Schuylkill Action Network

Watershed Teaching Tools for Educators Workshop
2024-05-14 17:30 - 20:00, 2024-05-14 01:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
Where: Penn State Extension Lehigh County, 4184 Dorney Park Road, Room 104, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18104
Penn State Extension invites classroom teachers and educators working with 6-12 grade students to participate in free workshops aimed at enhancing water education. These workshops, supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Environmental Education Grants Program, offer curriculum activity kits and training to integrate water topics across various subjects. As a critical resource, water serves as a cross-curricular theme, supporting science, math, literacy, and more. With financial support, these workshops aim to bolster Pennsylvania’s environmental literacy goals by empowering educators and volunteers. Led by Penn State Extension’s Water Resources Team, comprising over 20 subject matter experts, the initiative aims to address water quality and quantity issues, reaching over 500,000 individuals annually. Don’t miss this opportunity to enrich your teaching and earn Act 48 Hours (pending approval).
What will you learn?
Understand the significance of teaching youth about water and its alignment with the new PA STEELS Standards and MWEE (Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience) framework
Receive a free Rain to Drain Curriculum Kit and Book ($60 value), along with hands-on instruction on effectively utilizing the kit
Access a free Watershed Decisions Curriculum Kit ($39 value) and receive hands-on guidance on incorporating it into your teaching
Learn about the new 2024 Future Master Watershed Stewards (FMWS) program and explore potential partnerships with trained FMWS volunteers for your classroom or program
Click here to learn more and register for this FREE training!

CDRW Farm Bill Webinar
2024-05-14 15:00 (America/New_York)
Join the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed (CDRW) in collaboration with the National Audubon Society and National Wildlife Federation (NWF) for an insightful webinar on the Farm Bill. Delve into the critical aspects of this legislation and its profound implications for conservation initiatives and communities across the nation. Don’t miss out on this chance to gain valuable insights into the Farm Bill and its pivotal role in shaping conservation efforts. Register now to secure your spot!

US Geological Survey Hosts May 9 Webinar On New USGS Base Streamflow Forecasting Web Tool
2024-05-09 14:00 (America/New_York)
The US Geological Survey will host a May 9 webinar on the new USGS Baseflow Stream Forecasting Web Tool starting at 2:00 p.m. EDT.
This webinar will demonstrate how to access forecasts generated for active USGS streamgaging locations across the Nation. The webinar will also discuss the need for baseflow (low flow) information and possible applications of the tool. The baseflow forecast tool may be of interest to natural resource managers, irrigation districts, and water utilities, as well as federal, Tribal, state, and local agencies. We will present for 30 minutes and then leave plenty of time for questions and discussion.
Click Here to register for the webinar. Questions about this new tool should be directed to Christopher Konrad, cpkonrad@usgs.gov.

Visit the USGS Baseflow Stream Forecasting Web Tool page to start using this new resource.
For more information on water resources in Pennsylvania, visit the USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center webpage.

Agroforestry and Water Resource Management
2024-05-08 15:00 (America/New_York)
Agroforestry practices can have a positive impact on water quality while simultaneously helping address agricultural resource concerns. Tune in next week Wednesday as we discuss the latest research on agroforestry and water resource management. Register here: Link
Featured Speakers:
Nate Lawrence, Ecosystem Scientist, The Savanna Institute
Billy Beck, Assistant Professor and Extension Forestry Specialist, Iowa State University Outreach and Extension
Ranjith Udawatta, Research Professor, University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry

EPA ORD Emergency Response Webinar - Pathogen Contaminated Wastewater: Where Does It Go & How to Treat It
2024-05-08 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
The contamination of wastewater with pathogens has become an ever-increasing concern for wastewater treatment plant operators since the 2001 Amerithrax incident, 2014 Ebola outbreak, and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. A better understanding of how these pathogens move through the wastewater system and effective measures for removing them from materials and wastewater is crucial.
This webinar presentation will showcase research conducted at EPA’s Test and Evaluation facility. It will discuss pathogen persistence in an activated sludge treatment system, methods for treating biosolids contaminated with heat-resistant spores (i.e., lime stabilization, composting, and incineration) and what conditions might contribute to pathogens surviving treatment. Lastly, the presentation will go over past and ongoing work on the characteristics and properties that govern bioaerosol emission from aeration basins at wastewater treatment plants.
Register Here: Link

Challenge yourself to live greener in 2024 with Berks Nature's 50 Acts for Nature Challenge!
2024-05-08 12:00 - 2024-11-08 12:00 (America/New_York)
Start your 50 Acts for Nature Challenge today by downloading your score sheet here!
Berks Nature has collected 50 actions for you to take – at home, at work, and in your community – to help you get started with some new, greener habits this year! We challenge you to complete as many of these actions as you can this year, and earn some cool prizes in the process!
Will you rise to the challenge of greener living?
If you complete AT LEAST 25 of the Challenge’s actions, submit your score sheet to Berks Nature to officially join the contest. All participants will receive a commemorative sticker and be entered to win a variety of prizes including goodie bags from The Nature Place shop, Kimberton Whole Foods gift cards, and tickets to Berks Nature’s annual State of the Environment Breakfast. One grand prize winner will score a rain barrel worth $130!
All winners will be notified in December to make arrangements for collecting their prizes.
Deadline to submit your Challenge score sheet is November 8, 2024

PA Environment Digest Blog: Master Watershed Steward Watershed-Friendly Native Plant Kit Sale
2024-05-06 12:00 - 2024-06-18 12:05 (America/New_York)
Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward Program is now accepting orders for their 2024 Watershed-Friendly Native Plant Kit Sale through June 18 or until sold out.
Pick your preferred kit online and select the most convenient curbside fall pickup location from 17 sites across the state.
Proceeds from the Watershed-Friendly Native Plant Kits will support the Master Watershed Steward program providing volunteer-driven education and restoration work in that region.
Each of the Watershed-Friendly kits are designed to help you incorporate more native plants into your property for habitat creation, stormwater management, pollutant reduction, and other positive ecological services.
Reducing stormwater runoff, reducing water pollution, conserving water, and supporting wildlife and pollinators are critical elements of healthy watershed-friendly properties and the focus areas of the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward Watershed-Friendly certification, a collaboration with Nurture Nature Center.
Native plants are woven throughout the certification criteria because of all the benefits that native plant gardens can provide.
Kits are composed of plant plugs from carefully selected species grown by Kind Earth Growers using locally collected open-source pollinated seeds and 50% peat-free growing media.
Plant plugs are smaller than what is typically found in nurseries, allowing for easier transportation and planting within existing vegetation.
The plugs have healthy root systems which will establish this fall so that your plants can flourish next growing season.
Click Here to order and for all the details.

Berks County Conservation District Annual Conservation Celebration and Seedling Sale
2024-05-04 11:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
On May 4, 2024, the Berks County Conservation District will hold its annual Conservation Celebration and Seedling Sale at Berks County Agricultural Center (1238 County Welfare Road, Leesport, PA)
The day will be filled with live music by Golden Twine, a food truck by Schaeffer’s Catering, a rain barrel auction, Smokey Bear, the PA Woodmobile, and other environmental organizations such as the PA Bat Rescue, the PA Game Commission, Blue Marsh Lake, Baird Ornithological Society, and more.
At noon, the BCCD will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new and much anticipated S.W.A.G Bus. The Soil, Water, and Agricultural Mobile Education Bus is filled with hands-on educational displays and will be used to teach children and adults about conserving natural resources in Berks County.
A seedling sale dedication ceremony for Mark Wolfskill, former board member, will take place at 12:30 p.m.
The Conservation Celebration will take place at the Berks County Agricultural Center at 1238 County Welfare Road. The event begins at 11 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m.
For more information, please contact Jennifer Brooks, Environmental Education and Outreach Coordinator, via email at Jennifer.brooks@berkscd.com or via phone at 601-372-4657, ext. 212.

SAN Ag Workgroup Agroforestry Site Tour
2024-05-01 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for a fun and educational Agroforestry Site Tour organized by the SAN Ag Workgroup. Get ready to explore different agroforestry practices and learn from experts in the field. This in-person event is a great opportunity to network with fellow ag professionals and gain insights into sustainable agriculture practices. Register here
Additional Details:
Parking is available on site but we strongly encourage carpooling to reduce your impact on the environment and our hosts!
In the event of forecasted heavy rain or inclement weather a backup date is planned for Wednesday May 8, 2024. We will email at least 48 hours in advance if we switch dates!
Please pack your own water, snacks and/or lunch
Please dress for the weather and wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes
Please come prepared to walk along uneven terrain
We hope to see you there!
Click here for more information and to register

U.S. EPA Small Drinking Water Systems Webinar: PFAS Drinking Water Regulation and Treatment Methods
2024-04-30 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
Register Here
A certificate of attendance will be offered for this webinar
Overview of EPA’s Final PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation
Presenter: Ashley Greene, EPA’s Office of Water
This presentation will provide an overview of the final PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation, including the key regulatory requirements and timing for water systems and drinking water primacy agencies to comply with these requirements, background on the regulation development, and funding information to support rule implementation.
Removal of PFAS Compounds from Drinking Water: Fundamentals and Applications
Presenter: Nicholas Dugan, P.E., EPA’s Office of Research and Development
This presentation will focus on the three treatment processes designated as best available technologies for PFAS removal from drinking water: granular activated carbon (GAC), ion exchange (IX), and membranes (NF/RO). There will be a brief discussion on the fundamentals of each process followed by basic considerations of process selection, process design, and costing.

Montco Trail Challenge
2024-04-27 12:00 - 2024-12-02 12:00 (America/New_York)
How to Register
Join us for the 9th annual Montgomery County Trail Challenge! The Montco Trail Challenge will run April 27 – December 2, 2024. Registration is open!
1. Sign-up, registration is open!
Print your official Montco Trail Challenge card (Spanish, Korean) or look for them at Montgomery County park and trail kiosks.
Register yourself or any members of your household (including dogs).
2. Get Out and Go!
Get out and go! Visit any of the 18 participating trails and look for special markers at the entrance (trailheads).
Record each symbol you find on your trail card.
3. Turn in Your Results!
Once you have visited as many trails as you can, return your completed card to a designated dropbox or submit results online.
You do not have to walk, run or bike the entire trail to get credit for the challenge – just visit and enjoy to earn your recognitions!

Spring Adopt-a-Tree Tree Planting Event
2024-04-27 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Join Riverbend Environmental Education Center 1950 SPRING MILL ROAD, GLADWYNE PA 19035 for their spring planting event
Spring is a wonderful time to plant trees just as the preserve is coming back to life. Planting trees at the preserve helps combat climate change and maintain our local water supply as the trees we plant keep runoff from heading to the Schuylkill River watershed.
Click here to learn more and register

Webinar: Emerging Findings on the Effects of Cover Crops on Grassland Birds
2024-04-25 14:00 (America/New_York)
Join April’s NRCS Conservation Outcomes webinar to learn more about the wildlife benefits associated with cover crops:
As the use of cover crops to improve soil health and reduce water quality concerns on working cropland has increased in recent years, questions have emerged regarding the value of cover crops to wildlife. For example, do cover crops provide needed habitat for grassland birds, a group that has experienced widespread population decline in recent decades? What is the value of cover crop fields to grassland birds during the winter, spring migration, and breeding periods compared to cropland fields without cover crops or areas of perennial cover?
On April 25 at 2:00 p.m. eastern, Dr. Adam Janke of Iowa State University and Dr. David Buehler of the University of Tennessee will provide answers to these questions and more during our free, one-hour Conservation Outcomes Webinar. This webinar will share findings from recent studies examining bird use of cover crops in Iowa and Tennessee conducted in partnership with USDA’s Conservation Effects Assessment Project. Findings may be used to support on-the-ground cropland management decisions informed by a better understanding of the potential role of cover crops in grassland bird conservation efforts.
No registration is required. Visit NRCS Conservation Outcomes webinar page to find the link to join the meeting
You may also join via audio only:
Phone Number: 202-650-0123
Phone Conference ID: 554 587 395#

SAN AMD Workgroup Tour
2024-04-23 10:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
**Please note the date change from April 16 to April 23**
Join SAN AMD Workgroup Partners in person for a tour of an active mining operation.
We’ll meet in Tamaqua and carpool to the site from there. Trucks and vans are preferred carpooling vehicles for rough road conditions and to limit the total number of vehicles on site.
Important Safety Considerations
Trucks and vans are preferred vehicles considering rough road conditions
Participants must wear boots/sturdy footwear suitable for muddy and wet conditions
Weather conditions might vary throughout the day so please dress accordingly
Click here to register

Leveraging U.S. Forest Service BIL Funds for Source Water Protection on Forested Lands
2024-04-22 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
Leveraging U.S. Forest Service BIL Funds for Source Water Protection on Forested Lands hosted by the Source Water Collaborative. The webinar is designed for State and Tribal water and forestry programs, water utilities, source water collaboratives and watershed groups, watershed, aquatic, and wildfire staff in the ten USFS Regions and Headquarters, conservation groups, conservation districts, and other forest and water stakeholders. Hear directly from USFS staff regarding how these funds can be used on USFS and non-USFS lands for drinking water protection and wildfire mitigation projects. Learn about the highly successful Drinking Water Providers Partnership. Then hear about two examples of collaborative groups that conserve and manage forested lands for source water protection: Denver Water and Rio Grande Water Fund. (Please register for the webinar here)

Spring Fest at Bartram's Garden
2024-04-20 10:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Join Bartram’s Garden for their free annual celebration of spring! This year’s schedule includes attractions from previous years:
Plant nursery’s seasonal kick-off and sale
Garden tours
Vendor marketplace and community resource tables
Children’s activities
Plus special presentations and activities from community partners
10am: Medicinal Highlights of the Botanical Garden In Spring, led by Kelly McCarthy of Attic Apothecary
11am: Vivien Sansour of Palestine Heirloom Seed Network, interviewed by Lailah Lindsey of Sankofa Community Farm
12-2pm: Seed Exchange hosted by Nate Kleinman of Experimental Farm Network
1-3pm: What’s The Deal With Native Plants?, a workshop presented by Goda Trakumaite
Click here for directions to the Garden

Webinar: Uses and Benefits of Rain Barrels
2024-04-19 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Join Penn State Extension for this webinar on the Uses and Benefits of Rain Barrels. They will cover the various uses and benefits of rain barrels for a homeowner. The webinar will also cover a basic construction option for those interested in building a rain barrel on their property.
Click here to learn more and register

Webinar: Urban Gardens and Soil Health
2024-04-19 08:00 - 09:00 (America/New_York)
Join Penn State Extension for this webinar on urban gardening and soil health!
The COVID-19 pandemic got a lot of folks engaged in gardening, especially in urban settings, for the first time. While gardening in urban settings can be rewarding, it can come with the risk of exposure to heavy metals and other pollutants that can be found in these polluted soils. During Urban Gardens and Soil Health, participants will learn how they can test their soil, examine soil health, and help ensure they are growing healthy food. There will also be a chance to ask a soil scientist, Stephen Dadio, questions about urban soil health.
Click here to learn more and register

NNCR Advanced Training: Effluent Exceedance (Webinar)
2024-04-18 14:30 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
This webinar focuses on effluent exceedance violations on the quarterly National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Noncompliance Report (NNCR), which provides a comprehensive list of Clean Water Act violations and their resolutions to the public. The training focuses on when effluent exceedance violations are generated, criteria for assigning Category I versus II noncompliance, resolution of effluent exceedance violations, and a demonstration of searching and filtering effluent exceedance violations on the quarterly NNCR.
Note: This training is an advanced training and assumes you have attended or watched a recording of the quarterly NNCR training before attending (https://echo.epa.gov/help/training#Series).
**If you need any special accommodations for this webinar, please email Madeline LaPatra (lapatra.madeline@epa.gov).
Click here to learn more and register

New Opportunities to Partner with NRCS for Source Water Protection and Climate-Smart Agriculture
2024-04-18 12:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York), 2024-04-18 12:00 - 13:30 UTC
New Opportunities to Partner with NRCS for Source Water Protection and Climate-Smart Agriculture hosted by the Source Water Collaborative (SWC). This webinar will focus on this year’s opportunity to update the USDA NRCS high priority source water protection areas and agricultural and forestry practices landowners can implement to get up to 90 percent incentive payments to protect drinking water sources under the Farm Bill. The webinar will also address the selection/update of watersheds under the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) and Mississippi River Basin Initiative (MRBI). In addition, participants will learn about a drinking water utility’s successful experience working with NRCS State Technical Committees and NRCS staff. register here

ECHO Biosolids Facility Searches and Reports Training
2024-04-17 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
This training hosted by USEPA focuses on the ECHO Facility Searches and Report under the Clean Water Act (CWA) National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program area biosolids. With the implementation of the NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule (eRule), facilities in the 41 states where EPA implements the Federal Biosolids Program, and three authorized states (SD, TX, UT) began submitting electronic reports. This training provides an overview of the electronic reporting of biosolids annual reports, describes the biosolids data available on EPA’s Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), and includes a demonstration of navigating the Biosolids Facility and Annual Report search form, search results, and Biosolids Facility Report.
**If you need any special accommodations for this webinar, please email Madeline LaPatra (lapatra.madeline@epa.gov).
Click here to learn more and register

Webinar - GIS Options for Environmental Advisory Councils
2024-04-16 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
From inventorying tree cover, to managing invasive species; from mapping riparian buffers, floodplains, recharge areas and other water-related resources, to inventorying municipal open space areas to improve management, Geographic Information System (GIS) is a powerful tool that can be used for environmental management and protection.

Webinar: Choose Native Mini-Workshop
2024-04-16 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Community members, volunteers, and interested professionals are invited to join Pennsylvania Sea Grant and Penn State Extension for this virtual mini-workshop focused on replacing invasive species with those native to Pennsylvania in landscapes and water gardens. Landscaping and water gardening activities often lead to the unintended introduction and spread of invasive plant species to our natural lands and waterways. Once established, invasive species can degrade natural habitats by outcompeting native species for space, light, and nutrients. Invasive species can impact the food web by altering the plant community and decreasing the diversity of plants available for food sources, habitat, and shelter. Preventing invasive plant introductions by utilizing native alternatives in landscapes and water gardens is a viable solution. This Choose Native mini-workshop will introduce participants to native species options and creative ways to include native species in landscapes and aquatic designs. Click here to learn more and register
Who is this for?
Property owners
Landscapers
Those wanting to learn more about invasive and native plants
Native plant enthusiasts
What will you learn?
The importance of Pennsylvania native species
Impacts of invasive species in the built environment Ideas for utilizing native plants in the landscape
Managing native species in landscapes and water gardens
This mini-workshop is hosted by Pennsylvania Sea Grant and Penn State Extension with a special guest presentation by Native Creations Landscaping Services.
This event is being offered at no charge to participants thanks to funding from the Richard King Mellon Foundation and the Great Lakes Commission.
Click here to learn more and register

Perkiomen Stream Clean-up
2024-04-13 08:00 (America/New_York)
Every April, the Conservancy hosts a single-day watershed-wide event focused on removing litter, tires and other debris from regional waterways. This event brings together volunteers who work collaboratively to clean-up streamside sites, parks and open spaces throughout the watershed. Since its creation in 2004, the Perkiomen Stream Clean-up has grown to become the largest single-day stream clean-up in the state of Pennsylvania with 1,700 volunteers participating in 2023!
2024 marks the 20th anniversary of this event – help make it the biggest one yet! Learn more and sign up here

Analytical Preparedness Full-Scale Exercise (AP-FSE) Toolkit Webinar
2024-04-11 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Analytical Preparedness Full-Scale Exercise (AP-FSE) Toolkit Webinar hosted by the Water Laboratory Alliance. The Toolkit is a comprehensive guide to planning and executing a multi-organizational exercise to simulate response to a water emergency, with a focus on tools and best practices for utility coordination of laboratory support. This webinar covers how an AP-FSE can increase preparedness, includes an overview of the contents and functionality of the Toolkit, and demonstrates how users can get started planning an exercise of their own with access to EPA support. (register here)

PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Community-based Watershed Organizations Webinar & Survey Kickoff
2024-04-10 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
Stream Restoration Incorporated (SRI) is partnering with the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (WPCAMR) and Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR) to conduct a study on behalf of the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds & Rivers about past, current, and future involvement of watershed groups, conservation districts, and others in abandoned mine reclamation (AMR) projects in Pennsylvania. A large focus of this study is to identify solutions to barriers that may be preventing watershed groups from participating in these projects.
This webinar will discuss the study, introduce an information-gathering survey, and seek initial input.
Please click here to register.

Phosphorus Management and Water Quality Management
2024-04-10 15:00 (America/New_York)
Join the North Central Region Water Network for this webinar! Managing phosphorus (P) to both meet crop needs and reduce P loss from agricultural fields is critical to managing water resources. This edition of The Current will focus on P management and water quality – the latest research on P transport modeling, and a review of ag BMPs and their efficacy for reducing P loss.
Featured Speakers:
Gurbir Singh, Assistant Professor and State Extension Specialist, Soil Science, Agroecology and Landscape Management, University of Missouri-Novelty
Rebecca Logsdon Muenich, Associate Professor, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Arkansas
Peter Tomlinson, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist for Environmental Quality, Kansas State University
Click here to learn more and register

Webinar: Demystifying How to Access BIL Funds for Source Water Protection and Natural Infrastructure
2024-04-10 14:30 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
The Source Water Collaborative is hosting its 2nd webinar as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Webinar Series. The webinar is provided at no cost to attendees.
Please click here to learn more and register for the webinar.
The webinar will cover the following topics:
EPA’s free Water Technical Assistance programs (new and longstanding)
BIL funding and Environmental Finance Centers
Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) eligible projects for source water protection
Case studies from the New England Environmental Finance Center
Speakers:
Bev Vazquez (they/them), Water Infrastructure & Resiliency Finance Center, U.S. EPA
Addison Chau, Water Infrastructure & Resiliency Finance Center, U.S. EPA
Martha Sheils, Director, New England Environmental Finance Center, University of Maine
Kira Jacobs, Source Water Protection Program, U.S. EPA Region 1 (Facilitator)
Michelle Tucker, Source Water Protection Program, U.S. EPA Region 10 (Facilitator)
Expected Webinar Audience: The webinar is targeted to states, water utilities, source water protection staff, state SRF funding program staff, municipal officials, source water collaboratives, federal agencies, watershed groups, and other water stakeholders.
Please click here to learn more and register for the webinar.
