The latest edition of The Catalyst from the Butler County-based Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition features articles on Improving The Prairie Day and new employee Natalie Lamagna.  Kids!  Don’t forget the Super Solar Eclipse Word Search!

Improving The Prairie

On Saturday, January 20, 2024, DCNR’s  Jennings Environmental Education Center [nearly Slippery Rock in Butler County] held the 23rd annual Prairie Improvement Day.

It was a day when upwards of 80 members of the community pitched in to assist with resource management in the prairie [the only prairie ecosystem in Pennsylvania].

By removing shrubs and other woody growth that is competing with the native wildflowers and grasses, volunteer workers helped to ensure the prairie remains open and a viable habitat for the various plants and animals that call it home.

This unique prairie ecosystem is home to the blazing star flower (Liatrus spicata) and the endangered eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus).

These species, and many others, are shade intolerant and depend on full sun for growth and regulating body temperatures.

The work completed during this year’s Prairie Improvement Day will be apparent in late July and early August when the prairie is in full bloom.

All those who dedicated their time and efforts were thanked with a customized soup mug to take home and a buffet featuring 15 different types of soups generously donated by local restaurants, volunteers and park staff.

Thank you to everyone who attended and made the event a success!

An extra special “Thank you” to Prospect BSA Troop 33 who showed up before daylight to prepare everyone hearty breakfast sandwiches.

Celebrate The Bloom

DCNR’s Jennings Environmental Ed Center will hold its annual Celebrate the Bloom of the blazing star on July 27.  Click Here to sign up for updates on the celebration.

Natalie Lamagna

[Nonprofit] Stream Restoration Incorporated hired their newest environmental scientist, Natalie Lamagna, who started working for SRI this past August 2023.

Natalie is excited to be involved in a variety of watershed restoration projects and has had an interest in abandoned mine drainage ever since she completed an internship focusing on AMD pollution.

As part of the internship, she participated in SRI’s 2020 Statewide AMD Passive Treatment Snapshot project which involved sampling of streams and passive treatment systems.

Prior to working at SRI, Natalie received her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Saint Vincent College and received her Masters of Science in Environmental Science & Management from Duquesne University.

Natalie did research in Dr. Trun’s lab at Duquesne where she studied the abundance and role of sulfur reducing bacteria in AMD passive treatment systems.

Natalie had presented some of her research at two of the Westminster College and SRWC “Student Symposium on the Environment” events as an undergraduate and graduate student.

In December 2020, she participated in the virtual event on “Phosphorus Adsorption to Iron Precipitates from AMD.”

At the December 2022 event, she gave a poster presentation entitled “Microbial Sulfate Reduction in Acidic and Circumneutral AMD Passive Remediation Systems.”

She says her favorite part of the job so far is getting out in the field as well as meeting different watershed groups.

When not on the job, Natalie may still be spotted by water doing hobbies such as fishing, canoeing, and just enjoying the outdoors.

SRI and the SRWC are excited to have Natalie a part of our team!

Click Here to read the entire newsletter.  Click Here to sign up for your own copy.

For more information on programs, projects, upcoming events and how you can get involved, visit the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition website.  Follow them on Facebook.  Click Here to sign up to sign up for regular updates.

The Butler County-based Coalition was established in 1994 to restore land, water and wildlife resources in the Slippery Rock Watershed.

Related Articles This Week- Watersheds:

-- Choose Clean Water Coalition, Partners Release Newest PA Clean Water Legislative Briefing Book - Water Quality Issues, Legislative & Funding Solutions  [PaEN]

-- Saint Vincent College Professor's Internship Program Aims To Help Continue Cleanup Of Local Mine Drainage, Waterways In Westmoreland County  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Quality Board Meets March 12 On Land Recycling Program Cleanup Standards For More PFAS Chemicals; Revised Standard For Lead; Rulemaking Petition For Fletcher Run, Greene County By CONSOL Coal  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Highlights Grants To Plant Trees In Overlooked, Underserved Committees As Part Of Community Conservation Partnership Grants  [PaEN]

-- DEP: Clay-Like Material Polluting Marsh Creek Is Not Bentonite From Mariner East Pipeline Construction, But Naturally Occuring; Sunoco Cleanup Operation Finished  [PaEN]

-- Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition: Volunteers Make Jennings Environmental Ed Center Improving The Prairie Day A Success!  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension: March 22 Webinar - Forest Management & Climate Change - A Women's Perspective  [PaEN]

-- Frick Environmental Center In Pittsburgh Hosts March 14 Symposium On What Does Ecologically Responsible Land Stewardship Look Like?  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- In Memoriam: Fmr State Sen. Noah Wenger, Longtime Lancaster County Farming, Chesapeake Bay Advocate Dies At 89

-- Bradford Era: McKean Conservation District Awarded DEP AML Grant For Water Quality Assessment Of Scaffold Lick Run Watershed

-- TribLive: West Deer Twp. Considering Multi-Municipal Watershed Study In Allegheny County

-- LancasterOnline: Lancaster City Installs Fencing Around PFOA/PFOS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Contaminated Stream In Conestoga Pines Park

-- NextPittsburgh: Harmful PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Detected Near Pittsburgh Wastewater Treatment Plants

-- Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership: 24 PA Trout Streams That Deserve Conservation Status Update

-- Pike Conservation District March 21 Contractor’s Workshop, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

-- Pike Conservation District: Controlling Erosion & Sediment With Rock Construction Entrances

-- Penn State Extension: March 22 Webinar - Forest Management & Climate Change - A Women's Perspective  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Water Community Conference Set For March 14-15 In-Person, Virtual

-- Delaware RiverKeeper March 1 RiverWatch Video Report

-- WHYY: Bucks County Residents Fighting Youth Camp Development Proposal Near Wetlands

[Posted: February 26, 2024]

3/4/2024