Part of the Knowing Our Waters Project
The organizations featured on this page conduct surface water monitoring in regions throughout the Marcellus Shale play, spanning the states of Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Some organizations choose to focus on a single watershed, whereas others work within a particular county. These organizations are listed by their “home” state. However, in many instances organizations monitor in watersheds across across a large geographic region – emphasizing the importance of thinking about surface water quality as an issue that transcends political boundaries.
Monitoring Based in Maryland
Friends of Deep Creek LakeWeb: friendsofdcl.org Watershed Regions: Deep Creek Lake Watershed |
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Friends of Deep Creek Lake promotes stewardship, conservation and restoration of the lake and watershed. We are a watershed organization reflecting the fact Deep Creek Lake is a component of an evolving watershed-wide eco-system. Sustainability of the lake must be based on research, assessment, planning and program implementation using the broader watershed approach. We have recruited, trained and organized over 50 volunteers for water monitoring. |
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Maryland Marcellus Monitoring CoalitionWeb: www.dnr.state.md.us/streams/streamWaders.asp Watershed Regions: Watersheds throughout Garrett County |
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Working with watershed associations, Trout Unlimited, colleges and other citizens in western Maryland, DNR organized the Marcellus Shale Stream Monitoring Coalition (MMC) in March 2012. The primary goal of the Coalition is to collect water quality and biological data from streams and rivers in Garrett County to help characterize baseline stream conditions. The Coalition is critical as it will supplement DNR’s stream monitoring efforts and enhance spatial coverage in the Marcellus Shale region. Currently there are 60 volunteers participating in this monitoring program where data are being collected from an additional 70 streams. |
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Monitoring Based in New York
Community Science InstituteWeb: communityscience.org Watershed Regions: Watersheds throughout the Southern Tier of New York |
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CSI is a state-certified water quality testing lab that partners with groups of volunteers to monitor water quality. The Red Flag Monitoring partnership began in 2010 with the goal of establishing baseline water quality for parameters related to shale gas wells. These measurements will help to determine whether or not impacts on streams and lakes occur. Red Flag monitoring places a focus on small streams and creeks for which little to no water quality data exists. Red Flag monitoring has the potential to document both catastrophic contamination events such as chemical spills, and gradual degradation that could result from small impacts accumulating over a period of months or years. |
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The New York Water SentinelsWeb: nywatersentinels.org Watershed Regions: Watersheds throughout the Southern Tier of New York |
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The NY Water Sentinels is a citizen science stream water monitoring program affiliated with the Sierra Club. The focus of monitoring has been on local impacts from ongoing oil and gas extraction in NY by collecting baseline data on stream health to defend against the onset of fracking in NY. Since December of 2011, the NY Water Sentinels have organized and trained 6 regional chapters with the assistance of ALLARM. To date, 160 volunteers have made over 1,500 visits to document conditions at 125 stream sites. Streams being monitored span 12 counties and 6 major watersheds across the Southern Tier. |
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Monitoring Based in Ohio
Captina ConservancyWeb: www.captina.org Watershed Regions: Captina Creek Watershed |
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Captina Conservancy is a non-profit land-trust working to conserve natural and agricultural lands in Belmont County, Ohio. The purpose of Captina Conservancy is to promote and engage in the conservation, restoration and sustainability of the Captina Creek Watershed through education, voluntary conservation agreements and acquisitions. Captina Conservancy works with Three Rivers Quest to conduct water monitoring in three locations, east (downstream) of the North and South forks’ convergence. |
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Monitoring Based in Pennsylvania
The Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring (ALLARM), Dickinson CollegeWeb: www.dickinson.edu/allarm Watershed Regions: Watersheds throughout Pennsylvania and New York |
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The Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring (ALLARM) is a nationally recognized technical support center for communities interested in monitoring the quality of their waterways. ALLARM was founded in 1986 as a project of the Environmental Studies Department at Dickinson College. Through the work of professional and student staff, ALLARM offers comprehensive services to enable groups to use critical scientific tools to enhance environmental quality and fully participate in community decision-making. ALLARM has trained 37 community partners to conduct 10,000 mile watershed assessments in central PA. Ssince 2010 ALLARM has conducted 22 Marcellus Monitoring workshops throughout the state. |
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Creek ConnectionsWeb: sites.allegheny.edu/creekconnections Watershed Regions: Watersheds throughout Pennsylvania and New York |
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Creek Connections has forged an effective partnership between Allegheny College and regional K-12 schools to turn waterways in Northwest Pennsylvania, Southwest New York, and the Pittsburgh area into outdoor environmental laboratories. Emphasizing a hands-on, inquiry based investigation of local waterways, this project annually involves over 40 different secondary schools and the classes of 50 teachers. Throughout the school year, participating students retrieve water samples and conduct research on various waterways, monitoring the conditions that affect water quality. |
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Delaware Riverkeeper Network Water WatchWeb: www.delawareriverkeeper.org Watershed Regions: Delaware River Watersheds in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware |
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Since 1992, Delaware Riverkeeper Network’s Water Watch mobilizes a committed network of citizens to make a difference for their local streams and communities. Water Watchers are “on-the-ground” trained investigators for the Delaware River and its tributary streams. Working together with communities, agencies, and universities, using sound science to gather information, and capitalizing on the dedication of our staff and trained volunteers, Water Watch gathers the information necessary that helps build a strong science foundation for effective pollution detection and control, advocacy, and actions that lead to clean streams, healthy communities, and thriving natural areas. |
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E.L. Rose ConservancyWeb: penntest.com Watershed Regions: Watersheds in Susquehanna County PA, and the Southern Tier of New York |
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The Edward L. Rose Conservancy actively works to protect land by accepting donated conservation easements and land, with hundreds of acres in Susquehanna County permanently protected. The E.L. Rose Conservancy has performed historical water quality testing. Volunteers are actively monitoring water quality using the Alliance for Aquatic Resources Protocol (ALLARM). |
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Evergreen ConservancyWeb: www.evergreenconservancy.org Watershed Regions: Watersheds throughout Indiana County, PA |
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The Evergreen Conservancy is comprised of a group of volunteers who work to preserve local areas in order to raise the quality of life of citizens in and around Indiana County. EC conserves property through grants, land exchanges, conservation easements, donations and by other means. EC conducts baseline water quality data in stream throughout Indiana County to identify what is flowing through them, how they change over seasons and time, and any sources of pollution that may need to be addressed. |
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Fracking Truth AllianceWeb: frackingtruth.webs.com Watershed Regions: Watersheds throughout Lawrence and Mercer County, PA |
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Fracking Truth Alliance is a diverse bunch of people who live in Lawrence and Mercer counties in Pennsylvania who are concerned about the effects that shale gas drilling, or fracking, will have on health and impacted communities. Volunteers are actively monitoring water quality using the Alliance for Aquatic Resources Protocol (ALLARM). |
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French Creek Valley ConservancyWeb: www.frenchcreekconservancy.org Watershed Regions: French Creek Watershed |
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To promote the environmental integrity of the French Creek watershed, and to advocate the protection of its natural resources for the aesthetic, ecological, recreational, and economic benefit through the coordination of land protection, education, and research. French Creek Valley Conservancy volunteers are actively monitoring water quality in both the main stem of French Creek and some of its tributaries using the Alliance for Aquatic Resources Protocol (ALLARM). This protocol empowers local citizens to actively monitor their watersheds for changes in water quality, especially in light of the arrival of shale gas. |
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God’s Country WaterdogsWeb: www.dickinson.edu/allarm Watershed Regions: Watersheds throughout Potter County, PA |
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Inspired by the activities of Tioga County’s Pine Creek Waterdogs and Trout Unlimited’s Coldwater Conservation Corps, a group of Potter County citizens organized the God’s Country Waterdogs to monitor waterways and provide that information to agencies involved in protection. Volunteers hope to establish a baseline of water quality, which can be used for future reference in analyzing possible impacts to stream ecosystems. There are 22 Waterdogs working together with eight members of Trout Unlimited and several county watershed associations to monitor 70 sites on Potter County streams using the Alliance for Aquatic Resources Protocol (ALLARM). |
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Greene County Watershed AllianceWeb: www.greenewatersheds.org Watershed Regions: South Fork Ten Mile Creek Watershed |
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The GCWA is a non-profit watershed organization made up of volunteer watershed associations and community members that came together in an effort to protect and preserve our water resources so future generations will have clean drinking water, watershed based recreation, a sustainable economy, and the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty that make each of our watersheds special. The GCWA is working to safeguard our water resources from the potentially adverse effects of Marcellus Shale natural gas development by monitoring streams for baseline data in the High-Quality watersheds of the South Fork Ten Mile Creek. |
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Izaak Walton League – Harry Enstrom ChapterWeb: www.iwlaharryenstrom.org Watershed Regions: Watersheds throughout Greene and Washington County, PA |
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The mission of the IWLA is to conserve, maintain, protect, and restore the soil, forest, water, and other natural resources of the United States and other lands; to promote means and opportunities for the education of the public with respect to such resources and their enjoyment and wholesome utilization. Our chapter’s Citizen’s Water Monitoring (CWM) program has been well recognized by many organizations including the DEP, EPA and the West Virginia Water Research Institute (WRI). The DEP water pollution division has been very helpful in determining the quality of water in our area. The training program we provide for water monitors has been accepted and recognized by WRI at West Virginia University. |
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Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team, Conemaugh Valley ConservancyWeb: www.conemaughvalleyconservancy.org Watershed Regions: Kiski-Conemaugh River Basin |
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The Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team is a program of the Conemaugh Valley Conservancy. Its goals are to educate and engage citizen stewards in maintaining, enhancing and restoring the natural resources of the Kiski-Conemaugh River Basin. The Stream Team was formed in 1998 to address the needs for more environmental education and citizen engagement in monitoring AMD in Armstrong, Cambria, Indiana, Somerset and Westmoreland Counties. Supported by strong partnerships with watershed organizations and citizen volunteers, the Stream Team successfully manages over 180 sampling sites, monitors 35 AMD treatment systems, and provides technical assistance to partner organizations. |
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Loyalhanna Watershed AssociationWeb: loyalhannawatershed.org Watershed Regions: Loyalhanna Creek Watershed |
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Founded in 1971, the Loyalhanna Watershed Association (LWA) strives to protect, conserve and restore the natural resources of the Loyalhanna Creek Watershed via the coordinated efforts of members, staff, and environmental partners. Comprised of over 2,500 miles of waterways draining 300 square miles of land, the watershed flows north from its headwaters near Laurel Mountain to Saltsburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. LWA staff actively monitor streams and abandoned mine drainage discharges using data loggers and seasonal macroinvertebrate collections. |
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Mountain Watershed Association; Yough RiverkeeperWeb: www.mtwatershed.com Watershed Regions: Indian Creek and greater Youghiogheny River Watersheds |
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Mountain Watershed Association is dedicated to protecting, preserving and restoring the Indian Creek and greater Youghiogheny River watersheds. We pursue on-the-ground restoration of past damage while also advocating on local issues (coal and shale gas extraction), as well as regional and national issues that have a local impact. We pursue increased stream protections and unsuitable for mining designations in sensitive areas. Through our Marcellus Citizen Stewardship Project (MCSP), advocate for tighter regulations on shale gas development. Water monitoring is conducted both by MWA staff, as well as with MCSP volunteers in collaboration with ALLARM. |
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Murrysville Stream Monitoring GroupWeb: www.dickinson.edu/allarm Watershed Regions: Watersheds throughout Westmoreland County, PA |
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The Murrysville Stream Monitoring Group was formed to monitor the quality of water in local creeks and streams. By establishing a scientifically sound baseline, the group hopes to be in a position to quickly detect changes in the water quality, caused by any number of detrimental activities. Volunteers are actively monitoring water quality using the Alliance for Aquatic Resources Protocol (ALLARM). |
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The National AviaryWeb: www.aviary.org Watershed Regions: Watersheds throughout Westmoreland County, PA |
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The National Aviary is America’s only independent indoor nonprofit zoo dedicated exclusively to birds. Located in West Park on Pittsburgh’s historic North Side, the National Aviary comprises more than 500 birds representing more than 150 species from around the world, many of them threatened or endangered in the wild. With support from the Three Rivers Quest, the Aviary’s Conservation and Field Research Department monitors changes in water quality in streams in Westmoreland County. We are helping to protect watersheds across the Appalachian region by focusing on the breeding and nesting habits of the Louisiana Waterthrush, an indicator species sensitive to water quality changes. |
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Nature Abounds; Pennsylvania Senior Environment CorpsWeb: www.natureabounds.org/SEC.html Watershed Regions: Watersheds throughout Pennsylvania |
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The Senior Environment Corps (SEC) program engages volunteers mostly aged 55 and over. SEC volunteers are engaged in numerous activities from water quality monitoring, stream habitat assessment, storm-drain stenciling, environmental education, community gardening, wildlife surveying, marking abandoned oil and gas wells, and cleaning up parks and trails. Since 1997, SEC volunteers have contributed over 2,000,000 hours, and their contribution is estimated to be of value to the state at over $3 million per year. Now under the direction of Nature Abounds, SEC conducts baseline water quality monitoring across nearly counties. |
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Pennsylvania Trout Unlimited Coldwater Conservation CorpsWeb: www.patrout.org/programs Watershed Regions: Watersheds throughout Pennsylvania |
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Protecting Pennsylvania’s valuable and high quality aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems begins by monitoring the headwaters to the state’s major rivers, the very areas that are being targeted for gas development. To protect these areas, Trout Unlimited has built a statewide network of volunteers, the Coldwater Conservation Corps (CCC), to monitor high quality streams and conduct visual reconnaissance in watersheds that are most vulnerable to the impacts of gas development. With over 350 members trained, CCC volunteers focus on protecting coldwater fisheries, and on achieving early detection of pollution events during oil and gas drilling activities. |
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Peters Creek Watershed AssociationWeb: www.peterscreek.org Watershed Regions: Peters Creek Watershed |
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The mission of the Peters Creek Watershed Association is to protect and conserve the natural resources of the Peters Creek Watershed, to remediate ecologically damaged elements of the watershed and to promote long-term stewardship and responsible resource use practices within the watershed.We conduct scientific assessments, inventories and research relevant to the natural resources of the watershed in order to develop and implement a watershed protection plan. This includes partnering with 3 Rivers Quest to monitor streams throughout the watershed on a regular basis. |
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Pittsburgh Botanical GardenWeb: www.pittsburghbotanicgarden.org Watershed Regions: Chartiers Creek Watershed |
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The Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is transforming 460 acres of abandoned coal mining land into the region’s first outdoor comprehensive botanic garden. Located 20 minutes west of the city, the Botanic Garden is conducting a complete reclamation project in the middle of the site and proceeding with the development of the first garden on the northern 60 acres. A water monitoring project at the woodlands pond is the basis for a treatment system currently under construction in addition to other water monitoring sites in partnership with 3RQ. |
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Powdermill Nature Reserve, Carnegie Museum of Natural HistoryWeb: www.carnegiemnh.org/powdermill Watershed Regions: Watersheds throughout Western Pennsylvania |
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Powdermill was established in 1956 to serve as a field station of Carnegie Museum of Natural History for long-term studies of natural populations—their life histories, behaviors, and ecological relationships. The Reserve is used by scientists to monitor and study changes in the local ecology and wildlife populations. Powdermill has a permanent research staff conducting studies in avian ecology, bioacoustics, long-term molt and bird-banding studies, forest succession, stream ecology, turtle demography, and more. |
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Shade Creek Watershed AssociationWeb: www.shadecreekwatershed.org Watershed Regions: Shade Creek Watershed |
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Shade Creek Watershed Association, referred to as SCWA (pronounced SQUAW) by it’s members, is an all volunteer non-profit organization founded in 1999 to protect and restore water and fish habitats. Our primary focus is water monitoring and treatment on Dark Shade Creek and its tributaries, but since then we have performed stream cleanups, roadside litter cleanups, and community outreach. The Shade Creek Watershed is located in Somerset County in the southwestern part of Pennsylvania. |
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South Branch Tunkhannock Creek Watershed Coalition, Countryside ConservancyWeb: www.countrysideconservancy.org Watershed Regions: Tunkhannock Creek Watershed |
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The South Branch Tunkhannock Creek Watershed Coalition is a citizens’ group formed in 2003 under the auspices of Countryside Conservancy to foster shared responsibility for the environment of the South Branch portion of the Tunkhannock Creek Watershed. The Coalition is a grassroots organization committed to maintaining the health of the Tunkhannock Creek watershed through raising community awareness and water quality monitoring. Since 2004, Coalition volunteers have conducted monthly monitoring of water quality at several sites along the South Branch. |
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Washington County Watershed AssociationWeb: www.pawccd.org Watershed Regions: Watersheds throughout Washington County, PA |
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The Watershed Alliance is an umbrella organization which serves as the fiscal agent for grants and coordinates the county-wide efforts of its member watershed associations. It is a non-profit organization, and is registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations. The Conservation District holds active membership in the Alliance. The Washington County Watershed Alliance data logger program has deployed 21 in stream continuous monitors in 10 out of 15 watersheds within the county. |
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Western Pennsylvania ConservancyWeb: waterlandlife.org Watershed Regions: Watersheds throughout Western PA |
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The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy protects and restores exceptional places to provide our region with clean waters and healthy forests, wildlife and natural areas for the benefit of present and future generations. More than 60 percent of areas identified as “important habitats” by the Natural Heritage Program’s County Natural Heritage Inventories lie within the Utica and Marcellus Shale. This includes more than 500 threatened and endangered species, and species of conservation concern. WPC assesses the condition of stream and riparian habitats at 30 focal areas for upland habitat assessment. Beginning in 2013, WPC conducted chemical and biological water quality monitoring activities at all aquatic sites and evaluated forest condition and the communities of interior forest birds in the upland areas. |
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Wysox Creek Watershed AssociationWeb: www.dickinson.edu/allarm Watershed Regions: Wysox Creek Watershed |
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The Wysox Creek Watershed Association works with stream bank stabilization efforts and the installation of dirt and gravel road best management practices in the Parks Creek Watershed in Bradford County. Parks Creek is a tributary of Wysox Creek, which begins in Windham Township and travels through Rome Township. Volunteers are actively monitoring water quality using the Alliance for Aquatic Resources Protocol (ALLARM). |
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Pennsylvania County Conservation DistrictsWeb: http://pacd.org/ Watershed Regions: Watersheds throughout Pennsylvania |
| Mission: In addition to the many volunteer organizations, watershed associations, and other nonprofit environmental conservation groups listed here, a number of Pennsylvania County Conservation Districts (CCDs) also facilitate surface water monitoring programs. We include these efforts because, unlike monitoring programs affiliated with government agencies such as those run by DCNR or DEP, these CCD programs rely on resources provided by academic programs, nonprofits, and private foundations. For additional details please visit the CCD individual websites: Armstrong Conservation District Crawford County Conservation District Elk County Conservation District McKean County Conservation District Warren County Conservation District |
Monitoring Based in West Virginia
Friends of BlackwaterWeb: www.saveblackwater.org Watershed Regions: Watersheds throughout the Mid-Atlantic Appalachian Highlands |
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Friends of Blackwater is a non-profit conservation organization working in the Mid-Atlantic Appalachian Highlands with a mission to protect key landscapes and watersheds, natural and human communities, and to support economic development that maximizes biodiversity and outdoor recreational. We work to clean up streams in the Blackwater watershed degraded by acid mine drainage, and work to restore trout to headwater streams in the Monongahela National Forest. |
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Friends of Deckers Creek – Clean Creek ProgramWeb: www.deckerscreek.org Watershed Regions: Deckers Creek Watershed |
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The Deckers Creek watershed is polluted by acid mine drainage (AMD), bacteria, heavy metals, sediment, trash, and general abandonment. The biggest threat to the watershed is AMD, which jeopardizes the environmental quality of Deckers Creek and its tributaries. The Clean Creek Program (CCP) monitors water quality and assessment of fish and invertebrate communities at 13 sites across the watershed, disseminates findings through an annual State of the Creek report to the community, and builds capacity with local businesses through CCP sponsorships to restore and protect Deckers Creek. |
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Friends of Hughes RiverWeb: www.facebook.com/FriendsoftheHughes Watershed Regions: Hughes River Watershed |
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Friends of the Hughes is a group concerned about the waters of the Hughes River. Our mission is to preserve, protect, monitor, and improve the waters of Ritchie County, which has over 100 miles of North, South, and Middle Forks of the Hughes River. |
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Guardians of the West ForkWeb: www.guardiansofthewestfork.com Watershed Regions: West Fork Watershed |
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Guardians of the West Fork Watershed is a volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the ecological integrity of the West Fork River, its tributaries, and its watershed. We monitor and assist agencies in monitoring biological, physical, chemical, and cultural characteristics of the watershed to identify sources of degradation and suggest their elimination. We also publicize the status of the watershed and encourage education and recreational enjoyment of the watershed. |
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Save the Tygart Watershed AssociationWeb: www.savethetygartriver.org Watershed Regions: ygart Valley River Watershed |
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Save The Tygart Watershed Association was incorporated in 2001 to improve and protect the water quality of the Tygart River and its tributaries. We are an “all volunteer” organization. All activities, such as water sampling and monitoring, are funded by membership dues, grants and charitable contributions. |
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Whiteday Creek Watershed AssociationWeb: www.savewhitedaycreek.org Watershed Regions: White Day Creek Watershed |
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Whiteday Creek runs between the borders of Marion and Monongalia counties in north central West Virginia. The Watershed Association’s mission is to maintain and improve the watersheds ability to support recreational activities in a safe and healthy environment, ensure that economic pursuits within the watershed comply with environmental protection regulations, and to maintain and improve its function as a habitat. Volunteer stream monitors are presently testing water samples at three different locations on Whiteday Creek. |
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Note that the monitoring methods described on this page detail the “typical” protocol used by the organization. Monitoring practices at each individual monitoring location may vary, and readers should contact the organization for more information on their program.
For a more detailed explanation of terms, such as descriptions of different methods, indicators, and quality assurance plans that groups use, see: A Guide to Water Monitoring Protocols.
For more information, please contact Kirk Jalbert: jalbert@fractracker.org
