What We Do                North Pocono CARE is a local, all volunteer organization dedicated to preserving the environment in the North Pocono area.  Our activities fall into three broad categories - running educational programs, conducting water quality monitoring and taking such other actions as are appropriate to preserve our environment.                Among our educational programs have been presentations on the birds of the Pocono Plateau, the importance of streamside buffers, the threat of invasive species and the collection and identification of macroinvertebrates.                 We have an active stream monitoring program.  Volunteers monitor 8 locations along the Lehigh River and its tributaries.  Currently we test water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity and nitrate-nitrite on a monthly basis and we may add additional parameters in the future.  In addition, we examine the macroinvertebrate community on the Lehigh River on an annual basis with the assistance of Stroud Water Research Center.               North Pocono CARE received a Growing Greener Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in 2002.  Funds from DEP, as well as technical assistance from the Consortium of Scientific Assistance to Watersheds, have helped to make these programs possible.               After examining the water quality monitoring results by DEP and others, North Pocono CARE concluded that the headwaters of the Lehigh River and its tributaries were actually of a higher quality than they were rated.  Under these circumstances, there is a process provided by the State to change the rating.  North Pocono CARE put together the necessary scientific petition to have these waters recognized at the highest level, Exceptional Value, in order to protect this water quality.  The petition was accepted for study by the Environmental Quality Board and we are awaiting the results.

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Copyright © 2005 North Pocono Citizens Alert Regarding the Environment
Last modified: 02/25/09