Watershed Protection

Snyder County > Departments > Conservation District > Watershed Protection

Do I Live in a Watershed?

Everyone lives in a watershed. A watershed is a section of land that drains toward a lake, stream or river.

In Snyder County, all surface water eventually flows toward the Susquehanna River. (Go to the link under "General Info Downloads" for a map.)

In some sections of western Snyder County, streams flow into the Juniata River, which eventually goes to the Susquehanna River north of Harrisburg.
In southern Snyder County, water first enters the North Branch or West Branch of the Mahantango Creek before reaching the Susquehanna River at the Snyder-Juniata County Line.
In many places in northeastern Snyder County, streams flow into the lower sections of Penns Creek, which eventually flows into the Susquehanna River south of Selinsgrove.
In a large portion of County, water flows into tributaries and the main stem of Middle Creek. Middle Creek flows into Penns Creek just short of the Susquehanna River.
Some areas of eastern Snyder County have streams that flow directly into the Susquehanna River.

No matter what happens upstream, it affects stream quality downstream, the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay.

Lower Penns Creek Watershed

At this time there is one watershed organization in Snyder County, the Lower Penns Creek Watershed Association, represented by #3 above.

The Lower Penns Creek Watershed Association (LPCWA) has successfully completed the obligations of the Growing Greener start-up grant. The LPCWA has created a brochure, membership applications and cards. It has published newsletters, a distribution list, initiated and hosted educational programs, and developed a traveling display board.

The LPCWA meets every 3rd Thursday of every month at the Penns Creek Adult Resource Center, beginning at 7:00 p.m., in the village of Penns Creek, PA.

Members are always looking for volunteers with upcoming projects. For instance, LPCWA members in 2010 planted rain gardens at the New Berlin Ballfields in New Berlin, PA. Either contact Jason Winey, SCCD Watershed Specialist, at 570-837-3000, x112, or go to the New Berlin's New Rain Gardens notice for more information about this project.

Not interested in volunteering outdoors but have a special skill you’d like to share? They could use your help too: Tax preparation, baking, designing brochures or newsletters, photography, writing, teaching, and more… Please contact the group if you are willing to occasionally donate your time with specific tasks!

For more information about the LPCWA, you can check out it's promotional brochure or go to one of their meetings. The group also created a children's educational activity in 2010. Both of these are at the right-hand side of this web page under "Lower Penns Creek Watershed Downloads."

The LPCWA helped fund the Lower Penns Creek Bioassessment Report: the final report of three years of study on aquatic conditions of the lower main stem of Penns Creek. This report contains three years' worth of study results (2006, 2007 and 2008) and summarizes the information. Go to the Lower Penns Creek Bioassessment link under "Lower Penns Creek Watershed Downloads" for the final report.

Mahantango Watershed

Note: Represented by Watershed #2 above.

At this time there is no watershed organization formed by local citizens interested in the improving water quality of the streams and runs that make up the Mahantango Watershed.

However, that may be changing. Through a joint effort from the Snyder and Juniata County Conservation Districts, these agencies received a convening grant from the Foundation for PA Watersheds to help produce restaurant placemats. These placemats promote the importance of local water quality, define what is a watershed and give advice on what you can do to protect the watershed.

So, do not be surprised if you see these placemats when you go out and eat. If you cannot wait and you want to see what the placemat looks like, go to the Mahantango Placemat under "Mahantango Watershed Downloads" section along the right-hand side.

Other Watersheds

Note: As represented by Watersheds #1, #4 and #5 as described at the top of this web page.

The Snyder County Conservation District is seeking interested and dedicated individuals that wish to promote the stewardship of the natural resources of Snyder County and Pennsylvania. It is the hope that steering committees may be formed for the Middle Creek and other watersheds. These steering committees play important and essential roles before, during and after the formation of a watershed association. If you are interested, please contact Jason Winey, Watershed Specialist at 570-837-3000, x112.