of
Science. This event was held at the Holiday Inn in
Grantville, Pennsylvania on Friday March 31st
to Sunday April 2nd, 2006. Dr. Peter
Petokas, research associate for Lycoming College’s
Clean Water Institute was the chair of the Ecology/
Environmental/ Aquatic Biology session. Six of the
seven presentations given were papers on CWI
topics:
1.
Purkinje neuron development: intracellular signaling
pathways that regulate dendrite formation- Stamatis
Zeris and Mary E. Morrison
2.
Preliminary report on the distribution, habitat, and
food preferences of juvenile and adult Eastern
Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alengiensis
allengiensis) in Northeastern Pennsylvania-
Peter J. Petokas, James Rogers, Philip Kratochvil,
and Noah Sterngold.
3.
Attempts by sportsmen to extirpate the Eastern
Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alengiensis
allengiensis) from Northeastern Pennsylvania-
Peter J. Petokas and James Rogers.
4.
A chemical and physical assessment of the Buffalo
Creek Watershed (Union County, PA)- Brad Musser,
Katie Swanson, Laura Lockard, and Mel Zimmerman.
5.
Assessment of deer impact on hunted and non-hunted
lands of Montour Preserve- Christopher Dempsy and
Mel Zimmerman.
6.
Base-line water quality assessment of the Lower West
Branch of the Susquehanna River- Laura Lockard,
Heather Horsley, and Mel Zimmerman.
7.
Achievements of the Keystone Stream Team and the
application of natural stream channel design (NSCD)
for restoring Pennsylvania Streams. – Peter Petokas
and Mel Zimmerman.
See pictures of presentations
and posters here |
|
POWR Database Demonstration |
Posted: April 05,
2006 |
|
On March 16th, 2006 Lycoming College Clean Water
Institute hosted a workshop on the use of the
Keystone Watershed monitoring database. 13
local watershed groups and 4 Lycoming College students
participated. Angela McCracken of POWR did the online demonstration in the Heim
computer lab.
PA
Watersheds Data System Online |
|
Dr. Petokas Receives Grant |
Posted: March 28, 2006 |
|
Dr. Peter Petokas received a $48,000 grant from
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. This is
a 2.5 year project that will be conducted by
Lycoming College to study the distribution and
status of the Eastern Hellbender in tributaries of
the West Branch Susquehanna.
Read the PA Flyfish.com article here
Read the Lycoming article here |
|
Dr. Mel Zimmerman is elected Vice President of POWR
Board |
Posted: March 28,
2006 |
|
Dr. Mel Zimmerman was recently elected to the Board
of Directors of the Pennsylvania Organization for
Watersheds & Rivers (POWR). He was elected the
Vice President from 2006-2008.
POWR |
|
SRHCES featured in PA Environmental Digest |
Posted: March 27,
2006 |
|
Read the
full article here. |
|
Dr. Mel Zimmerman gives presentation |
Posted: April 05,
2006 |
|
Dr. Mel Zimmerman gave a presentation titled "The
Importance of Clean Watersheds" to the Rose
Valley/Mill Creek Watershed Association on January
10, 2006.
see PowerPoint presentation |
|
American Fisheries Society |
Posted: January 30,
2006 |
|
Dr. Mel Zimmerman and Dr. Peter Petokas participated
in the 135th Annual Meeting in September 2005.
Their poster "
American Fisheries Society |
|
CWI Featured in CUR Quarterly |
Posted: January 25,
2006 |
|
CUR (Council on
Undergraduate Research) featured CWI in their
December 2005 issue. This issue featured
colleges that performed undergraduate research that
served the community.
The Cur article
Past articles from
CUR |
|
Lycoming College Receives Grants to help State "Grow
Greener" |
Posted: January 18,
2006 |
|
The Clean
Water Institute has received two new grants from the
Department of Environmental Protection.
The full article can be read here |
|
Hellbenders- prehistoric creatures living right in
PA |
Posted: January 18,
2006 |
|
Dr. Peter Petokas,
research associate, and Jim Rogers, Lycoming College
alumni, were featured in the Williamsport Sun
Gazette December 4, 2005 for their research on
Hellbenders. Dr. Petokas has studied
Hellbenders in the Williamsport area for 2 years and
plans to do a study Summer 2006 that involves
‘‘occurrence,
distribution, and habitat and water quality
data...along with population demographic data and an
assessment of reproductive success and recruitment.
Project results will provide information needed for
management and conservation of the eastern
hellbender in Pennsylvania.’’
The full article can be read here |
|
Two Lycoming Professors Featured in WVIA Documentary |
Posted: January 18,
2006 |
|
Dr. John F. Piper,
academic dean, and Dr. Mel Zimmerman, professor of
Biology, were featured in the WVIA documentary
"Looking to the River." It aired December
2005. The document looks at current issues
associated with the Susquehanna River. Both
professors were featured commentators.
The full article can be read here |
|
Mid-Atlantic Highlands Stream Restoration Workshop |
Posted: January 18,
2006 |
|
Dr. Mel Zimmerman and
Dr. Peter Petokas participated in the Second Annual
Conference held on November 8-9, 2005 in Cacapon
State Park in West Virginia. The topic they
presented was titled the "Status of Reference Reach
Data Base of NSCD Projects in Pennsylvania--what
have we learned?"
Dr. Zimmerman's and Dr. Petokas's presentation
can be
viewed here along with other presentations given |
|
Brad Musser and Katie Swanson Present Their Data on
Buffalo Creek |
Posted: January 18,
2006 |
|
Brad Musser and Katie
Swanson worked from May to August collecting data on
Buffalo Creak and five of its tributaries.
They presented their findings to the Buffalo Creek
Watershed Alliance November 2, 2006 at the Union
County Government Center.
The full article can be read here |
|
Dr. Zimmerman Receives Award from Governor Rendell |
Posted: January 18,
2006 |
|
Dr. Mel Zimmerman was honored by Pennsylvania
Governor Edward Rendell on October 6, 2005 as one of
the state's top environmentalists.
Dr. Zimmerman was recognized for his work with the
Clean Water Institute, the Susquehanna River
Heartland Coalition for Environmental Studies, and
the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and
Rivers, along with many others.
The full article can be read here
The article from
PAPowerPort |
|
WILDS Outdoor Festival |
Posted: Sept. 28,
2005 |
|
Members of LEAF and CWI helped the North Central
Pennsylvania Conservancy with a display at the WILDS
Outdoor Festival at Bowman's Field, Williamsport,
PA, on September 24-25. The posters depicted
the water quality of the lower West Branch
Susquehanna River as well as the activities of the
conservancy.
Pictures |
|
Milton Harvest Festival and The Improved Milton
Experience presents Embrace the River through TIME |
Posted: Sept. 28,
2005 |
|
Dr. Mel Zimmerman and Christy Bowersox participated
in the Milton Harvest Festival and gave a
presentation on the water quality of the Susquehanna
River on September 11. The day included a
kayak /canoe trip of the West Branch Susquehanna
River, PA DCNR's River of the Year for 2005, and a
guided historic walking tour. Also present was
Mrs. Karen Avery, a graduate of Lycoming College,
and her Environmental Science class from Milton High
School. They talked about their project on
Limestone Run, which they have worked on with
Lycoming College for the past 3 years.
Pictures
Data |
|
Presentation of Abandoned Mine Drainage to Dickinson
College |
Posted: Sept. 28
2005 |
|
Dr. Mel Zimmerman and Lycoming College graduate
Brandon Ford gave a presentation on abandoned mine
drainage (AMD) and problems in the Lycoming Creek
Watershed to the Dickinson College Aquatics and
Environmental class on September 9. This
included a field trip to Dutchman's Run, an acid
impacted stream on Lycoming Creek.
Pictures and
Report |
|
Lycoming College Biology Department Receives
$100,000 Grant |
Posted: Sept. 28,
2005 |
|
The George I. Alden Trust of Worcester,
Massachusetts has given $100,000 for educational
equipment for the Biology Department. The full
article can be read
here.
|
|
Freshman Football Players Clean Up Rider Park
|
Posted: Sept. 25,
2005 |
|
The athletes day
included clearing about five miles of trails and
painted entrance gates. The full article and
pictures can be seen
here.
|
|
Monitoring Matters |
Posted: July 13,
2005 |
|
| | | |
