November 9, 2024 - Trout Creek Cleanup near Mack Pool, Allentown
On a cool but bright day, about 38 volunteers joined LLWS to clean up Trout Creek in the Mack pool area. The group was a great mix of people and sparked good conversation! We removed about 55 bags (20 cubic yards) of trash from the work area and pulled out shopping carts, car parts and other bulk metal and debris. Thanks to all of you who came out to benefit our creeks!!
If any readers have suggestions for educational programs that we can put on aimed at reducing litter, please use contact for with suggestions. We are open to ideas. We are also looking for spring clean up locations.
Thanks to all volunteers, especially the first timers. Thank you, City of Allentown for supplying bags, pickers, staff, and hauling away the debris.
Tree & Shrub Planting- October 12, 2024
We joined with other community groups to plant 75 trees and shrubs along Little Lehigh Creek along Mill Creek Road. The planting was a Wildlands Conservancy event.
Salt Snapshot Sampling – July - August 2024
LLWS volunteers performed a second annual “salt snapshot” to study the effects of the application of road salt to local roads and other paved surfaces. The sampling program was developed by LLWS member Jennifer Latzgo with guidance from Stroud Water Research Center. This year, the project was expanded to include both the Little Lehigh and Jordan Creeks, and the volunteers collected 95 water samples. This project is done during summer at times when the water flow is lowest and the presence of salt indicates that it has entered the groundwater and continues to discharge into our creeks throughout the year. Last year, elevated levels of salt were found at 14 sites in the Little Lehigh Creek. This creates a hostile environment for wildlife, including fish, insects and other invertebrates. If you are interested in finding out more or taking part in a similar study, please reach out.
HydroMania Education Event, May 9, 2024
Six LLWS volunteers spent the day educating 4th and 5th grade children at a Cedar Crest College event hosted by the area water suppliers. We gave interactive presentations to groups of children about how rainwater moves into the groundwater, and how we get our drinking water. During six different sessions, we instructed approximately 300 children. The event was sponsored by Core & Main, Deer Park, and Jacobs.
Allentown Earth Day April 20, 2024
Seven LLWS put on a great public display at Saturday's Allentown Earth Day event. With a plastics in watershed theme, visitors got to learn the problems caused by plastic pollution, see microplastics filtered from our water, sort different types of plastics to learn what can be recycled, and consider alternative to plastics. Visitors got a look at Tyrone, our mascot, and earned a tattoo through their participation. Even the mayor stopped by to chat!
March 24, 2024 - Little Lehigh Cleanup near fish hatchery, Allentown
A thankfully dry Sunday brought out 35 volunteers, including several families, to clear litter and debris from the Little Lehigh Floodplain upstream and downstream of Fish Hatchery Road. Approximately 60 large bags of trash, tires, and construction debris was collected filling two dump trucks, totalling 1,500 pounds of waste. All of us were amazed by the quantity of food and drink trash found adjacent to Fish Hatchery and Keystone Roads. If any readers have suggestions for educational programs that we can put on aimed at reducing litter, please use contact for with suggestions. We are open to ideas. Thanks to all volunteers, especially the first timers. Thank you, City of Allentown for supplying bags, pickers, staff, and hauling away the debris.
March 16, 2024 - Tree Planting at Cedar Creek Parkway, Allentown
A bright Saturday, gathered 17 LLWS volunteers to plant 35 6' tall trees on the banks of Cedar Creek in Allentown. Thank you to Trout Unlimited who provided grant moneys to buy the larger tress and planting supplies and to City of Allentown who provided employees and equipment to dig holes and provided tubes and mulch. See photos below of all those who made the work light.
The willow trees that are on banks of Cedar Creek in CC park are getting old and dying. The new trees will provide Creek side forest in years to come. We will need help with some Tree watering (near intersection of Park Ave and Cedar Crest). Contact us if you would be willing to assist.
Young Trees need tubes to protect them from deer and TLC to help them survive drought and floods in their first five years.
