Listen In!
Welcome to The Conservation Podcast, the Pike County Conservation District’s audio series designed to help residents and community members learn more about the environment, local natural resources, and conservation topics that affect life in Pike County and the surrounding region. Each episode features engaging conversations with District staff and partner experts on subjects ranging from water and watershed science to habitat health and community stewardship, offering insight, education, and inspiration to listeners who care about protecting the world around them.
Season 4 Episode 1 - Deep Roots: A Legacy of Leadership
We’re back! Season 4 kicks off with a fantastic conversation as our Communications Coordinator, Emily Granville, sits down with two of our Board Members, Chairman Scott Savini and Vice Chair Kelly Stagen. Together, they dive into how the District’s story began, how it’s grown, and the people and moments that shaped us along the way.
From the evolution of the Board to community influence to their hopes for the future, we cover it all. Thanks to the passion and leadership of our Board of Directors both past and present, the District continues to thrive. Tune in and join us for a fun and inspiring start to the season!
Season 3 Episode 4 - Stormwater...and Rocks!
In our latest episode of The Conservation Podcast, our Communications Coordinator Emily Granville talks with our own District Engineer Chris Meszler about the critical role of stormwater management in protecting local geology, ecosystems, and communities.
From the basics of stormwater to the geological challenges engineers face, common plan pitfalls, and even a quick game of Plan Check or Plan Wreck, you'll hear it all! Plus, Chris offers practical tips for homeowners and shares success stories where smart stormwater planning prevented flooding and preserved natural resources.
Season 3 Episode 3 - Surface Water Rocks!
This is the third of our quarterly episodes of 2025 which will each break down a subtopic of "hydrogeomorphology," or the study of how water and landforms interact.
In this episode, our Watershed Specialist Rachael Marques chats with Mike Leggiero from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about how surface waters (streams, rivers, wetlands) and geology interact.
Learn about CLORPT, hillside wetlands, and more!
Season 3 Episode 2 - Groundwater Rocks!
This is the second of our quarterly episodes of 2025 which will each break down a subtopic of "hydrogeomorphology," or the study of how water and landforms interact.
In this episode, our very own Watershed Specialist Rachael Marques and Kurt Wagner of the PA Rural Water Association chat with PCCD Communications Coordinator Emily Mansfield about how groundwater and geology interact.
Listen to get answers to questions like "How does geology affect a place's water quality," "Why do some communities get their tap water from aquifers and some from surface reservoirs," and more!
Below are some online resources Kurt mentions in the podcast:
Surficial Geologic Map of Pike County - PA Geological Survey
Pike County Groundwater Quality Assessment (2007) - USGS
Geology & Mineral Resources of Pike County - PA Geological Survey
Season 3 Episode 1 - Hydrology Rocks!
This is the first of our quarterly episodes of 2025 which will each break down a subtopic of "hydrogeomorphology," or the study of how water and landforms interact.
Our very own Resource Conservationist Ally McGee and Wayne Conservation District Watershed Specialist Olivia D'Amore chat with PCCD Communications Coordinator Emily Mansfield about how water and geology interact.
Listen to get answers to questions like "How did the Delaware Water Gap form," "Why do we get waterfalls," and more!
Season 2 Episode 11 - Mini Episode!
For the second season of The Conservation Podcast, we've been interviewing some of the folks we work with at other conservation organizations around Pike County and the surrounding area.
To wrap up the year, we asked a few of them to share what being part of the Pike/Wayne Conservation Partnership means to them. Listen to this short 5-minute "mini-episode" to hear directly from them.
Season 2 Episode 10 - Making Sense of Microplastics
What are microplastics? Where do they come from? Why is their presence in the environment concerning?
This month, our very own Rachael Marques, Watershed Specialist, joins the podcast to put microplastics under the microscope.
Season 2 Episode 9 - Sneak a Peek into PEEC
Season 2 Episode 8 - Diving Deeper into Lake Wallenpaupack
Season 2 Episode 7 - Planting the Seeds of Energy Efficiency
Season 2 Episode 6 - Forest Foes
Shelby Chorba, Program Manager at Northern Tier Hardwood Association, joins for this episode to chat about common invasive species in NEPA forests, their impacts, and ways to mitigate their destruction.
Season 2 Episode 5 - No More Pondering - Ponds Explained
Peter Wulfhorst, Extension Educator for Penn State Extension Pike County, joins for this episode to talk about what makes a pond different from a lake, how ponds form, and tips for those who manage a pond on their property.
Season 2 Episode 4 – Greener Gardening
Susan Detrick, Penn State Extension Master Gardener Coordinator for Pike & Monroe Counties, joins us for this episode to share all you need to know about sustainable gardening. Tune in to learn how to keep your soil healthy and plants thriving- all while supporting our natural resources and ecosystems!
Season 2 Episode 3 – The Dirt on Clean Fill
What’s the difference between dirty dirt and clean fill? Join us with Kristina Heaney, District Manager at the Monroe County Conservation District, to find out!
You can find the Form FP-001 Certification of Clean Fill referenced by Kristina here on the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)’s website.
Please note that the maple sugaring program described in the episode has passed for 2024, but stay tuned for next year’s program as well as all the upcoming spring and summer events referenced in this episode!
Season 2 Episode 2 – Hidden Geocache Treasures in Pike County
There's hidden treasure in Pike County, PA-- and anyone can join the treasure hunt! In this episode, Jess Yoder, Assistant Planning Director and Preservation Planner at the Pike County Planning & Mapping Office, shares the basics of geocaching, how to get started searching our area, and some of her favorite geocaching stories.
Season 2 Episode 1 – The Forestry Frontier
Forestry-- it's the first frontier of season 2. Join us for an interview with Pike/Monroe County Service Forester Logan Goddard and Fire Forester Garrett Beers from PA DCNR as we discuss their favorite forestry factoids, sustainable forest management practices, and how deer affect our woods.
Season 2 Episode 0 – Trailer
Check out this short trailer for an overview of our second season! We'll be chatting with folks from some of our local conservation partner organizations.
Season 1 Episode 8 – Soil Conservation
Jeremy Oettinger, PCCD Resource Conservationist and resident soil expert sits down with our host to talk soil and the ways that you can conserve soil on your property!
A new resource from the District that will help you keep the soil in your yard healthy and thriving.
Season 1 Episode 7 – Road Maintenance for Conservation
Chris Ingulli the head of the Pike County Conservation District’s Dirt, Gravel, and Low Volume Road Program joins host, Devan George to talk about roads! They discuss what road maintenance has to do with conservation, and how you can use road maintenance to benefit the environment.
This episode was originally released as part of the 2020 Road Maintenance workshop, a program designed to educate local road maintenance workers on conservation issues.
Season 1 Episode 6 – Earth Day Mini-sode
Join host Devan George for a special Earth Day Mini Episode! Learn the exciting history of this holiday, how it spread worldwide, and how you can celebrate while maintaining a safe social distance.
Season 1 Episode 5 – Invasive Species
Join host Devan George to learn about invasive species. What are invasive species, how do they spread, and how can we help to stop the movement of these dangerous invaders.
Season 1 Episode 4 – Properly Maintaining Your On-Lot Septic System
Brian Oram from B.F.Environmental and the Keystone Clean Water Team joins us to teach us the Do’s and Don’ts of on-lot septic systems. Proper maintenance of these systems is an important part of caring for our watershed!
Season 1 Episode 3 – Get to Know the Water in Your Watershed!
In this episode, our senior Resource Conservationist, Ellen Enslin, teaches us about the types of water in our watersheds. There are many types of water bodies and wetlands here in Pike County, and Ellen gives us a tour of these types. Then we discuss how we can lessen our impact on our water resources.
Season 1 Episode 2 – Water quality for Homeowners
Now that we have learned about watersheds, listen to this episode to learn about ways that your can improve your home and help preserve water quality. Our resource conservationist, Marianna Quartararo, teaches us about rain gardens, rain barrels, and bioswales.
Season 1 Episode 1 – Watersheds
All land is divided into watersheds, and we all live in one, but can you name your watershed address? Knowing about watersheds will inform the rest of our episodes and is an important way to view the environment.
Listen to this episode to learn about the watersheds in Pike County from our Watershed Specialist, Rachel Posavetz.
