CCPaSEC gives stream report

A recent report of the Centre County Pennsylvania Senior Environmental Corps (CCPaSEC) shows all water characteristics of its sampled and monitored streams are stable, with no major changes since its last report.

Comprised of more than 60 dedicated volunteers involved in the monthly monitoring at 52 sampling sites on 35 streams in the county, CCPaSEC takes on the responsibility of recording observations of the streams, taking water samples to measure specific chemicals and making this information available to the public.
According to CCPaSEC’s report, the non-Marcellus shale streams are in good condition and support a wide variety of aquatic insect life. In recent years, low stream flows and high water temperatures have been major factors in the temporary decline in the health of some streams, but even the smallest streams rebounded to good health when water levels returned to normal. The amounts of nitrates, phosphates and sulfates fluctuate but in general continue to be low. In all cases, chemical levels are well below drinking water standards, although that does not mean it is safe to drink directly from any of the streams.

Samplings have been persistent at some sites since 2002. A new stream was added to CCPaSEC’s portfolio in 2022. Nineteen of the streams sampled are at risk due to Marcellus shale gas drilling activity, while all the streams are at risk to activities or development by landowners, municipalities or agriculture in the vicinity. A few of the sites are on tributaries of Spring Creek, but because Spring Creek itself is sampled by other groups, including the Water Resources Monitoring Project funded in part by eight townships in the watershed, CCPaSEC does not have sites there.

As a general trend in some streams, CCPaSEC is noting that the water pH is trending very slightly downward (becoming very slightly more acidic). Whether this trend continues and whether the result is good or bad remains to be seen. The group also samples aquatic insects (mayflies, caddisflies, stoneflies, riffle beetles, sowbugs, etc.) and other invertebrate (crawfish, worms, leeches, snails and others) populations twice yearly at each site. The downward trend in water pH may eventually have an effect on the diversity of these populations.

Currently, the quality of water found in Centre County seems to be stable and generally good in terms of the parameters measured by Centre County PA Senior Environmental Corps volunteers. However, the group does not regularly measure all chemicals that could be in water, nor does the group keep track of all the development and other activities at locations well away from sampling sites that could negatively impact water quality.
The Corps has assisted other groups in testing for chemicals, such as the herbicide atrazine (and did not find any in group sampled streams). In 2022, one of the corps’ teams partnered with the Sierra Club Moshannon Group to collect surface water samples from Spring Creek and Bald Eagle Creek for per- and poly-fluoro alkyl substances.
Those who have an interest in joining a CCPaSEC stream sampling team can contact Susan Robb at [email protected] or (814) 428-0293. Candidates don’t have to be a senior or retired in order to participate, but they will need to register with the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program or be a member of ClearWater Conservancy of Central Pennsylvania.

Gary W. Moorman is the Centre County PA Senior Environmental Corps public relations resource advisor.