Busy Times For Water Quality Work Group
Members of the Potter County Water Quality Work Group covered a crowded agenda at this month’s meeting, continuing its mission to watch over the county’s water resources. It’s one of the few countywide organizations in Pennsylvania with that single focus. Heather McKean (left), who recently joined Penn State Extension as water quality/resources educator, attended Monday’s meeting at the Gunzburger Building as the newest group advisor. She has worked with several members in her previous position with the McKean County Conservation District. McKean has succeeded the retired Jim Clark, who was active with the Water Quality Work Group and a companion Potter County organization, the Triple Divide Watershed Coalition (TDWC).
Also at this month’s meeting, work group members were updated on the U.S. Geological Survey’s groundwater study across Potter County. Results will be analyzed and a public meeting scheduled sometime next year to share results. TDWC Chair Charlie Tuttle reported on the coalition’s ongoing water quality monitoring project. Most of the wells, springs or surface water sources supplying public drinking water supplies in Potter County are now being monitored and their data is being archived. Next TDWC meeting will be held at 10 am on Jan. 24 at the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum. Members of a similar coalition in Tioga County will also attend.
Jason Childs, work group chair and manager of the Potter County Conservation District, discussed several grant opportunities for watershed protection, streambank stabilization, habitat restoration and related projects. Childs also announced that a Township Road Maintenance Class/Field Day for officials from Potter and Tioga counties will be held in Gaines on March 21. The Potter County Crops and Planting Clinic will be held Jan. 26 at the Tri-Town Firehall in Ulysses.
Members heard an update on plans to plant trees in areas of the upper Pine Creek watershed where the hemlock wooly adelgid is expected to cause hemlock tree mortality, adversely affecting water quality on the West Branch of Pine Creek. Work group members also paused to recall the work of the late Wilson T. “Ted†Bear with the First Fork Watershed Association and other conservation organizations.
Attending were Earl Brown, Bob Volkmar, Jason Childs, John McLaughlin, Charlie Tuttle, Heather McKean, Frank Weeks and Commissioners Doug Morley, Paul Heimel and Susan Kefover.