SPRING ROUNDUP

We were busy bees this spring. We kicked off the season with some serious spring cleaning, an epic art show, and even dabbled in some scientific shenanigans. And guess what? We haven’t slowed down one bit since then!

1. Volunteers and the Schuylkill Action Network helped keep Pennsylvania clean at the annual Scrub and Pub on March 21. This group collected 1,660 lbs. of trash, equivalent to 35 water cooler jugs or 1.5 grand pianos. Special thanks to Upper Merion Township, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Pennsylvania American Water, Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area, the Philadelphia Water Department; and Aqua, an Essential Utilities Company. 2. In April, the 32nd Annual Christina River Watershed Cleanup occurred in New Castle County, Delaware. PDE partnered with the City of Wilmington this year to focus primarily on residential neighborhoods in the Brandywine Village section of the city. Volunteers at this site collected approximately 25 bags of trash, including old tires, wrappers, jugs of motor oil, and other debris. Volunteers from 11 sites in New Castle County collected more than 50 tons of trash to keep it from further polluting our neighborhoods and waterways.

3. In tandem with the Christina River Watershed Cleanup, PDE held an art contest focusing on the importance of clean waterways. PDE displayed entries at the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, where there was also a reception to celebrate contest participants and winners. From left: June Hazewski, third place; Natalie Orga, first place; and Katie Brown, second place. 4. LeeAnn Haaf, Ph.D., PDE’s Assistant Director of Estuary Science, sits on steps that have been created to research marsh flooding related to sea level rise. Villanova University installed the steps as part of a research project to discover how freshwater tidal plants, such as spadderdock (Nuphar advena), grow at different water elevations. Each step represents a different flood level, where potted plants are placed for study. The lower steps represent more flooding because the plants sit underwater for longer periods. In comparison, the higher steps would spend more time out of water. 5. Paxton Easton, PDE’s Science Intern, left, and Leah Morgan, PDE’s Estuary Science Coordinator, tag freshwater mussels, which helps PDE scientists keep track of and monitor the mussel growth in various study sites. 6. You’re on the hook! Thanks to the EPA and the Philadelphia Water Department for helping PDE celebrate Earth Day with our Trash Free Waters ad campaign. The ad was created from the winning entry in our 2023 Trash Free Waters art contest. The ad’s message reminds Philadelphians to avoid littering and keep trash out of our waterways. From left: PDE's Executive Director Kathy Klein, Philadelphia Water Department Commissioner Randy E. Hayman, the City of Philadelphia's Government Clean and Green Initiatives Office Director Carlton Williams, and the U.S. EPA Mid-Atlantic Region Deputy Regional Administrator Cathy Libertz. 