Fairmount Park Important Bird Area. Keith Russell, Audubon PA’s on-site ornithologist and outreach coordinator, describes why the East Reservoir and Fairmount Park in Philadelphia are important bird habitats. The Park was named as one of Pennsylvania’s Important Bird Areas in 2005. Tim Schaeffer, Executive Director of Audubon PA, outlines the potential of Fairmount Park as an exciting focus for a variety of environmental education activities in the community, the city and the region. Joe Schultz, of the Philadelphia Water Department, briefed the group on the history of the reservoir and current activities undertaken there. Audubon PA Fairmount Park Important Bird Area Background Philadelphia Water Department

John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, Audubon, PA From 1801 to 1806, Mill Grove, Montgomery County, was the first home in America of artist and naturalist John James Audubon. Today, the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove preserves one of the nation’s largest collections of Audubon art. An educational center of the National Audubon Society, Mill Grove is dedicated to connecting people with the natural world by interpreting Audubon’s legacy and encouraging guests to explore the estate, which remains largely as John found it—a haven for birds and wildlife. The Center consists of a 240-year old stone farmhouse and barn, a re-creation of John’s bedroom, original art from John’s masterworks Birds of North America, 175 acres of rolling woodlands and open meadows, more than 9 miles of walking trails, a bike trail linking the Perkiomen and Schuylkill River Trails to downtown Philadelphia and Fairmount Park just 18 miles by trail and year-round educational programs and special events. Jean Bochnowski, the Center’s Director, provides an overview of the history and activities of the Center to PA Environment Digest editor David Hess. Location: 1201 Pawlings Road, Audubon, PA 19403 Hours: Tuesday thru Saturday 10 to 4, Sunday 1 to 4 Information: 610-666-5593 Mill Grove Audubon Website

Conservation Volunteer: Debra Valentino

Conservation Volunteer: Debra Valentino: Debra and several of her neighbors came to the Conservation District over five years ago asking for help to save Canonsburg Lake. She organized the Save Canonsburg Lake Committee and has hosted many meetings at her home and at her expense for legislators, Turnpike Commission Officials, and Fish and Boat Commission representatives including the Executive Director. Debra has been the leader in working with the District to obtain the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant to prepare the Recreational Site Master Plan for Canonsburg Lake and is the Project Manager. Recently, Congressman Tim Murphy secured a $250,000 award for the Army Corps of Engineers to prepare a Section 206 Habitat Restoration Study for Canonsburg Lake due to Debra’s efforts. If Canonsburg Lake gets restored it will be primarily due to Debra’s determined and endless hard work and she has done all of this while still working full time for the U.S. Postal Service. Washington County Conservation District Awards Luncheon December 12, 2006. For more information, contact the Washington County Conservation District by sending email to: washcocd@yahoo.com or calling 724-228-6774.

Director Service Award - Richard Lehman

Director Service Award: Dick Lehman, who has been a District Director since 1999, is leaving the Board of Directors at the end of 2006. Mr. Lehman has represented the Washington County Farm Bureau and the Washington County Cattlemen’s Association on the District Board and has been one of the most active Directors in the entire history of the district. He has chaired the Dirt and Gravel Road Quality Assurance Board for eight years and has been our regional representative to the Ohio Basin Commission. Under his leadership, the District has completed over $500,000 in Dirt and Gravel Road Projects. He also led the effort to prevent the U.S.D.A. offices from moving away from the city of Washington and merge the Washington and Greene County Farm Service Agency County Committees. In his own watershed, Mr. Lehman helped organize the Cross Creek Watershed Association. Through his leadership as chairman the Association has completed a Watershed Assessment, Restoration and Protection Plan. Recently the Association obtained a grant, and with the help of the Avella Boy Scout Troop, completed a bridge crossing to extend the nature trail adjacent to the Avella High School. The Association has also installed a nature center at the Cross Creek Township Senior Citizens Center and plans to assist the township to develop the first municipal park in Cross Creek Township. Mr. Lehman has also worked between the Watershed Association and the Conservation District to obtain Growing Greener Grants to install streambank fencing, warm season grasses, and rotational grazing systems in the head waters of the Cross Creek watershed. “Dick’s enthusiasm, leadership, reliability, intelligence, and extra effort will be greatly missed,” said District Executive Director Gary Stokum. Washington County Conservation District Awards Luncheon December 12, 2006. For more information, contact the Washington County Conservation District by sending email to: washcocd@yahoo.com or calling 724-228-6774.

Conservation Consulting Firm - Biomost and Kyle Durrett

Conservation Consulting Firm: Biomost is the Consulting Firm that completed the District’s study and report on the Raccoon Creek Restoration Project that was funded by Growing Greener. The original intent of the grant was to study the Erie Mine discharge and Plum Run discharge in Burgettstown and make recommendations for how to attempt to treat these discharges. Kyle Durrett and Biomost looked imaginatively beyond the strict scope of the study and studied the various mine pools involved and how the pools interacted with one another. Kyle and Biomost also worked with Bruce Leavitt, an independent Geologist and Engineer that was looking at the interaction of mine pools through a grant from West Virginia University. As a result of this detailed work, the Biomost team - Margaret Dunn, Tim Danehy, Shaun Busler and Cliff Denholm-- were able to propose a reclamation plan called “ELF.” This system would collect five major mine pools in the Burgettstown area and treat close to 2,000 gallons per minute of contaminated mine water and return it to Raccoon Creek minus most of the contaminates cleaning up almost all of the major discharges in the Raccoon Creek watershed. Biomost and Stream Restoration Inc. are now working with the District to seek grants to implement the findings in this study. Washington County Conservation District Awards Luncheon December 12, 2006. For more information, contact the Washington County Conservation District by sending email to: washcocd@yahoo.com or calling 724-228-6774.