Roaring Creek Valley Conservation Association

Meeting Minutes: November 16, 2006

5–8 PM Southern Columbia High–Room 102

Attendance: Joan Sattler–DEP Watershed Manager; Bob Rush; Carl Miller; Cathy Haffner; Kristen Vitkauskas; Wayne Petro; Tom Spock.

*NOTE* No official minutes recorded for today’s meeting, as all present participatedin ‘Stream Monitoring Workshop’ conducted by Joan Sattler, DEP Watershed Manager. Joan staffed the Workshop, which identified components of the Citizens’ Volunteer Monitoring Program. The training focused on six main areas:

1. Why the association will do the monitoring.

2. What ecosystem does our association want to monitor.

3. How the association will do the monitoring.

4. When the association will do said monitoring.

5. Where said monitoring will take place.

6. Who will do the ‘hands-on’ monitoring.

The monitoring takes place for a number of reasons. Establishing baselines, identifying problems, education, monitoring trends, stream designation, and feedback for restoration are just some of the reasons why our association will do stream monitoring.

Choosing specific ecosystems to monitor is an important piece of the monitoring. Numerous ecosystems can be studied–groundwater; biodiversity; invasives; wetlands; land use; rainfall; lakes/ponds; endangered-threatened species are all areas to focus on.

Those present feel it would be useful to start ecosystem focus with surface water as specific focus area.

The association will do the monitoring by focusing on seven sites within the watershed. The mainstream area of Roaring Creek, Mugser-Lick-Mill Runs, North and South Branches, along with the headwaters were identified monitoring locales. The sites will require monitoring, to be completed by the RCVCA board, along with any other volunteers. There should be at least two people per monitoring teams, to ensure kits (to be secured by the association using grant money) are used properly.

The testing to be done at above-mentioned sites will be identified more specifically once the tools to complete monitoring are secured. Also–it will be important to make sure testing is consistent–date/day/time/specific location should be the same all the time, ie: every month.

Joan indicated one of the best ways to get started with stream monitoring was to apply for various grants. She added the importance of identifying realistic cost when making the requests–the monitoring kits could reach $1000 for reliable kits. The items are very helpful to document data management and reporting.

Following the Stream Monitoring Workshop, it was determined the next meeting would be held December 22, 2006 at 7 PM, in Room 102, Southern Columbia High School.

Copyright © 2006 - Roaring Creek Valley Conservation Association