Brodhead Watershed Association Activities

Going Native in Paradise* - a listing of native plants used at the Paradise Township Park streambank planting project * to receive a copy, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
BWA
Box 339
Henryville, PA 18332

A quarterly Newsletter keeps members and municipal officials up-to-date on the Association and various watershed activities.

Know Your Watershed Address Your “Watershed Address” defines where you live in the natural world. It describes where a raindrop that falls on the roof of your home will travel, from the smallest springlet in your backyard to a headwaters tributary, and on to larger and larger streams until finally reaching the Delaware River and eventually the Atlantic Ocean (assuming you live in the Brodhead or the Delaware River watershed).

Find your watershed address on the Brodhead watershed map and the sub-watershed maps that follow.

Stream Name Sign Program

BWA, in partnership with various watershed municipalities and the PA Department of Transportation, has developed a stream name sign program to place stream name signs at the many road crossings in the watershed. Signs have been erected in Paradise and Stroud townships as well as at several state highway stream crossings throughout the watershed. The goal of this project is to help residents and visitors alike learn about the Brodhead watershed and care for the streams where they live or visit. You can become a Stream Sign Sponsor and help this program grow. signsponsor@brodheadwatershed.org

Stream Sign Sponsors

Sanofi Pasteur - Swiftwater Creek at Rt 314, west of Route 611

George Walker - Yankee Run on Devils Hole Road, Paradise Township

Penn Estates - Cranberry Run at Hallet Road, Stroud Township

Sharon and Victor Keen - Little Pocono Creek, West Main Street, Stroudsburg

Watershed Puppet Show: “The Show Must Go On”

Through a grant from the Department of Environmental Protection Environmental Education Program, and in partnership with the Monroe County Conservation District Environmental Education program, BWA developed and produced a puppet show, The Show Must Go On, and a related activity packet, that teaches watershed and non-point source pollution concepts to fourth grade students. The show and materials were piloted in the Stroudsburg School District in 1997-98 and then offered to the other Monroe County school districts in 1999-2000. The script and puppets were then turned over to the Environmental Edcation program and the puppet show continues to be performed for area fourth graders in conjunction with a unit on wetlands and watersheds. To learn more about the puppet show and activity packet, contact the Monroe County Environmental Education Center, 629-3061. About The Show The hot new musical group, Hootie and the Raindrops, is late for their date at the Delaware Water Gap Music Festival. Their manager, G.B., (a Great Blue Heron) is feeling terrible after eating a fish for breakfast, and Frogman and his family band are not feeling too good either. What is the problem? The X-fish are called in to solve the mystery.

Streambank Restoration and Planting

Eroding streambanks are a major source of sediment pollution in the Brodhead watershed. BWA has obtained grants to undertake several projects on the Paradise Creek.

Paradise Headwaters Coldwater Heritage Project
With a grant from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, BWA has done water chemistry, macroinvertebrate (insect) and fish shocking studies on the Paradise Creek at the Township Park and on the three headwaters tributaries: Yankee Run, Tank Creek, and Devil’s Hole Creek.
Technical Report

Paradise Park Streamside Planting Project
With a grant from the Department of Environmental Protection, BWA and partners Paradise Township and Penn State Master Gardeners have planted several areas along the stream bank at the park with native plants and installed fencing and signs. A brochure, “Going Native in Paradise” was published, describing the native plants used and the benefits of streamside plantings.

Some Facts about the plants used

Paradise Streambank Restoration Project

A streambank restoration and headwaters monitoring project on the Paradise Creek in Paradise Township was completed by the Brodhead Watershed Association in partnership with Paradise Township and the Brodhead Chapter of Trout Unlimited with a $29,810 grant received from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Watershed Restoration and Assistance Program.

The funding permited the stabilization, protection and enhancement of a segment of Paradise Creek that flows through Paradise Township Park. Additionally, the funding permited the continuation of an assessment and monitoring project in the headwater streams of the creek.
The project also continued development of the "Know Your Watershed" public education and information program through explanatory signs along the creek.
Highlights of the work done through this project include streambank restoration, stabilization and instream habitat improvement along a 600-foot section of stream in Paradise Township Park as well as a public access restoration and watershed information display.

Cherry Creek Watershed Sub-Association
BWA developed a citizen streamwatch program for the Cherry Creek modeled on the Association's ten-year-old program in the Brodhead Watershed. The Association also developed educational materials and activities to bring the watershed concept to Cherry Valley residents. An aquatic assessment (electro fishing and macroinvertebrate study) at selected sites along the length of the creek provided baseline information while also permitting field study of potential threats to this important creek. Stream data collected pointed out potential concerns.
The purchase and placement of a number of stream name signs to identify the Cherry Creek at the significant road crossings increased public awareness of the creek and its value. Educational materials including a brochure and a Cherry Valley website, www.cherrycreekwatershed.net , provide better awareness and recognition of the Cherry Creek watershed. Several areas within the watershed were identified to include in the Monroe County natural areas inventory.

This site is developed and maintained by the
Brodhead Watershed Association. Have any questions? We'd be glad to help.
Last updated February 10, 2007