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About TCCCA |
Volunteer Stream Monitoring In October 2004, TCCCA kicked of its volunteer stream monitoring program. In partnership with Elizabethtown College and the County Conservation Districts, TCCCA has established six monitoring points on the main stem Conewago. Each point will be monitored twice a year (spring and fall). Each point is monitored for temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity and alkalinity. In addition, macroinvertebrate samples are taken in order to determine what kinds of aquatic insects are living in the stream. Fish surveys will also be taken at select points when equipment and weather permits.
TCCCA's volunteer monitoring began with in April 2002 by hosting an event known as the Watershed Snapshot. The Snapshot program is sponsored by DEP’s Citizens Volunteer Monitoring Program whereby volunteer stream monitors from all across the state participate in a day of stream sampling. The Snapshot has become one of TCCCA's most popular activities, drawing wide interest from kids and adults alike. The program was repeated in April 2003 and May 2004. Points sampled at past Snapshots include the main stem Conewago at Aberdeen Mills, Old Hershey Road and Lawn Community Park, and the Little Conewago Creek at the Hess Farm on Gingrich Road. TCCCA continues to use the Watershed Snapshot protocol for its expanded monitoring program. Additional points on the main stem Conewago are monitored by Milton Hershey School students. Lower Dauphin High School Ecology Club samples a point near the mouth of Brills Run, a Conewago tributary. Results of previous sampling consistently show that the upper watershed enjoys high water quality. Water quality becomes poorer in the middle and lower watershed.
The next sampling event will be TCCCA's Fall "Watershed Snapshot" on Saturday, October 4, 2007 (rain date October 11). All six monitoring points will be sampled. Volunteers will split up into three groups and sample two points each. Volunteers should meet at the Mill Road Elementary School at 9:00 AM. Bring wading boots and fishing licenses (for those 16 years of age and older). On June 23, 2007,
TCCCA, with the assistance of biologists from RETTEW Associates and
the Lancaster and Dauphin County Conservation Districts, conducted a Conewago Fish Survey.
TCCCA sampled the Conewago at four points to determine the
diversity of the stream's fish population. A total of 32 fish
species were identified. Species included smallmouth bass, walleye,
tessellated and banded darters, channel catfish, and margined madtom.
White sucker was the most common species. This study replicated an
study originally completed
in 1973 by sampling the same four points over thirty years later.
Many of the same fish species were found over thirty years later, and
number of species remained virtually unchanged (33 found in 1973).
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