Sinnemahoning Watershed Association

06/09/2026

Check out this cool event that our friends at the Potter County Conservation District are holding!

06/06/2026

Did you know otters are an indicator species?

They won't tolerate polluted water, so spotting one is nature's own seal of approval for a healthy ecosystem!

North American river otters once lived in every major waterway in Pennsylvania, but they all but disappeared by the early 1900s due to industrial pollution and habitat loss.

Their return to our area is a genuine conservation win, and a sign that our local waterways are thriving!

(Image Credit: Garrett Shields)

05/28/2026

Big news!

We are thrilled to announce that the SWA was one this year’s recipients of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and BHE GT&S watershed mini grant!

This funding allows us to meet our financial obligations for the year so that we can continue to focus on our mission of conservation, education, and advocacy.

A huge thank you to WPC and BHE GT&S whose support makes the vital work of local conservation organizations like us possible. We couldn’t do it without you!

(Image: SWA Chairman John Dubel accepting the grant at the award ceremony on Tuesday, May 26, 2026)

05/21/2026

The weather is heating up, and so is tick season.

Warmer weather means more time to enjoy the beauty of our local waterways with fishing, kayaking, swimming, and hiking, but it also means spending more time in tick territory.

Ticks can’t swim, but they love the brushy, humid edges of the very waterways we love.

While Pennsylvania is home to several tick species, the blacklegged tick (also known as the deer tick) is the primary carrier of Lyme disease.

Tick bite prevention is your best defense:
➡️ Wear protective clothing while outside
➡️ Use an EPA-approved insect repellent
➡️ Do a full-body check after every outing

Ticks aren’t always easy to spot! They can attach in hard-to-reach areas like behind the knees, in or behind the ears, and on the scalp, so take your time!

If a tick does attach, have it dealt with as quickly as possible. Prompt removal lowers the chances of Lyme transmission.

(Image Credit: Eric Karits)

05/15/2026

A great way to learn more about the pollinators that keep our ecosystem thriving!

COMING SOON! 🐝🦋 Bees, Butterflies & Beyond! 🦇🐦

Get ready to explore the amazing world of pollinators with us at the Barbara Moscato Brown Memorial Library! 🌼🌿

📅 Monday, May 18, 2026
⏰ 4:00 – 5:00 PM
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Open to ALL ages!

Did you know that bees, butterflies, bats, and birds are some of Pennsylvania’s most important pollinators? Join Alyson Rotello, Environmental Education Specialist from Sizerville State Park, to learn all about these incredible creatures and the vital role they play in our ecosystem.

✨ Program Highlights:
🐝 Short educational talk
🎨 Make-and-take bumblebee craft
📖 Special themed story time

This is a fun, hands-on program perfect for curious minds of all ages—whether you love nature, crafts, or just want to learn something new!

📲 Registration is required to attend. Be sure to scan the QR code on the flyer to register! Or, you can call the library at 814-486-8011.

Come buzz, flutter, and discover with us—we can’t wait to see you there! 🌸🐝🦋

05/08/2026

What does a pufferfish, a blue-ringed octopus, and this tiny orange salamander have in common?

This is the eastern red-spotted newt.

These fascinating little amphibians start and end their lifecycle in the water, but they are most easy to find in their juvenile “red eft” stage, where they like to live in damp, forested areas.

While the youngest members of this species are just starting to hatch into tiny, gilled larvae now, last year’s hatchlings can still be found on land… especially after a good rain!

Red efts are easily identified because of their vibrant orange color, which is actually a warning to predators that they're highly toxic!

Eastern red-spotted newts contain tetrodotoxin. That’s the same neurotoxin found in pufferfish and blue-ringed octopi!

Have you spotted any red efts yet this year? Let us know in the comments!

(Image credit: Connor Scott McManus)

05/01/2026

It's nesting season for bald eagles!

While some bald eagles migrate, Pennsylvania is lucky to have them year-round. But February through June is the best time to catch them actively caring for their eggs and young eaglets.

Did you know…?

➡️ Bald eagles are a keystone species, meaning they play a critical role in keeping our aquatic ecosystems in balance.

➡️ More than half of their diet is fish, which means the health of our local streams and rivers directly determines whether bald eagles can survive and nest in an area.

➡️ They build their nests in tall trees along shorelines, so your best chance to spot one this season is to get out near the water and look up!

(Image credit: Thomas Shockey)

04/24/2026

Gardening season is here!

Before you head to the nursery, here's a friendly reminder that many popular ornamental plants are actually invasive species and can seriously disrupt our local ecosystem.

This year, consider going native-first when adding new plants to your lawn or garden. Our area is home to countless beautiful and diverse native plants that make stunning alternatives to common invasives.

Need help finding native options for your yard? Check out the resources for native alternatives to popular decorative plants that we dropped in the comments!

03/30/2026

We had a beautiful day yesterday for our annual clean-up of PA-120 with the Jim Zwald Chapter Trout Unlimited. Thank you to the 17 volunteers who came out yesterday to help clean up at least 19 bags' worth of trash (26 total, including what Randy and Pam previously did)!
Special thanks to Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) for the supplies and disposal of the trash!
Again, thank you to everyone who helped, and we hope to see everyone again next year!

03/26/2026

Shout-out to Driftwood residents Randy Bailey and Pam Baker, who collected 7 bags of trash while cleaning the roadside along Route 120 between Driftwood and Tunnel Hill!

Thanks, Randy and Pam, for helping to protect our local waterways and environment!

There is still more roadside to clean. Hope to see a big turnout this Sunday at noon at the black bridge in Cameron!