Water Quality Monitoring
Centre County PA Senior Environmental Corps is an all-volunteer committee of Clearwater Conservancy of Central PA, Inc. It was founded in 2002, and as of March 2026, 70 adult volunteers are divided into 14 teams of three to six members to sample 27 streams at 43 sites in Centre County streams. Depending on the site, we have 4 to 24 years worth of data. All the data are readily accessible to the general public (www.ccpasec.org/index.php/data).
Two types of streams are monitored:
1) Marcellus Shale Region Sites: streams at risk of contamination by shale gas drilling include Beech Creek, Big Run, Council Run, Hayes Run, Jonathan Run, Little Sandy Run, Monument Run, North Fork of Beech Creek, Panther Run, Salt Lick Run, Sandy Run, South Fork of Beech Creek, Two Rock Run, and Wolf Run.
2) Non-Marcellus Shale Region Sites at risk of contamination from agricultural, municipal, or bordering property owner activities include Bald Eagle Creek, Buffalo Run, Elk Creek, Galbraith Gap Run, Halfmoon Creek, Lick Run, Little Fishing Creek, Little Marsh Creek, Moose Run, Muddy Creek, Sinking Creek, Slab Cabin Run, and Wallace Run.
For the majority of sampling sites, we are the only regularly visiting monitors, and therefore, we are “first observers” of physical or chemical changes at the site that could indicate a degradation of water quality.
We note water clarity, odor, and the presence of sediments; water and air temperatures; pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen content; water flow; alkalinity; nitrates, sulfates, and phosphates. Each team’s sampling kit contains a colorimeter, flow meter, pH meter/conductivity meter, dissolved oxygen meter, thermometer, measuring tape, and the chemicals needed to measure nitrates, sulfates, phosphates, and alkalinity.
Twice yearly, macroinvertebrates are collected and counted by the teams, and, based on diversity and abundance, a quality index is calculated.
This baseline allows us to detect significant negative changes in water quality that can be brought to the attention of the Centre County Conservation District Watershed Specialist for action. We have specific trigger points that tell us to report a problem. Sometimes we revisit the site and test new samples. Sometimes the County Watershed Specialists go to take a look.
Once a year, our Quality Control Team accompanies each team and runs duplicate samples using separate equipment to verify the calibration and accuracy of the team’s equipment.
Beginning in 2021, our data has been included in the Chesapeake Data Explorer by the Alliance For Aquatic Resource Monitoring (ALLARM), a network of water quality monitors for VA, WV, PA, MD, and NY.
We appreciate the willingness of private and public landowners to grant permission to sample water regularly on their property.
2026 Elected officers of Centre County Pennsylvania Senior Environmental Corps
President – William Smith, 240-353-6923; wx2dx.stormstown@gmail.com
Vice President – David Roberts, puzzlewuzzle.dr@gmail.com
Secretary – David Truesdale, dtruesdale38@gmail.com
Treasurer – Robert Fugate, 814 441-7722; robf@selgate.com
Appointed advisors:
Macroinvertebrate Collection Resource Advisor – Genevieve Robine, grobine@verizon.net
Supplies and Equipment Resource Advisor – David DeCapria; 814-441-4773; ddecapria@gmail.com.
Membership Resource Advisor – Jan Hoffmaster janhoffmaster63@gmail.com; 410-507-0801
Webmaster/Data Manager and Communications Resource Advisor – Robert Fugate (see above)
Public Relations Resource Advisor – Andy Norton; 814-409-8530; ahnorton@hotmail.com
Grants and Funding Resource Advisor – Gary Moorman; 814-867-0486; garywmoorman@gmail.com
Clearwater Conservancy of Central Pennsylvania, Inc.
Elizabeth Crisfield, Executive Director
2555 North Atherton St., State College, PA 16803
814-237-0400; elizabeth@clearwaterconservancy.org
Centre County Conservation District Water Specialist
Leigh Fehlman
414 Holmes St., Suite 4
Bellefonte, PA 16823
814-355-6817;ljfehlman@centrecountypa.gov
