Watershed Education

Sediment is a stormwater pollutant made up of soil particles detached from the land by erosion and is Pennsylvania's largest surface water pollutant by volume.

Have you ever passed a sign welcoming you to a watershed and wondered what it means? Here are some basic facts about watersheds to help you out.

Transparency tubes are popular for use in stream monitoring programs. They are also part of the "First Investigation of Stream Health" activity.

A brief introduction and instructional guide to using live staking as an inexpensive and simple technique to restoring eroding stream banks.

Vegetated swales are contoured land areas or ditches covered in plants. They are designed to collect stormwater runoff and move it away from areas where it can't soak into the ground.

Trees adjacent to residential and commercial properties, parks, along roads, and in parking lots provide environmental, social and, economic benefits.

This restoration includes stabilizing and/or altering the stream channel to slow and direct the flow of water to reduce erosion and flooding.

Stormwater basins are the reservoirs built near developments to temporarily hold stormwater during rain and snowmelt. They prevent high volumes of water from rushing into nearby streams during storms.

Pet owners have several choices for safely disposing of their pet waste. The simplest method is usually collecting it in a bag and tossing it in the trash.

Sediment barriers are temporary structures used around the edge of sites with bare soil. They are meant to separate any potential sediment pollution from stormwater that might flow off the site.

A riparian buffer involves planting or retaining trees, shrubs, or tall grasses along the banks of rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds.

The adaptability of rain gardens makes it possible to fit them on urban and suburban sites where green space is limited.

These pervious surfaces are designed to allow snowmelt and rain to drain through the hard, but porous, top surface.

Native meadow plantings are meant to be low maintenance and, once established, only need to be cut back once or twice a year.

Manure is a great resource for farms because it contains valuable nutrients that benefit growing crops.

Grassed waterways are wide, shallow channels installed where water runoff usually concentrates in an agricultural field.

Without cover crops, the soil would be bare during the off-season and exposed to rain, snow, and wind.

Let's dive into looking at these water critters.

Discover the Master Watershed Steward Program, empowering communities through conservation, environmental education, and community involvement. Join us today!

Pennsylvania is home to many fascinating wetlands and swamps that help purify water and serve as beneficial habitats that teem with life.

Discover the Master Watershed Steward Program, empowering communities through conservation, environmental education, and community involvement. Join us today!

As a teacher, educator, volunteer, or parent, explaining complicated concepts is much easier with resources and visuals.

Discover the Master Watershed Steward Program, empowering communities through conservation, environmental education, and community involvement. Join us today!

Discover the Master Watershed Steward Program, empowering communities through conservation, environmental education, and community involvement. Join us today!

As we gear up for Fourth of July celebrations on our beloved lakes and rivers, it's essential to remember the importance of protecting our aquatic ecosystems.