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Brook trout survey planned in Berks County streams
Groups want to document population of species in streams from Maine to Georgia
By Darrin Youker, Reading Eagle
Like many of his brethren at this time of year, Eugene W. Markle is trying to coax a few trout out of the water.
With the rhythmic motion of his fly rod, Markle works the pools and riffles of the Tulpehocken Creek, trying to entice a strike.
But later this spring, Markle, who is president of the Tulpehocken Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and others will return to Berks County streams to search for fish in another way.
Trout Unlimited chapters along with local and state conservation groups will document native brook trout populations in streams from Georgia to Maine.
The effort is part of the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture, a public-private partnership trying to protect trout habitat.
Brook trout were once abundant throughout the East Coast, but are decreasing in population because of urbanization and a decline in water quality.
Numbers of native brook trout have declined in Berks streams as well, said Markle of Schuylkill Haven.
"Native brook trout are mostly found in more mountainous areas," he said. "Development has taken away the habitat all over the area."
The health of brook trout is important to more than just fishermen, said Ryan Zerbe, a watershed specialist with the Berks County Conservation District.
Trout are an excellent indicator of stream quality, Zerbe said. The fish need cold, clean water and plenty of macroinvertebrates, or small aquatic insects and other organisms.The presence or absence of trout and the tiny organisms they feed on can tell a lot about the health of a stream.
And that's important to anyone who is concerned about the quality of the water they drink.
"Cleaner streams make cleaner drinking water," Zerbe said.
Forested areas help keep streams cool and also filter groundwater before it reaches streams, Zerbe said, adding that most native trout populations in Berks are found in wooded, remote areas.
Using information supplied by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Zerbe and Trout Unlimited volunteers will look for signs of healthy trout populations. That includes trees and vegetation on the stream banks, gravel bottoms and cold water temperatures.
"Berks County does not have a lot of these areas," he said. "We have some nice streams in the county, and we want to keep it that way."
Volunteers will walk along the stream banks and record their observations of the stream, the surrounding habitat and any fish they see, said Leonard Good, a Trout Unlimited member helping to coordinate the Berks effort.
Data will be sent to the agencies coordinating similar programs throughout the East Coast, Good said. The information also will be used to identify areas for future restoration projects.
"Were going to use this data to prioritize action," Good said. "This is a massive undertaking."
Contact Darrin Youker: 610-371-5032 or dyouker@readingeagle.comAre green jobs in Berks County's future?
By Darrin Youker, Reading Eagle
It's too soon to determine if the county will benefit
Berks County's industrial heritage is rooted in blue-collar manufacturing jobs that helped generations live out the American dream.
But could those blue collars turn green?
The Obama administration has pegged the future of the middle class on the growth of so-called green-collar jobs - what the California-based Apollo Alliance calls well-paying careers that address environmental quality.
Many of those jobs, economy experts say, will be manufacturing based. But, they say, it's too soon to tell what impact these jobs will have on Berks in terms of total employment, wages and the overall economy.
Different regions across the country are trying to find their niche and attract green firms, said Thomas C. McKeon, Berks County Economic Development director.
"We are kind of like a Ph.D. student looking for his thesis topic," he said.
Ellen Horan, president of the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said she believes existing manufacturers will retool their operations and begin producing different components to meet the demands of a green infrastructure.
Berks manufacturers could produce components for wind turbines and similar products, she said. But she doesn't see a green industrial boom on the horizon for Berks.
"I don't see a significant short-term job growth," she said. "Is there an industry out there just waiting to take off? I don't see that happening."
Berks' four battery manufacturers are in position to receive part of the $2 billion in economic stimulus set aside for research into developing new batteries, McKeon said.That could result in new research and manufacturing jobs, positions that pay upwards of $40,000 a year, he said. Berks' role in battery making puts it in prime position to see new money from economic stimulus, he said.
"I'd like to think that we are the largest battery manufacture on the East Coast," McKeon said.
Berks' agriculture roots could also play a role in the green technology movement, he said. Research is under way to develop a process to turn plants like switchgrass into fuel, McKeon said.
Not only could farmers grow the raw material, but Berks could lure research firms to the area, McKeon said. The economic development office wants to meet with experts from Penn State and other universities to see what role Berks could play in the emerging biofuels market, he said.
Research jobs in that market could pay $100,000 annually, while manufacturing positions could pay $50,000, McKeon said.
Jon Scott, president of Berks Economic Partnership, said he believes Berks could see a substantial benefit from green-collar jobs.
Berks is on a short list of places for a solar energy company looking to build a production plant on the East Coast, Scott said.
The company would employee more than 100 people, with above-average salaries for the region, he said.
Scott said he could not provide any further details.
Green-collar jobs could make a lasting impact on Berks, Scott said.
"It will go beyond manufacturing," he said. "There is a lot of potential that has not been tapped into in this region."
Contact Darrin Youker: 610-371-5032 or dyouker@readingeagle.com
June, 2008: Berks County Air Monitoring Network
Now Berks County residents have access to current air quality data from two monitoring locations in Berks; Reading and Kutztown, PA. The Pennsylvania Institute for Children’s Environmental Health (PICEH) has created an Air Monitoring Network as part of their website which allows residents access to daily readings of particulate matter and ozone for the two locations. This also includes archives of previous recordings, trend graphs and weather data. The Institute was created by the Kuztown University Foundation. The organization operates as its own entity and has a board of directors. The Institute’s mission statement includes: “to protect children from environmental harm via education, outreach and education.”
For more information on the Institute and upcoming events, please visit the website at www.piceh.org. Institute has a lecture series starting in the Fall of 2008 and details are available on the website.
News ideas can be emailed to Bob Flatley at e4bob@yahoo.com. With his approval, your item will be posted on our website. You are also welcome to present your news item to us at our regular meetings.
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