2012 Annual Membership meeting EvergreenConservancyhaditannualmembershipmeetingWednesdayJune6thattheTanomaEnvironmentalEducationCenter.Wehadgreatfood,asusual,andagreatturnout.Itwasnicetoseesomenewfacesalso!Boardmemberswereelectedandofficersvotedon.CindyRogerswillcontinueasPresident,MalcolmHermannasvice-president,SallyThorntonasournewsecretary,andMeganBaskervilleasactingTreasureruntilNovemberoruntilwecangetanewtreasurer.Anyone???
WepreviewedthefirstshowingofIUPproducedvideosaboutEv-ergreenConservancybyShannonCole.Herprofessor,Dr.Alijoinedusforthemeeting.WelovedthevideosandyoucannowseethemonYou-Tube!Thelinksareonourwebsite. ForsometimeEvergreen’sboardhashadsomanygreatvolunteersandwewanttotaketimetothankthemallforallthehelptheygiveinsomanyways.ThisyearwegaveoutourfirstEvergreenAwardtoLeeRoyVatter.
Tourist Bureau Mingle at Tanoma July 11th! PeopleconnectedwithtourisminIndianaCountymetandmingledwithEvergreenConservancymembersatTanomaWednes-dayeveningJuly11.SeveraltimesayeartheIndianaCountyTouristBureauscheduleseventsthatallowmemberstonetworkandlearnaboutamember’soperation–Theycallita“Mingle”.WehostedtheMingleinJuly. AfterafewsnacksandinformalminglingCindyRogersgavethosepresentahistoryofEvergreenConservancyandexplainedhowTanomafitsintotheformingofaconservancy.NoneofourguestshadbeentoTanomaandfewwereawareofwhatEvergreenConservancyisallabout. Cindythenledthegroupofover20onatourofoursystem.SheexplainedwhyAMDisaprobleminourstreamsandhowwecancleanitup. DanBoone,EvergreenConservancyBoardMember,gaveatourofalltherenewableenergyprojectsupandrunningatTano-ma.Dan’sbatteryoperatedlawnmowerwasthehitoftheevening.Itwaschargedbyelectricityfromoursolarpanels.Sometookatrialrun.Dr.Booneexplainedhowmuchmorepollutingagasolinelawnmoweristhananautomobile. Attheendoftheevening,PennyPerman–ExecutiveDirectoroftheTouristBureauraffledofsomegiveawaystoattendees.SomeweredonatedbyEvergreenConservancyandothersbytheTouristBureau. ItwasagreatnighttointroducemorepeopletoTanomaandEvergreenConservancy. Thankstoallmemberswhocontributedhomemadesnacksfortheevent.
www.evergreenconservancy.org POBox0783,Indiana,PA15701 [email protected]
Summer Newsletter, 2012#26
OUR MISSION:To advance the preservation, protection and stewardship of Natural, Cultural and Historical Resources in and around Indiana County, PA
“Improving Our Quality of Life”
TouristBureauExecutiveDirectorPennyPerman
SystemTour,CindyRogers
ElectricLawnMowerDisplay
DoorPrizes,EverybodyWins
AlternativeEnergyTour,DanBoone
POBox0783,Indiana,PA15701 [email protected] SummerNewsletter2012 page2
WHAT WE CONSERVE:Wildlife Habitat • Stream Access • Scenic Vistas • Land in need of Restoration • Working Landscapes • Historic • Cultural Sites
Evergreen Conservancy Project Updates
Tanoma:•Timhasbeenkeepingthepathingoodshape,Jasonismowing,DanisworkingontherenewableenergysystemwhileCindy,Malcolmandothershavebeendoingworkonthegrounds;JohnandPaularetakingregularwatertests.Ithasbeenabusysummer.Wehavehadseveralprogramsandmanyvisitors.Wealsoplantedabout15blueberryplantsaroundthesitethatweredonatedbyMusserNursery,leftoverfromtheHomerCityBoatlaunch.
•WearetrackingtheDOlevels.Thesystemisworkingbetternowandtheplantsarethickatthelowerend,helpingtoridthewaterofiron.DEPwillbedoingadditionalworkonthesite.WeareworkingwithDEPtomakeadditionalchangesandhopefullyincreasetheefficiently.SomegoodnewsweheardfromtheStreamRestorationfolksisthattheywillsupportgettinganaeratorsystemwitha$2000grant;sosometimeinthecomingmonths,weshouldbeabletostartprovidingaerationtothefirstpond.
•RenewableEnergy:AWRENgrantfor$300shouldhelpforamuch-neededgeneratorforthewaterturbine.Muchoftheprojectisonholdforawhile,sincewemustwaitfortheDEPtocarryoutanumberofimprovementstotheentiresystem.WeneedtocoordinatewithDEPoninstallingtheairandelectriclinesfortheaeratorduringtheirrenovationwork.Also,thewaterturbinewasirreparablydamaged,includingthepreviousgenerator,whenanewweirwasplacedatthelastoutletchannel.Thatmaynotbeasignificantloss,becauseitispossiblethattheDEPimprovementsmaynecessitaterelocationandredesignofthewaterturbine.Thelastwordwe’veheardisthatourprojectwasontheDEPscheduleforsometimethissummer.Theaeratorcouldberunwithjustthesolarpanelandwindturbineoutputs,andmaybeinstalledevenbeforeworkonthewaterturbineiscompleted.So,renewableenergyisstillverymuchawork-in-progressatTanoma.
Water Monitoring:•Ourdataloggerwatermonitoringprojectiscontinuingtogainmomentumaswecontinuetoinstalldataloggersandtrainmorevolunteersonthedatacollectionprocessinthefield.Wehavenowinstalled26dataloggersandareworkingwithmorevolunteerstodownload.Wehavedoneupgradesonthedataloggersoftware.Wewillbedoingyearlymaintenancethisfallonalltheloggers.
•Ifyouhaveacreekofconcernorwouldliketovolunteerwiththisprojectpleaseletusknow.Wewouldappreciatevolun-teerstohelpwiththeinstallationsandalsotohelpgooutonceortwiceamonthtodownloadthedata.
•Ifyouareinterestedinbecomingawatermonitoringvolunteerwiththisproject,pleasecontactusatinfo@evergreenconservancy.org.Timecommitmentsvary,andwearelookingforvolunteerstocomeonourbi-monthlyuploadswhentheirscheduleallows!
Visit our web site to learn more about these projects… www.evergreenconservancy.org
Evergreen’s Website
www.evergreenconservancy.org
ForTheLatestNews.
EvergreenConservancy
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And on YouTube:AboutEvergreenConservancy–crNa11j5J2M
TanomaAMDWetlands–yaGLM4Ob8Ks
RenewableEnergy–S3VOATx0mRY
New Board MemberWeareverypleasedtowelcomeSallyThorntontotheECboard.SallyisaretiredSpanishProfessorandDirectorofCriticalLanguagesatIUP.Shejoinedtheboardbecauseofaninterestintheenvironmentandthedesiretohelp.Shewasalreadyavolunteerwithourwatermonitoringprogram,helpingtodownloaddataloggerswithCarolCummins.
Join Evergreen Conservancy Today!Supporttheall-volunteerEvergreenConservancyanditsmissionthroughyourmembership.
Name:_____________________________________ Phone:__________________________________
Address:___________________________________ E-mail:__________________________________
City:______________________________________
State:____________________Zip:_____________
MembershipLevels:______$15:Student ______$25 ______$45 ______$70 ______$100______$1Youth(17andunder) ____________$Other ______$75:Business/OrgAdditionalDonation:$______Completethisformandsendcheckto:EvergreenConservancy,POBox0783,Indiana,PA15701
“Improving our Quality of Life”
EvergreenConservancy www.evergreenconservancy.org SummerNewsletter2012 page3
Environmental Education News•WewillofferprogramsinSeptembertoearntheBrownieBugbadgeandaJuniorFlowerBadge.
•July11thand19thGirlScoutsvisitedTanoma.•“BugsforBrownies”,grades2-3,October13thfrom9-12am•“EcoArt”,Grades6-10Saturday,November10thfrom1-4pm
Scouts at Tanoma June 22Tie-dyingteeshirts,examiningmacro-invertebrates,andidentifyingplantsandtreeswasallontheagendaforJune22,whentheEisenhowerElementaryJuniorTroop40942vis-itedTanoma.Thegirlsweretherenotonlytolearn,buttoalsocompleteaserviceproject.Eachyear,thetroopmustcompleteanumberofserviceprojects;wewereluckytohavethemchooseTanoma!Asagroup,thegirlsdecidedtore-stainTanoma’sthreewoodenbridges,whichdefinitelyneededanewcoat!Beforegettingtoworkthough,thetrooplearnedallabouthowthewetlandspurifiedthepollutedminewater,andsawhowweremoveironfromthesystem.Theygottoseetheironoxidefirsthandastheytiedyedteeshirtswiththepigment.Aftertie-dyingandlunch,the9girlsgottoworkonthebridges!Workingasateam(andlearningtonotpaintthefloorboardsfirst!)theycompletedtheprojectinrecordtime!ThestainandbrusheswereprovidedbyEvergreenConservancy.Afterstainingthebridges,thegirlsgotachancetocooloffinthecreek,astheycompletedastreamassessmentinCrookedCreek.Thisinvolvedusingkicknetstodiscoverwhatani-malswerelivinginthestream.Then,theyidentifiedthebugsandfoundoutwhethertheywereindicatorsofgoodorbadstreamhealth.(Results:TheheadwatersofCrookedCreekarehealthy,withlargenumbersofmayflies!)All9girlshadagreattime,completedaverymuchneededserviceproject,andgottohavefunallasagroup!
4H Group finds bugs at Tanoma in Crooked CreekTanomaWetlandshostedtwogroupsof4-HdaycampsonJuly11and18th.Aspartofa3daycampinthecounty,kidsspentonemorningattheWetlands,learningaboutourAMDsystem,makingacraftwithironoxide,anddoingabugcatch.Over15kidswereineachgroup!DebbieBeisel,coordinatorofthe4-Hcamp,ledthefirstgrouponJuly11th,showingthemhowwetreattheAMDwater,andledthemonabugcatchinCrookedCreek.OnJuly18th,ourOSM/VISTAMegan,andBoardMemberSally,metthegroup.Theyledthemonacompletetourofthesite,testingthewateratthebeginningandendofthesystem.(Theironinthewatercomingoutofthemineswasat9ppm.Bytheend,itwasdownto.5ppm!)Then,thekidswereabletomakeironoxidechalkasafuncraft.Whilethechalkwassetting,MeganandSallyledthegrouptothecreek,andtheyalllookedforbugs,todeterminethehealthofthestream.Crayfishwerethemostabundant.Everyonehadagreatday,andwelookforwardtohostingthemagainnextyear!
Chamber of CommerceAsamemberoftheIndianaCountyChamberofCommerceEvergreenConservancywillhost“BusinessAfterHours”,theChamber’smonthlymixer,onSeptember20thatBlueSprucePark.Snacks&refreshmentwillbeprovidedbyvolunteersforEC’sowe’rerequestinganybakedgoodsorotheritemsfromourextemsivenetworkofvolunteers.Activitieswillincludetoursofthetreatmentsystemandalternativeenergydisplays.
Ifyoubelievethatweneedtoprotectourplanet,visitwww.GoodPawsGoodCause.org,anon-linestoreforgoodpeopleandgoodpets!10%ofeveryFurTheEarth™purchasebenefitsEvergreenConservancyandTheConservationFund.Thanks to GoodPawsGoodCause for their year-end donation to Evergreen Conservancy.
Evergreen Conservancy – Grant Work•WecontinuetoworkonourColcomandGrowingGreenerGrants.Wearepurchasingandinstalling
dataloggers.ThewebsitecreatedbyIUPtokeepourdataisupandrunning.•MoregoodnewsisthatMeganBaskervillewasinstrumentalingettingaWRENgrantfor$300fora
much-neededgeneratorforthewaterturbine.
EvergreenConservancy www.evergreenconservancy.org SummerNewsletter2011 page4
Evergreen Events Calendar:•September5,2012–BoardMeeting7:00p.m.•September9,2012,2PM–PlantwalkforFriendsoftheParkatTanomabyCindyRogers
•September15,2012–HoodlebugTrailcleanup•September20,2012–ChamberofCommerceMixeratTanoma•September22,2012–Tanomamaintenance,IUP’s“IntotheStreets”students•September27,2012–11thAnnualOhioRiverWatershedCelebrationNet-workerCruise-ECwillhaveadisplaythere
•October12,2012,7PM–Evergreen’sFallProgram•October13,2012–“BugsforBrownies”,GirlScoutsatTanoma•November10,2012–EcoArt,GirlScoutsatTanoma
Evergreen AwardEvergreenConservancywashonoredtogiveourfirstEvergreenAwardtoLeeRoyVatteratourannualmember-shipmeetingatTanomaADWWetlandsonJune6th.Theawardisforapersonorgroupwhichhasdemonstratedgrass-rootsleadershipinneworinnovativetechnologytopreventharmtoourenvironment,participationinactivi-tiesthatshowadirectpositiveeffectonourenvironment,participationinactivitiesthatresultedinthepreservationofahistorical,culturalornaturalresource,and/orparticipa-tioninactivitiesofnotablestewardshipoftheenvironment.LeeRoycertainlymetourcriteria.LeeRoy,81,hasmanagedhis100acrefarmlocatedalongCrookedCreeksince1963.Hehasbeenactiveinmanyenvironmentalfocusedgroupsovertheyears,includingtheConservationDistrict,theGovernor’sCitizenAdvisoryGroup,YouthConservationDayswiththeKeystoneSportsmans’Club.HasdonehuntersafetytrainingasamemberofPAFederationofSports-men,NationalParksandConservationAssociationCitizens
againstWaterLossDuetoMining,PAForestryAssocia-tion,KenSinkChapterofTroutUnlimited,ConservationandEnvironmentalResourcesCouncilforDCNR,CrookedCreekWatershed,IndianaCountyPennsylvaniaSeniorEnvironmentalCorps,andEvergreenConservancy.Hehasbeenahuntingandtrap-pinginstructor,rifleandpistolinstructor,anda4Hinstructor.HeinitiatedGrowingGreenerprojectssuchastheKeystoneWetlandAssessmentandRedesignProject,andCrookedCreekandCampbellRunStreamBankRestorationProjectatFalconPark.Hewasinvolvedineffortstoeliminatemin-ingpollutionnearErnest.Minedischargesandrunofffrom300acresofslagandwastecoalhasdrainedintoMcGeeRun,atributaryofCrookedCreekfordecades.
LeeRoyhassaid,“ConservationofournaturalresourcesissomethingthatI’vebelievedinforalongtime.”**Don’tforget–ifyouhavesomeoneyouwouldliketonominatefornextyear’sawardpleaseletusknowandfilloutanapplicationfoundonourwebsitewiththeperson’sorgroup’sinformation.Thanks!!
Fall ProgramAFallprogramisplanned,featuringtheever-popularWildlifeConservationOfficerPatrickSnicklesreviewingbobcatsinPennsylvania.It’sOctober12at7PM,andthelocationwillonceagainbetheBlueSpruceLodgeatBlueSprucePark.
Friends of Yellow Creek SeptemberfestFriendsofYellowCreekishavingits3rdannualSeptemberfestonSeptember29thfrom9:00to4:00atYellowCreekStateParkBeacharea.Freemusic,boating.Checkwww.foyc.orgformoreinformation.energydisplays.
