Clean Water Institute recognized

The Lycoming College Clean Water Institute(CWI) recently received two recognitions for its environmental efforts.

The CWI received one of the 16 "Champion of the Pennsylvania Wilds" awards presented April 28 in St. Marys. The awards recognize individuals and organizations for their efforts toward the Pennsylvania Wilds initiatives of economic development, planning, community revitalization, community character stewardship and conservation. The Pennsylvania Wilds region encompasses the counties of Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga and Warren.

Clean Water Institute research associate holds public presentation

Clean Water Institute hosts unassessed water initiative

The Lycoming College Clean Water Institute and the Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited will host a presentation on the initiative to assess the water quality of unassessed streams in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the College's Heim Building G-11.

Students participate in Unassessed Water Study

Petokas interviewed regarding endangered species

Dr. Peter Petokas, research associate in the Lycoming College Clean Water Institute, was recently interviewed by Tom Pelton, journalist for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Bay Daily and WYPR, a regional National Public Radio affiliate in Baltimore, Md.

The interview related to a permit application in Maryland for the deep-mining of coal beneath the Casselman River. Petokas' concern is that mine discharge in the river will alter the water quality, causing potential harm to the Eastern Hellbender salamander – a Maryland endangered species.

Biology students attend Pennsylvania Academy of Science Meetings

Lycoming College biology students presented posters at the 87th Annual Pennsylvania Academy of Science Meetings at Penn State Altoona on April 1-3.

At the event, Dr. Peter Petokas, research associate of the Lycoming College Clean Water Institute, chaired the aquatic biology poster session, which included a poster from Lycoming students Gwendolyn Forestal, Nicholas Lansberry, Megan Schulze and Petokas, titled "Body Size, Health Condition, External Appearance, and Sexual Dimorphism in Eastern Hellbenders from North-Central Pennsylvania."

Lycoming pledges to reduce carbon footprint

Lycoming College President James Douthat has called upon all members of the College community to support initiatives to reduce carbon emissions on campus. On Wednesday, April 20, during a ceremony on the steps of Long Hall, Douthat signed the Lycoming College Climate Commitment pledge. Members of the campus community were then invited to add their signature to a Climate Commitment banner to be displayed on campus.

"This is an interesting and important step for the College," said Douthat. "It also is important to note that the document I signed is authorized by the board of trustees, so this becomes an institutional commitment. The pledge produces a new set of responsibilities, a new process and a new procedure for many people on this campus, including the students, as we move forward with this commitment."

Recyclemania results announced

Lycoming College was one of 630 colleges and universities from across the U.S. that recently participated in Recyclemania, which is in its 10th year of competition.

During Recyclemania, Lycoming's buildings and grounds staff collected plastic, glass, cans, cardboard and paper from receptacles across the campus. The recyclables were weighed and data was recorded weekly by Alyssa Tomaskovic and Steve Wanner, interns in the College's Clean Water Institute.

Lycoming participates in Recyclmania

Clean Water Institute to host gas leasing discussion

The Lycoming College Clean Water Institute and the Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited will host a public meeting on the issue of gas leasing in public state forest lands on Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 7 p.m. in Heim Building, G-11, Barclay Lecture Hall.

Speaker Nels Johnson of the Nature Conservancy's Harrisburg office will describe a study conducted with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on the impact of leasing additional state forest land. The study includes a mapping analysis of surface disturbance effects on the sustainable balance and character of remaining state forest lands not yet leased for gas development.