Brodhead Watershed Association

Brodhead Watershed Association www.brodheadwatershed.org Non-profit environmental organization dedicated to protecting and improvin

In his book, Is a River Alive?, author Robert Macfarlane challenges readers to reconsider how they view the waterways th...
06/05/2026

In his book, Is a River Alive?, author Robert Macfarlane challenges readers to reconsider how they view the waterways that sustain our communities.

Rivers are not simply channels carrying water from one place to another. They are dynamic systems that support wildlife, shape landscapes, connect ecosystems, and ultimately make human life possible.

When a river suffers from pollution, habitat destruction, or overdevelopment, the consequences ripple outward through the entire watershed.

For watershed associations like BWA, this message resonates deeply.

The work of protecting clean water extends beyond monitoring stream quality and restoring streambanks, recognizing that healthy waterways are the foundation of healthy communities.

Every tree planted along a stream, every wetland protected, every pollution source reduced, and every citizen engaged in stewardship contributes to the long-term health of the living system we call home here in the Poconos, and along the Brodhead.

The question posed by Is a River Alive? invites us to see our local waters not as background features of the landscape, but as neighbors worthy of care and respect.

Whether it is a small headwater creek, a cold-water trout stream, or a major river flowing through a community, each waterway carries a story that began long before us and will continue long after us.

Supporting watershed conservation means investing in its future. Because clean water is not guaranteed.

It is protected through the dedication of community members who understand that what happens on the land ultimately affects what happens to the water.

If rivers are alive, then stewardship moves beyond environmental work to become an act of living relationship.

By protecting our watersheds today, we help ensure that future generations inherit clear water, thriving ecosystems, and the chance to experience the same sense of wonder that healthy rivers inspire.

HELP SUPPORT OUR CLEAN WATER MISSION DURING THIS YEAR'S NEPA GIVES DAY OF GIVING, HAPPENING RIGHT NOW UNTIL 7:00 P.M. TONIGHT. THE LINK IS IN THE COMMENTS.

NEPA Gives is LIVE! Please consider supporting BWA by making a donation, sharing our giving page, and helping us protect...
06/04/2026

NEPA Gives is LIVE!

Please consider supporting BWA by making a donation, sharing our giving page, and helping us protect the clean, abundant waters that sustain us all.

Every gift makes a difference. Every drop counts.

Together, we can keep the Brodhead watershed healthy, resilient, and beautiful for generations to come.

THE LINK TO OUR DONATION PAGE IS IN THE COMMENTS!

Water is so fundamental that it touches nearly every part of the environment, living organisms, and the economy. A compl...
06/03/2026

Water is so fundamental that it touches nearly every part of the environment, living organisms, and the economy. A complete list would be impossible because almost every biological, ecological, and economic process depends on water in some way.

At the broadest level, water is required for:

💧 Chemical reactions (the basis of life)
💧 Transport (moving nutrients, energy, sediments, and wastes).
💧 Temperature regulation (organisms, ecosystems, and climate).
💧 Structure and support (cells, plants, soils, and habitats).
💧 Energy production and storage (biological and economic systems).
💧 Reproduction and growth (of organisms and ecosystems).
Material processing and manufacturing (across nearly all industries).

Every known ecosystem, every human civilization, every agricultural system, and every form of life on Earth depends on water either directly or indirectly.

Depleting local water supplies doesn't mean we're just losing a resource. We are, in fact, weakening the physical system that supports food production, public health, industry, energy generation, ecosystems, and ultimately human settlement itself.

The quantity and quality of our water are impacted by everything around it. Losing quantity means rivers shrink, reservoirs empty, aquifers are overdrawn, and groundwater levels fall. Losing quality means that water still exists, but it is contaminated by pollutants, salinity, pathogens, excess nutrients, industrial waste, or other substances.

WHY LOCAL ACTION MATTERS

Water issues are often discussed at national or global scales, but many solutions are local. The condition of a nearby stream, wetland, forest, or aquifer can directly influence:

💧 Drinking water quality
💧 Wildlife habitats
💧 Flood risk
💧 Drought resilience
💧 Recreation opportunities
💧 and even property values

Protecting watersheds is one of the most effective ways to secure both water quantity and water quality because it addresses problems before they reach rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and aquifers.

And a watershed association is one of the few organizations specifically focused on protecting that entire connected system.

Supporting it is often one of the most direct ways a resident can contribute to the long-term water security in their own community.

This Thursday, gift your support to BWA when NEPA Gives launches its 2026 Annual Virtual Giving Event at 7:00 P.M. and help us to keep the Brodhead watershed healthy, resilient, and thriving - not just for today, but for tomorrow. 🩵

Water is the quiet foundation of a community. Every single day, it works behind the scenes.... flowing all around us, be...
06/02/2026

Water is the quiet foundation of a community. Every single day, it works behind the scenes.... flowing all around us, beneath us, and through us.

It shapes the world without demanding our attention. And because of that, if we aren't paying attention, we can miss the signs if/when something starts to go wrong. Often, it is already too late.

Water carries so much more than most people realize, supporting life, growth, and countless unseen processes every day. The inner workings of a watershed give life to everything it touches. And nothing would flourish without it. Life depends on it in ways that are sometimes easy to forget but impossible to replace.

Its absence would be felt immediately.

Like a devoted caretaker, water shows up wherever it is needed. It nourishes, cleanses, heals, and sustains without keeping score. It does not seek praise for the forests it grows, the fields it feeds, or the lives it sustains. It simply does its work.

The strength of water lies in its quiet persistence, its unrelenting generosity, and its ability to sustain life in a way that nothing else does. It fills the gaps, carries burdens, softens hard places, and patiently wears down obstacles over time.

People may admire the garden, the harvest, or the landscape, rarely thinking about the water that made it all possible.

BUT WE DO.

As a community fortunate enough to live among some of our state's most exceptional and high-quality waters, we are reminded of an important truth: the strongest forces are not always the loudest. Yet they are the most essential.

If you're planning to give this year for NEPA Gives, please consider supporting BWA, and help us protect the clean waters that sustain our landscapes and lives.

Online giving begins this Thursday at 7:00 P.M. and runs to 7:00 P.M. on Friday, June 5, 2026.

Every year, NEPA Gives shines a spotlight on what makes our region strong: neighbors helping neighbors, local organizati...
06/01/2026

Every year, NEPA Gives shines a spotlight on what makes our region strong: neighbors helping neighbors, local organizations addressing local problems, and communities investing in the future of the place we call home.

This Thursday at 7:00 P.M., when NEPA Gives kicks off its 24-hour online giving extravaganza, you have the opportunity to protect one of the Pocono region's most valuable resources: clean, abundant water.

For residents of Monroe County and the greater Pocono region, supporting your local watershed association is one of the most impactful investments you can make.

Watershed organizations are the frontline defense for the streams, rivers, wetlands, and groundwater that supply our drinking water, sustain wildlife, support outdoor recreation, and drive our local economy.

Most people only think about water when there's a problem. But the mission of watershed associations, both big and small, is to work every day to prevent those problems before they happen.

And that includes advocating for responsible development, and providing the scientific data and local expertise that decision-makers rely on when evaluating projects that could affect our water resources.

This work has never been more important.

The Pocono region sits atop some of Pennsylvania's most valuable water resources. Our forests, wetlands, headwater streams, and aquifers provide clean drinking water not only for local communities but for millions of people downstream. Once these systems are damaged, restoration is costly, difficult, and sometimes impossible.

Today, our region faces growing development pressures, including proposals for large-scale data centers and related infrastructure. These facilities have the potential to place significant demands on our water supplies, energy systems, and land resources.

The scale of some proposed projects has raised important questions across county lines and throughout the region about water withdrawals, wastewater management, stormwater impacts, habitat fragmentation, and the long-term sustainability of our region's natural resources.

Water is not just another environmental issue. It is the foundation of public health, economic vitality, agriculture, and our quality of life. Every resident, every business, every school, and every community depends on it.

The challenges facing our water resources are growing. So is the need for local organizations willing to stand watch. This year, for NEPA Gives, give to BWA and support clean streams, safe drinking water, healthy ecosystems, and resilient communities.

Make your gift count where it matters most. Support the people working every day to protect the waters that sustain Monroe County and the Pocono region. Because clean water doesn't protect itself.

SAVE THE DATE AND TIME

Thursday, June 4, 2026, with online giving kicking off at 7:00 P.M.

We will share BWA's giving page closer to Thursday!

Today is the -LAST DAY - to order your PA Native Plants online for BWA's Annual Native Plant Fundraiser. - PICKUP - is ...
05/26/2026

Today is the -LAST DAY - to order your PA Native Plants online for BWA's Annual Native Plant Fundraiser.

- PICKUP - is this - SATURDAY - May 30, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Brodhead Creek Heritage Center - 1539 Cherry Lane Road, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301.

Visit our website -> www. brodheadwatershed. org

Looking to add more beauty and wildlife value to your landscape? Native plants are one of the best ways to support polli...
05/18/2026

Looking to add more beauty and wildlife value to your landscape? Native plants are one of the best ways to support pollinators, birds, and healthy ecosystems right in your own backyard.

We're back with another round of native spotlights to help you get to know the perennial flowers, shrubs, and trees that you might want to add to your backyard.

Today's plant profiles are:

🌿 Bearberry - a tough evergreen groundcover that thrives in sandy or rocky soils, whose bright red berries feed birds and mammals.
🌿 Witch Hazel - lights up the fall landscape with fragrant yellow blooms when most plants are done flowering. It provides valuable late-season nectar for pollinators and shelter for birds and small wildlife.
🌿 Joe Pye W**d - is a pollinator powerhouse! Its tall mauve flower clusters attract butterflies, bees, and beneficial insects throughout late summer, making it a must-have for native gardens.

If you're interested in placing a plant order with us this year, please visit our website (www . brodheadwatershed . org) and click the link at the top of the page to shop for your natives.

Pickup day for plant orders is on Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. at the Brodhead Creek Heritage Center.

Planting natives doesn’t just make your yard beautiful; it creates habitat, supports biodiversity, and helps local wildlife thrive.

This year, plant with purpose and support your local watershed association! 💚 See less

LAST CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS!Dive into stream protection with us tomorrow, Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM...
05/15/2026

LAST CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS!

Dive into stream protection with us tomorrow, Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Brodhead Creek Heritage Center!

The BWA is welcoming new volunteers to our Streamwatch Program, and this is your chance to become a guardian for clean water in the Brodhead watershed.

Meet our Streamwatch Coordinator, connect with fellow Team Leads, and join Darryl Speicher for an engaging hands-on training that will give you everything you need to start monitoring and protecting our local streams and creeks.

Streamwatch is a fun, meaningful way to get outdoors, make a difference, and help keep our waters healthy for generations to come.

Link to registration is in the comments!

💧🩵💧

“The health of our waters is the principal measure of how we live on the land.” — Luna Leopold

Become a Streamwatcher for the Brodhead Watershed!Do you care about clean water, healthy streams, and protecting the pla...
05/07/2026

Become a Streamwatcher for the Brodhead Watershed!

Do you care about clean water, healthy streams, and protecting the places we love? Join our upcoming Streamwatch Program Training and become part of a community helping to monitor and protect the Brodhead watershed.

As a Streamwatcher, you’ll learn how to observe stream health, collect valuable data, and identify changes that can impact water quality, wildlife habitat, and community well-being. These volunteer observations help us understand the health of our waterways and respond quickly when problems arise.

By becoming a volunteer, you help ensure our streams and creeks remain healthy for our tiny macro friends, our fish, our wildlife, and for us and our future generations.

💧 No experience necessary
💧Training provided
💧 Great for nature lovers, students, anglers, paddlers, and anyone passionate about protecting local water resources!

Be part of something meaningful.

Your observations can make a real difference!

The training registration link is in the comments.

We're back with another round of native spotlights to help you get to know the perennial flowers, shrubs, and trees that...
05/05/2026

We're back with another round of native spotlights to help you get to know the perennial flowers, shrubs, and trees that you might want to add to your backyard.

Today's plant profiles are:
🌿 Short-toothed Mountain Mint
🌿 Great Blue Lobelia
🌿 Sweet Pepperbush

If you're interested in placing a plant order with us this year, please visit our website (www . brodheadwatershed . org) and click the link at the top of the page to shop for your natives.

Pickup day for plant orders is on Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. at the Brodhead Creek Heritage Center.

Planting native vegetation creates vital habitat pockets that provide food, shelter, and breeding grounds, even as development increases. These native plantings replicate natural conditions, giving wildlife places to nest, forage, and take refuge, even in our cities and suburbs. Planting natives transforms fragmented spaces into lifelines for biodiversity.

All proceeds from our annual native plant sale directly benefit BWA's clean water mission, helping to protect the streams, creeks, waterways, and wetlands of the Brodhead watershed.

This year, plant with purpose and support your local watershed association! 💚

Address

PO Box 339
Henryville, PA
18332

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15708391120

Website

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