Madelyn Garcia, Watershed Specialist
When you live in a county with over 1,800 miles of streams, water is part of everyday life. From fishing and kayaking to the simple act of turning on the tap, Pike County’s clean water is one of its most valuable resources. Protecting this legacy takes dedication. Since the early 1990s, the Pike County Conservation District (PCCD) has been keeping tabs on our streams through a program built on science, teamwork, and long-term commitment: the Surface Water Monitoring Program.
The Surface Water Monitoring Program began in the mid-1990s with a simple mission: study how sewage outfalls were affecting water quality. As on-lot sewage systems became more common and regulatory oversight increased, the focus shifted to a watershed-scale approach. We started asking bigger questions.
How do streams respond to land use changes?
Are there differences between headwater streams and areas with more development?
What do these trends mean for our long-term water quality?
Our sampling methods have evolved over time as well. What once relied on larger canvas nets has transitioned to more efficient D-frame nets, improving how we collect and process samples in the field. Biological assessment tools have also advanced, allowing for more consistent and reliable evaluation of stream health.
We continue to support this work by partnering with experienced professionals, including a licensed taxonomist and a permitted electrofishing specialist, ensuring our data collection remains accurate, consistent, and grounded in best practices.
At its core, the program is about understanding the story a stream can tell. To understand it, we use a combination of physical, chemical, and biological assessments that together paint a full picture of stream health. These assessments allow us to evaluate how well the stream’s natural functions are performing, such as supporting fish populations, maintaining water quality, and sustaining healthy ecosystems. Based on these findings, we can recommend restoration or enhancement projects where needed—or determine that no immediate action is necessary if the stream is functioning well.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
When we combine these elements, we can determine whether a stream is thriving, struggling, or somewhere in between.
Following the Fish and the Bugs:
Fish and macroinvertebrates are more than just residents of Pike’s streams; they are the storytellers of our ecosystem.
Macroinvertebrates are small aquatic insects that can be seen with the naked eye. They live on rocks, leaves, and the streambed. Some are extremely sensitive to changes in oxygen levels or sediment, while others can tolerate disturbance and recolonize quickly. Because of this, macroinvertebrates serve as powerful indicators of water quality. When their community structure changes, it is often the first sign that something in the stream environment has shifted. PCCD has sampled macroinvertebrates every spring, following a three-year rotation, to track these subtle changes across time and watersheds.
Stonefly larvae are macroinvertebrates that are typically only found in streams with higher water quality due to their sensitivity to excess nutrients, pollutants and sediment. (Credit: Katie Bartling)
Fish tell another part of the story. Population surveys help us understand which species are present, where they spawn, and how their numbers change year to year. PCCD samples fish communities in the fall on a five-year rotation, documenting everything from species composition to juvenile abundance.
Within these fish communities, certain species can tell us even more about overall stream conditions. One of the most important is Pennsylvania’s only native trout, the brook trout! it is closely tied to cold, clean, well-oxygenated streams. Brook trout rely on forested headwaters, groundwater inputs, and stable habitats to survive. Because they are so sensitive to warming temperatures and pollution, their presence is a strong indicator that a stream is in excellent condition.
Former Watershed Specialist Rachael, surveying one of the many creeks found in Pike County.
Over the past several years, PCCD’s stream monitoring program has continued to grow in both scope and impact. Through consistent fieldwork, improved methods, and strong partnerships, the District is building a clearer picture of water quality across Pike County. From headwater streams to larger river systems, each site contributes valuable data that helps track changes over time and guide conservation efforts where they matter most.
This work is driven by a dedicated team effort. Watershed staff coordinate everything from site selection and field sampling to data management and collaboration with partner agencies. Other District staff support monitoring efforts in the field, assisting with equipment, habitat assessments, and data collection. Together, they ensure that every fish survey, macroinvertebrate sample, and water quality reading adds to a growing understanding of our local waterways.
Just as important are the landowners who make this work possible. Many have generously provided access to sampling locations for years, allowing the District to maintain long-term monitoring sites. That consistency is key to understanding trends and protecting the high-quality waters Pike County is known for.
As the program continues to evolve, PCCD is refining its approach to better reflect the natural structure of our watersheds. By focusing on watershed-based monitoring, the District can better understand local conditions and respond to changes where they are happening.
At the same time, we are strengthening our partnerships to make this work more connected and accessible to the community. This year, we are collaborating more closely with the National Park Service on both sampling efforts and public programming. Initiatives like our summer Hikes in Pike series at George W. Childs Park bring people directly into the landscapes we study, creating opportunities to experience these waterways firsthand while learning about the science behind them.
We are also continuing to expand and refine our educational materials in-house. From updated presentations to interactive StoryMaps and new outreach tools in development, the goal is to make our work more engaging, approachable, and relevant to the people who live, work, and care about Pike County.
Adam’s Creek Upstream Split, 2021
Clean water takes science, planning, and people who care. The Surface Water Monitoring Program is how we turn decades of observation into action. By studying the organisms that live in our streams, we learn how to protect them—and in turn, protect our communities, our recreation, and our future.
Every drop tells a story, and together, those stories help keep Pike County’s waters among the cleanest in Pennsylvania.
Protecting Pike County’s streams starts at home. Here are a few simple ways you can make a difference:
To learn more or get involved, visit our Partners in Conservation page. Every action, big or small, contributes to healthier waterways for our communities, wildlife, and future generations.
