Map of the Little Lehigh Watershed

Recently an association was formed by community members with the goal of protecting the valuable Little Lehigh Creek and it’s large watershed.

Community-based citizen-run watershed associations throughout Pennsylvania, work on the local level to protect, creeks, rivers, streams and lakes. In the Lehigh Valley alone, there are nine active associations representing the majority of Lehigh and Northampton County’s watershed. These organizations:

• Put on educational and informational workshops including topics such as rain barrels, wildlife, pollution prevention, stormwater management, and invasive plant control
• Carry out stream bank restoration projects to protect streams from eroding banks, create fish habitat, and improve water quality
• Monitor streams for bacteria, overall water chemistry, to help regulatory agencies manage stream health
• Put on community outreach events at local fairs and community days
• Do stream clean-ups to take care of illegal dumpsites and trash that collects in the streams
• Work with local landowners on taking care of their streamside properties
• Participate in local municipal government decisions that affect the streams in their watershed
• Team up with government agencies, schools, local community organizations, and municipalities to ensure their watershed is protected and that community stakeholders are knowledgeable about important water quality issues.

People who participate in local watershed organizations come from all professions and backgrounds. No technical knowledge of water quality issues, or watersheds, is necessary; only an interest in becoming involved and helping to protect your local waterways.

Whether you are a teacher, an accountant, a construction worker, a homemaker, or retired, YOU can become involved in helping create a citizen-based watershed association for the Little Lehigh Creek.

Again if you are interested in learning more, please attend an initial organizational meeting to be held at 7 pm June 20 at the Seven Generations Charter School, 154 E. Main Street, Emmaus.

If you have further questions, please contact the Watershed Coalition of Lehigh Valley (WCLV).

Rebecca Kennedy – President, WCLV : (215) 939-3419
Erin Frederick – Vice President, WCLV:  (610) 965-4397 x 137

FYI’s – The Little Lehigh Creek Watershed

•  covers 107 square miles in Lehigh & Berks counties

•  serves as a significant source of drinking water for 135,000 people, including Allentown, Emmaus & Salisbury

•  is home to a naturally reproducing trout population

• provides many opportunities for hiking, biking kayaking, fishing & birding

• is suffering from the effects of substantial residential and commercial development

• is threatened by the introduction of non-native plant species and animal species that compete with native species, creating an unbalanced — hence, unhealthy — ecosystem

• is on the verge of losing its unique status as a clean, urban water way if we do not become better stewards of this important resource.

*This information taken from ‘Welcome to the Little Lehigh Creek Watershed,’ an Allentown EAC publication