The Conservation Cast

This is the second of our quarterly episodes of 2025 which will each break down a subtopic of "hydrogeomorphology," or the study of how water and landforms interact.In this episode, our very own Watershed Specialist Rachael Marques and Kurt Wagner of the PA Rural Water Association chat with PCCD Communications Coordinator Emily Mansfield about how groundwater and geology interact.Listen to get answers to questions like "How does geology affect a place's water quality," "Why do some communities get their tap water from aquifers and some from surface reservoirs," and more!Below are some online resources Kurt mentions in the podcast:PaGEODE - PA DCNRWeb Soil SurveySurficial Geologic Map of Pike County - PA Geological SurveyPike County Groundwater Quality Assessment (2007) - USGSGeology & Mineral Resources of Pike County - PA Geological Survey

This is the first of our quarterly episodes of 2025 which will each break down a subtopic of "hydrogeomorphology," or the study of how water and landforms interact.Our very own Resource Conservationist Ally McGee and Wayne Conservation District Watershed Specialist Olivia D'Amore chat with PCCD Communications Coordinator Emily Mansfield about how water and geology interact. Listen to get answers to questions like "How did the Delaware Water Gap form," "Why do we get waterfalls," and more!

For the second season of The Conservation Podcast, we've been interviewing some of the folks we work with at other conservation organizations around Pike County and the surrounding area. To wrap up the year, we asked a few of them to share what being part of the Pike/Wayne Conservation Partnership means to them. Listen to this short 5-minute "mini-episode" to hear directly from them.

What are microplastics? Where do they come from? Why is their presence in the environment concerning? This month, our vey own Rachael Marques, Watershed Specialist, joins the podcast to put microplastics under the microscope.

This month George and Amanda from the Pocono Environmental Education Center, or PEEC, join the podcast to chat about the programs they offer for all ages, safe outdoor exploration tips, and why environmental education is important to each of them and our communities.

Nick Spinelli from Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management District (LWWMD) joined us for the August episode "Diving Deeper into Lake Wallenpaupack" to share some of their current projects & ways we can help keep our lake healthy.

What can you do to reduce both your energy costs and fossil fuel footprint? How do Solar Energy and Home Energy Efficiency assessments work? Jack Barnett, Board Member, and Holly Zaluski, Home Assessment and Social Media Intern, join the podcast from the SEEDS Group to discuss energy efficiency, solar power options, and opportunities for the public to get involved.

When a plant, animal, or any other species becomes so widespread in an area that it harms native species, the economy, or the environment in general, it becomes invasive. Shelby Chorba, Program Manager at Northern Tier Hardwood Association, joins for this episode to chat about common invasive species in NEPA forests, their impacts, and ways to mitigate their destruction.

Peter Wulfhorst, Extension Educator for Penn State Extension Pike County, joins for this episode to talk about what makes a pond different from a lake, how ponds form, and tips for those who manage a pond on their property.

Susan Detrick, Penn State Extension Master Gardener Coordinator for Pike & Monroe Counties, joins us for this episode to share all you need to know about sustainable gardening. Tune in to learn how to keep your soil healthy and plants thriving- all while supporting our natural resources and ecosystems!

What's the difference between dirty dirt and clean fill? Join us with Kristina Heaney, District Manager at the Monroe County Conservation District, to find out! You can find the Form FP-001 Certification of Clean Fill referenced by Kristina here on the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)'s website. Please note that the maple sugaring program described in the episode has passed for 2024, but stay tuned for next year's program as well as all the upcoming spring and summer events referenced in this episode!

There's hidden treasure in Pike County, PA-- and anyone can join the treasure hunt! In this episode, Jess Yoder, Assistant Planning Director and Preservation Planner at the Pike County Planning & Mapping Office, shares the basics of geocaching, how to get started searching our area, and some of her favorite geocaching stories.

Forestry-- it's the first frontier of season 2. Join us for an interview with Pike/Monroe County Service Forester Logan Goddard and Fire Forester Garrett Beers from PA DCNR as we discuss their favorite forestry factoids, sustainable forest management practices, and how deer affect our woods.

An overview of our 2nd season!

Jeremy Oettinger, PCCD Resource Conservationist and resident soil expert sits down with our host to talk soil and the ways that you can conserve soil on your property! A new resource from the District that will help you keep the soil in your yard healthy and thriving.

Chris Ingulli the head of the Pike County Conservation District's Dirt, Gravel, and Low Volume Road Program joins host, Devan George to talk about roads! They discuss what road maintenance has to do with conservation, and how you can use road maintenance to benefit the environment. This episode was originally released as part of the 2020 Road Maintenance workshop, a program designed to educate local road maintenance workers on conservation issues.

Join host Devan George for a special Earth Day Mini Episode! Learn the exciting history of this holiday, how it spread worldwide, and how you can celebrate while maintaining a safe social distance.

Join host Devan George to learn about invasive species. What are invasive species, how do they spread, and how can we help to stop the movement of these dangerous invaders.

Brian Oram from B.F.Environmental and the Keystone Clean Water Team joins us to teach us the Do's and Don'ts of on-lot septic systems. Proper maintenance of these systems is an important part of caring for our watershed! Find resources referenced in this episode.

In this episode, our senior Resource Conservationist, Ellen Enslin, teaches us about the types of water in our watersheds. There are many types of water bodies and wetlands here in Pike County, and Ellen gives us a tour of these types. Then we discuss how we can lessen our impact on our water resources.

Now that we have learned about watersheds, listen to this episode to learn about ways that your can improve your home and help preserve water quality. Our resource conservationist, Marianna Quartararo, teaches us about rain gardens, rain barrels, and bioswales.

All land is divided into watersheds, and we all live in one, but can you name your watershed address? Knowing about watersheds will inform the rest of our episodes and is an important way to view the environment. Listen to this episode to learn about the watersheds in Pike County from our Watershed Specialist, Rachel Posavetz.

Learn about soil and the District's commitment to soil conservation, in this episode of the Conservation Cast!

Chris Ingulli the head of the Pike County Conservation District's Dirt, Gravel, and Low Volume Road Program joins host, Devan George to talk about roads! They discuss what road maintenance has to do with conservation, and how you can use road maintenance to benefit the environment. This episode was orginally released as part of the 2020 Road Maintenance workshop, a program designed to educate local road maintenance workers on conservation issues. You can access the workshop on the Pike County Conservation District website www.pikeconservation.org

Join us for a mini celebration of Earth Day's 50th Anniversary! Learn about how this day started and ways that you can participate in isolation!

Learn about what invasive species are, how they spread, and steps you can take to prevent their spread.

Brian Oram from B.F Environmental joins us in this episode to give you the dos and don'ts of septic!

In this episode, our senior Resource Conservationist, Ellen Enslin, teaches us about the types of water in our watersheds. There are many types of water bodies and wetlands here in Pike County, and Ellen gives us a tour of these types. Then we discuss how we can lessen our impact on our water resources.

Now that we have learned about watersheds, listen to this episode to learn about ways that your can improve your home and help preserve water quality. Our resource conservationist, Marianna Quartararo, teaches us about rain gardens, rain barrels, and bioswales.

Want to know more about the environmental issues facing NEPA? Listen in for a quick preview of the Conservation Cast, a podcast made specifically for the residents of Pike County, PA.

All land is divided into watersheds, and we all live in one, but can you name your watershed address?Knowing about watersheds will inform the rest of our episodes and an important way to view the environment. Listen to this episode to learn about the watersheds in Pike County from our Watershed Specialist, Rachel Posavetz.