NEWSLETTER,
VOL.2 NO. 1
WINTER-SPRING
2000
Contents
Please click any link for quick access to articles.
Upper
Perkiomen Watershed Rivers Conservation Plan Progressing
Alternative
Sewage Treatment Methods Viewed
UPWC
Participates In Marlborough Community Awareness Day
Creek
Clean-up
Coming
Events
Perkiomen
Creek Clean-Up
Eighth Annual Aqua Fair
UPWC
Participates In Stream Monitoring Program
New Members Welcome
Aqua Fair
Work is continuing on the
Rivers Conservation Plan (RCP). Three public meetings were held to present the
Preliminary Findings Report which had been prepared by Natural Lands Trust,
Inc.(NLT) and The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC). Data had been
gathered by Upper Perkiomen Watershed Coalition (UPWC) volunteers from the 26
municipalities in the watershed, from the earlier public meetings, and from
various prior studies which had been made of the watershed. It was hoped that
some of the data gaps would be forth-coming from attendees at these meetings as
well as from the advisory groups and officers of the various municipalities. It
was pointed out that one of the biggest data gaps involves getting information
on open space/recreational areas as well as point source sewage treatment
facilities (public and private) in the various communities.
The RCP will be used by DCNR
to aid in determining needs for future State grants to municipalities and others
to address concerns for waterway improvements, recreational areas enhancement,
etc.
Further input
of possible problems, watershed improvement needs, and existing open space, game
lands, public park areas, etc., is desired. Please provide any such data to:
David
Athey, P.E.
NLT
1031
Palmers Mill Road
Media,
PA. 19063
Tel
(610)353-5587
FAX
(610)353-0517.
Present plans call for the
draft of the RCP report to be presented at public meetings to be held sometime
late Summer or early Fall after perusal and comments by a review committee
selected from the region. The Final
plan will then be presented to the various municipalities for their approval and
adoption.
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UPWC members,
Eugene Marks and Edward Klavon participated in the Delaware River Watershed
Congress which was held on October 29 and 30 at Delaware Valley College in
Doylestown.
On Friday, October 29, 1999,
the UPWC members toured on-site projects demonstrating alternatives to
conventional wastewater and stormwater systems. Wastewater systems included
spray irrigation and drip irrigation systems for both individual and community
(or municipal) treatment facilities. Both systems allow treatment facilities to
utilize areas not usually satisfactory, or permitted, for conventional aseptic
treatment facilities that require effluent to percolate.
The stormwater system viewed showed the use of constructed wetlands for
retention and treatment of surface water run-off.
The following
day (Saturday) US Congressman Rush Holy of New Jersey shared his prospective on
the crucial role citizen volunteers have in protecting our water and other
natural resources.
Throughout
the remainder of the day participants attended lectures and discussions led by
speakers with expertise in their respective fields. Some featured session were:
The UPWC exhibit showing some
of the UPWC’s past activities was displayed along with exhibits by other
environmental organizations.
Submitted
by Ed Klavon
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UPWC
maintained a display with information at the Marlborough Township Open Space
Park on Finland Road on October 9, 1999. Posters were displayed explaining the
purpose of UPWC. Detailed maps showing the Upper Perkiomen Watershed and some of
its physical characteristics were also presented.
Visitors to
the exhibit were able to obtain copies of the earlier newsletter and UPWC
membership brochures. Copies of the UPWC/ PEC (Pennsylvania Environmental
Council) Landowner Survey questionnaire were also made available. These latter
forms were designed to procure landowner information regarding possible problem
areas, open space desires, and related information. The data will be utilized in
the UPWC/PEC Rivers Conservation Grant Project being done for the Pennsylvania
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)
Submitted by
Ed Klavon
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The Upper
Perkiomen Watershed Coalition (UPWC) held its second annual Stream Clean-up
along the Perkiomen Creek on May 1, 1999. Over 50 people came out to work on an
area which began at the American Legion Post #184 in Palm (Rte 29) and continued
three miles downstream to the fly-fishing area above the Green Lane Reservoir on
Church Road. Members and friends of UPWC, local residents and Cub Scout troops,
along with students from Perkiomen Prep took part.
Efforts concentrated along
Water Street where the largest portion of trash was collected. The trash
consisted of a variety of the results of human irresponsibility: automobile
tires, household trash, and a variety of discarded debris.
Participants
from the Prep School manned small rowboats starting at the East Greenville
Waterworks Dam. The students started their journey as passengers but by the time
they reached the fly-fishing area, the passengers were replaced by a Chevy truck
transmission, an old cash register (no money), a bicycle, a mattress box-spring,
a pick-up truck storage box, and several tires.
A number of
area organizations helped with the event by donating items or services. Knoll
International provided a dumpster for disposal of the items collected. The East
Greenville Borough Waterworks gave trash bags. Philadelphia Suburban Water
Company donated gloves, the use of a pick-up truck, and also provided lunch for
all participants after the work was done. The Washington Township Municipal
Authority donated the use of a pick-up truck. The American Legion Post #184 made
their picnic grove available for lunch.
Encouraged by
the large turnout, UPWC is planning to expand the clean-up area this year.
The clean-up this year is scheduled for 9:00 AM on Saturday May 6, 2000.
Volunteers should assemble at the East Greenville Waterworks on Water Street.
Look for further information in your local newspaper’s calendar of events or
give Gene Marks a call at 215-679-8354.
Submitted by
Gene Marks
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9:00 a.m. Saturday, May 6, 2000
Meet at East
Greenville Borough Water Treatment Plant, Water Street and Fruitville Road
11 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.,
Saturday, May 13, 2000
Green Lane
Reservoir Park Nature Center off Route 29 behind the Marlborough Elementary
School
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UPWC member Ed Klavon and his
wife, Barbara, are participating in the 3-yr. PA Department of Environmental
Protection Program of Surface Water Testing for Mature Volunteers. The Klavons
are members of “Environmental Alliance for Senior Initiative” (EASI). EASI
is a nonprofit coalition of senior organizations that increases environmental
service opportunities for citizens in their local communities. As such, EASI is
a catalyst for seniors to provide leadership and expertise in solving local
environmental problems. The Klavons
work out of the North Penn Senior Center which is one of ten Pennsylvania sites
chosen to pilot the Senior Environmental Corps Program for stream monitoring
The Klavons’
particular site for monitoring is the Wetzels’ Mill area of Unami Creek near
Sumneytown. They are supplied with complete kits for water testing each month.
Parameters measured are: temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrates,
phosphates, sulfates, alkalinity, and conductivity. Twice each year the aquatic
organisms (macro-invertebrates) are collected, identified, counted, and
recorded. The types and numbers
found give an indication of the relative health of the stream.
Submitted by
Ed Klavon
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The Upper Perkiomen Watershed
Coalition meets in the basement meeting room of the Upper Perkiomen Valley
Library, 350 Main Street, Red Hill, PA., on the fourth Monday of each month at
7:00 p.m. (except for holiday weekends). The
membership dues are $15 per person; or $25 per family or organization (may be a
tax deductible donation). PLEASE COME JOIN US AND PARTICIPATE IN OUR ACTIVITIES. (No
Age Limit!!)
OFFICERS:
President: Steve Wheeler
Vice Pres.: Jim Walsh
Treasurer: Doc Comly
Secretary: Louise Wheeler
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THE EIGHTH
ANNUAL AQUA FAIR
WILL BE HELD AT THE GREEN LANE NATURE CENTER (Route 29 behind Marlborough
Elementary School) on SATURDAY, MAY 13, 2000, FROM 11:OO A.M. UNTIL 3:00 P.M.
Come join the fun! There will be: Food, Mother's Day Flowers,
Games, Environmental Displays, Nature Walks, Pony Rides, and more.
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