Threats To Our Watershed

Considering the quality of our watershed, one might conclude that we are reasonably safe from degradation. Such is not the case. There are six major and, for the most part, difficult to control factors that jeopardize the variety and health of our waters, wetlands and wildlife.

     1. Rapid Growth - Our county, Monroe County, is the second fastest growing county in the state. The first is Pike County, but Pike only has a population base of 10,000 in comparison to Monroe which already has a population of almost 120,000 and has grown 25% since the 1990 census. Further, Coolbaugh Township, which is within our watershed, is the fastest growing township with populations exceeding 10,000 in the state. Much of this growth is uncontrolled and essentially unplanned. The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code does not, in its present form, encourage intermunicipal cooperation which would help us plan for the best high density, low density, industrial and open space zoning on a more regional basis. According to this same Harvard study, if all of the undeveloped land in Monroe County were to be developed as it is presently zoned, the ultimate population of the county will be 600,000.

     2. Prevalence of In-Ground Septic Systems - Monroe County probably has one of the highest concentrations of in-ground septic systems, for its population, in the state.  Many are malfunctioning and very old. The installation of sewage treatment plants could alleviate this situation, but they are expensive and will eventually lower our water table and dry up critical wetlands. Sewage treatment plants will also encourage development and increase the population growth rate.

     3. Seasonal Population Becoming Permanent - The Pocono plateau has been a favorite vacation area for many generations and, within our watershed, a significant number of homes were seasonal. However, many families are choosing to move here on a permanent basis further stressing our school systems and sewage disposal systems. Old in-ground systems that were once adequate for part time use are now inadequate for year around use.

     4. Over Population of Deer - One of the major problems with deer is the public's fascination with these animals and the common habit of local residents to feed them. This results in a high level of dependency, diseases caused by improper diet, and death by starvation. Overabundance of deer also leads to collisions with automobiles, costly repairs and even death to drivers and passengers.

      5. Loss of Open Space - As development increases, open space shrinks, reducing the diversity of plant and animal species which now thrive within our watershed. Many animals, like the black bear, require corridors of open space in order to travel over great distances without encountering humans. Small blocks of undeveloped land are inadequate for this purpose.

      6. Fire Suppression - In the past, many types of brush and trees depended on periodic brush fires to propagate. Obviously we cannot tolerate uncontrolled brush fires in an area that is becoming more populated. However, The Nature Conservancy has experimented with controlled burns in order to encourage the growth of certain trees, such as the pitch pine, which depend on fire to clean out the competing undergrowth and cause the cones to explode casting their seeds on fertile soil.

      7. Invasives - According to The Nature Conservancy, next to the loss of habitat, the introduction of non-native plant and animal species has done more to destroy and, eventually, cause the extinction of native species than any other factor. Often referred to as exotics, such non-native plant species such as purple loosestrife, multifloral rose and even the Norway maple are crowding out native plants reducing natural habitat for birds and animals that have resided in our area. Purple loosestrife is particularly insidious since it is, by itself, a beautiful brightly colored plant often sold in garden centers for ornamental purposes. However, this plant spreads rapidly and will choke and thus destroy natural wetlands.

        Among the insect invasives, the most notorious, of course, is the gypsy moth that has destroyed millions of dollars worth of valuable timber. However, this invasive seems to have run its course in our area and is now considered controlled by natural forces. The beech bark disease, however, is still a problem, but seems to be waning. This disease is the combination of an insect that penetrates the bark and a fungus which invades the bark at the site of the sting attacking the heart wood and killing the tree. Some beech seem to be naturally immune to the disease and must be protected. Of imminent danger, however, is the woolly adelgid, an aphid-like insect that sucks the juices from the base of hemlock needles and will eventually kill the tree. There are no practical natural controls and massive spraying is not recommended because of the negative affect on non-target species.

        The general principle is that non-native species should not be introduced into our area. When purchasing ornamentals from garden centers care must be taken to assure the exclusion of exotic plants.

This is a brief summary of our watershed and the present and future problems facing us. If you care to help us protect our valuable and irreplaceable natural resources for the enjoyment of our visitors, future generations and the preservation of wildlife we invite you to join us in this activity by becoming a member of our organization.