A Quick Overview of the Project

A More in Depth Look at the Monitoring Program

Problem Definition and Background

Monitoring Objectives

What will be Monitored

Monitoring Sites and Descriptions

Preliminary Results from Data Collected

A QUICK OVER VIEW OF THE PROJECT

• Program is assisted by The Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring (ALLARM) at Dickinson College
• Formed to monitor the health of the Shermans Creek, especially because of increasing economic and residential development
• Will gather pre-existing data, and conducting water quality monitoring
• Data collected includes:
1. Air and water temperatures
2. Dissolved Oxygen
3. Nitrates
4. Alkalinity and PH
5. General weather, stream and stream-bank conditions
• Will be trained in identifying biological indicators such as Fecal Coliform and Benthic Macroinvertebrates (both which can inform us about the biological health of the creek and it's response to pollution)
• The data will be used to provide public education on this community resource
1. to target areas for restoration and protection projects
2. to help the county and municipalities with land development plans that protect the Shermans Creek.
• Program involves a once a month testing, one day of the second weekend of each month, and an occasional "specialized" testing throughout the seasons
• ALLARM and The SCCA provide the Chemical test kits and training for you

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A More In Depth Look at the Monitoring Program

PROBLEM DEFINITION AND BACKGROUND

 The Shermans Creek Conservation Association was formed in the winter of 1998 in order to protect and preserve the watershed and environment of the Shermans Creek and it's watershed.  After gathering information regarding the suspected septic dumping, chemical run-off, dumping of trash and garbage, and the advancing economic development of this community, the Association decided to organize a water testing program to monitor the watershed.
 

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MONITORING OBJECTIVES

1. Provide information and awareness concerning the health and safety of the watershed to residents and local community officials.
2. Monitor the water for any pollution sources affecting human recreational safety, specifically swimming holes.
3. Collect data regarding habitat and water quality for natural resource preservation or restoration.
4. Identify any sources of illegal septic discharge or chemical pollutants.
5. Establish a baseline to protect and preserve the watercourse for future development planning.
    

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WHAT WILL BE MONITORED

Historically speaking, sometime in the mid 1700's, The Pennsylvania Legislature declared The Shermans Creek to be an official Public Right of Transportation and Thoroughfare and was also used as a part of the route West.

Today the Shermans Creek is mainly used for recreation purposes.  The watershed has both cold and warm water fisheries and is known for it's Bass and Trout population.  It is used heavily for recreational purposes by many canoe and kayakers and also for swimming and picnicking.

Being a very rural and agricultural county, there are areas of the creek that are affected by runoff of fertilizers and animal waste due to the amount of farms and of dairy herds. There have also been many residents' complaints of questionable substances spread onto adjoining properties and also illegal dumping of septic waste into the stream.

Certain sections of the creek in the initial testing areas have been known to be one of the State's best Bass fishing areas.  There have been many Herons, Egrets and other Water Fowl sited in these areas along with a variety of reptiles, amphibians and a large variety of mammals depending on the Creek as a food and water source.

Two sites within a 3-mile stretch are used often during the summer months as swimming and picnicking areas. They are also primarily used as boat launching sites.

Texas Eastern Pumping Station had at one time, several PCB dump sites near the creek and had contaminated certain ground water sources.  There are still suspected sites still left in the surrounding areas and PCB's are something we are on the look out for.

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MONITORING SITES AND DESCRIPTIONS

Initially, the SCCA intends to focus on the Shermansdale and Landisburg portions of the Shermans Creek.
In the next year it is hoped to monitor further into the western end of the Shermans Creek and in the future, possibly out towards the Susquehanna River.

• Warm Springs Lodge Aread
• Route 34/ Near Pisgah State Road (Gregory Sieber Property)
• Route 34/ Shermansdale Bridge (Downstream Site from Brunners PSD)
• Airy View Road (Lupfers Sewage Treatment)
• Iron Bridges Swimming Area (Frank Wielga Property)
• Fisher's Farm (Dark Hollow/ Mt. View Road)
• Habitat Study Site (Lions Park
• Dellville Dam Swimming Area

See Preliminary Results from Data Collected
 

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