Upper Tohickon Watershed Association

Upper Tohickon
Watershed Association
Vol. 1 Annual Newsletter July 2011
Recognition
The association (UTWA) took the first step in becoming a formal organization with the appointment
of the following officers: chairperson, Francine Schmitt, co–chairperson, Kathy Fedorocsko, and
treasurer/secretary, Tom Smicker. Thereafter, the PA Department of Environmental Protection
recognized the UTWA with an award of a Growing Greener grant of $6,280; the grant covers the
period March 2010 through June 2012. The recognition was followed by state approval of UTWA
as a nonprofit corporation.
Purpose
An important purpose of UTWA is to develop and implement environmental education programs. UTWA
aggressively advanced this effort through educational displays and discussions at annual community days
in Richland and Springfield Townships and Quakertown Borough. UTWA sponsored four environmental
lectures in Quakertown and Richland Township, supported students at Quakertown United Friends School
in their stream management efforts, and enlightened Quakertown senior citizens with a talk on watershed
issues.
(continued on page 8)
Upper Tohickon Creek in spring
— End-of-year Report —
Trees by Joyce Kilmer
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth’s flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

Vernal pool in the Upper Tohickon Watershed
— Vernal Pools in Our Watershed —
Have you ever walked through
the woods in spring and found
an immense puddle that wasn’t
there in the fall? You may have
discovered one of the most
ecologically important habitats
to be found in Bucks County
woodlands—vernal pools.
Vernal pools are temporary wetlands
that fill after the snowfall
each spring. They become
seasonal breeding and feeding
grounds for many intriguing
amphibians and insects as well
as the reptiles, birds, and
mammals that depend on them
for food.
If you crouch by water’s edge,
you’ll find an entire community
of creatures. You might witness
the bustling activity of frogs,
toads, salamanders, and newts
that come to breed.
The seasonal nature of vernal
pools means they are uninhabited
by fish. This makes them the
perfect habitat for a variety of
amphibians and invertebrates to
breed and develop with less
chance of predation. Often a
pool is the ancestral home of an
amphibian community that
resides nearby in the forest each
winter then migrates to the
same pool each spring to lay its
eggs.
As activity inside pools increases
each spring, it attracts other
animals to the vernal community.
Some turtle species visit the
pools to feed on egg masses
while snakes and raccoons may
feed on tadpoles and frogs.
Birds, like the heron and redshouldered
hawk, also visit the
pools to feed.
By late spring or early summer,
tens of thousands of young
2
Vernal pool in late spring
salamanders and frogs that have
undergone metamorphosis
leave the pools for the forest to
continue their life cycles. The
huge number of organisms
using vernal pools each year
shows how essential they are to
the life cycles of forest species
both in and out of the pools.
The ability of vernal pools to
continue supporting this biodiversity
remains dependent in
part on man’s activities that
occur around them.
Vernal pools generally dry up
in late summer and are difficult
to identify. But there are some
clues to look for. Blackened,
compressed leaf litter, gray soil,
water marks on surrounding
tree trunks, and the presence of
moisture-tolerant vegetation
suggest an area that collects
water part of the year.
To learn more about vernal
pools and how you can protect
them go to:
http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/
freepubs/pdfs/uh161.pdf.
*****

Upper Tohickon Watershed Association
2011 2011-2012 2011 2012 Membership Application
Name Name:___________________________________________________
:___________________________________________________
Address Address:_________________________________________________
:_________________________________________________
Email:_____________________________________________
(UTWA UTWA doesn’t share your email address with any person/organization.)
—— ——INDIVIDUAL —— INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP, $5/year
—— ——FAMILY —— FAMILY MEMBERSHIP, $10/year
—— ——LIFETIME —— LIFETIME INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP, $50
—— ——CORPORATE —— CORPORATE SPONSOR, $100/year
—— ——DONATION
—— DONATION (Thank you!)
$_______
………………………………
………………………………cut cut here here……………………………...
here……………………………...
……………………………...
Make check payable to: Upper Tohickon Watershed Association.
Mail check and application to:
Upper Tohickon Watershed Association
P.O. Box 856
Richlandtown PA 18955
IRS approval is pending for classification of UTWA as a 501(c)(3) non non-profit non profit organization.
Upon approval your contribution will be deductible for federal income tax purposes.
Help us to preserve our beautiful Upper Tohickon Watershed.
3

As I look out my kitchen window, I’m privileged
to witness the four seasons of Mother Nature in
all her glory. A recent snow fall of 10‖ covers the
ground, trees, and creek. Upper Tohickon Creek
meanders magically through our backyard as it
flows on to Nockamixon. I see duck feet imprinted
in the snow on the frozen creek and unmistak-
able squirrel and raccoon tracks. Hundreds of tiny
thin lines give witness to little birds that have
landed on the ice in search of cracked corn. The
harsh call of Blue Jays finds its way through the
double-paned glass of my kitchen window.
Snow disguises a multitude of objects. Two
narrow mounds of snow balance precariously on
the arms of a green metal lawn chair. They mark
a perfect outline while deeper snow defines the
back and seat of the chair. My 20-foot River
Birch tree adds beauty to the surrounding whiteness
with a soft, suede-like brown bark peeling
from its trunks. Soon the snow scene before me
will change dramatically as Mother Nature will
reveal a whole new landscape.
The spring thaw will host a plethora of slender,
green wildflowers pushing their way through the
newly thawed earth. In my mind’s eye, I walk
along the wooded path freeing the shoots that
have become imbedded in last year’s leaves as
they struggle to be set free. Forsythia bushes that
ring the edge of the grounds have burst through
creating a wall of soft yellow/gold flowers. And
along the creek bed and into the woods the
misunderstood Skunk Cabbage begins to send up
Winter on Upper
Tohickon Creek
— Why I Treasure Our Watershed —
4
up its delicate stems throughout the island. I
marvel at the strength of the tiny plants as they
push through the soil into the sunlight. Soon the
island will be covered with brown, yellow, pink,
white, and blue-purple colors. I look forward to
witnessing the moment Bloodroot emerges at the
base of a fallen oak tree. The lobed leaf curls
around the stalk as if protecting something from
harm. As the day warms, the leaf unfurls to
reveal the solitary white flower it had been
protecting only to close over it once again when
night falls. Priceless Jewelweed emerges, a gift
from Mother Nature. It’s the perfect remedy for
the scourge of summer, Poison Ivy.
Come summer the world out my kitchen
window seems to settle into a natural order of
things. The River Birch is covered with dark
green saw-toothed leaves partially obscuring her
trunks. Wood Ducks and Mallards arrive to lay
their eggs and raise their ducklings. By now, the
Skunk Cabbage has spread its carpet of huge
green leaves over the forest floor. While I see
only smelly Skunk Cabbage, Wood Ducks and
their babies see a gourmet meal. I have been
honored only once to see a rare Pink Lady
Slipper blooming in the woods and eagerly await
should Mother Nature bestow that pleasure on
me once again. Jack in the Pulpit thrives in the
woods, and I see Jack in even the tiniest pulpit
among them. Wild Geraniums contrast beautifully
with the green/purple stripes of Jack.
(continued on p.6)

— Preservation in the Watershed —
Because of the forward-thinking
Richland Township residents in
2002, a referendum was passed
for a bond to provide funds for
the preservation of open space.
In preserving natural areas and
farmland of Richland Township,
its Preservation Board long ago
recognized the importance of
watershed protection and incorporated
this factor into criteria
used to evaluate lands under
consideration for a variety of
preservation programs.
Watershed protection criteria
represents almost 30% of all factors
used to determine values
of land to be preserved. This has
enabled the board to preserve
The Natural Area Inventory for Bucks County
was published in 1999. Dr. Ann Rhoads and Tim
Black, co-authors, provided to the public detailed
information on county flora and trees that offers
invaluable guidance for use in conservation and
preservation efforts.
nearly 1000 acres of watershed,
natural areas, and farmland
throughout the township. As a
result, a large portion of the
township will remain rural as it
always has been.
Now, twelve years later, the inventory has been
updated, and it is clearly evident that aggressive
efforts had been made through use of this
important document. Preserving our landscape is
now recognized as a key aspect in maintaining
and improving the natural area. Leaving some
areas in their natural state creates proven economic
benefits that contribute to all aspects of community
life from recreational tourism to proper storm
water management.
If we understand the natural landscape and our
place in it, we can effectively work together to
Valuable and irreplaceable
greenways are being formed
that will forever protect lands in
and around the watershed. In
addition, recharge areas in the
watershed will be protected and
the health of our streams will be
preserved to keep our drinking
water supply plentiful and pure.
*****
Kathy Fedorocsko, Richland
Township Preservation Board
— A Sustainable Future —
5
“...preserve nearly 1000
acres of watershed,
natural areas, and
farmland….”
“...invaluable guidance
for use in conservation
and preservation efforts.”
maintain modern services with minimal impact
on the environment.
The UTWA played an important role in updating
the inventory. Members walked the woodlots,
farmlands, and wetlands in the headwaters area
to investigate, document, and report their
findings.
Future conservation efforts can rely on the
revised inventory to gain knowledge of flora and
trees in the area which will contribute to the
overall health of our environment.
UTWA, in its outreach to communities through
education programs, is confident that informed
residents will assure a sustainable future for our
watershed.
*****
Francine Schmitt, Chairperson, UTWA

(Why I Treasure, from p.4)
Soon I see signs of change. Jewelweed has
grown to its 5-foot height and sends its
seeds flying, green plants turn brown, and
leaves fall from the trees. My favorite
season, fall, has arrived. Squirrels gather
and store black walnuts and hickory nuts
that are strewn about the yard. Wildflowers
have been long over, and the ducklings
are on the verge of testing their ability to
fly. The Skunk Cabbage has begun its
decline and most of its leaves lay brown
and rotting on the ground. My River Birch
once again is without leaves, revealing its
soft brown bark. Still, Mother Nature
assures me that she is not yet finished. The
maple tree that has stood by quietly
throughout the previous seasons now steps
forward to display her glorious colors of
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
— ―Nobody asked me.” —
Okay, I’m asking you now, ―Help us to
keep our watershed clean!‖
Melting snows each spring reveal trash that
had been wantonly discarded during the
winter. These discards are evident in
culverts, streams, and anywhere within
tossing distance of a car or truck window.
This problem of human nature has an
effective solution—volunteerism. Various
community groups put out calls every
spring for volunteers. These groups represent
neighborhood associations, watershed
organizations, scouts, and municipalities.
Unfortunately, the calls are often answered
by the same small number of volunteers.
Although their coverage and amount of
retrieved trash are commendable, many
areas throughout our communities go years
without coverage.
So, as spring arrives look for those calls for
volunteers in the media and organizational
newsletters. Now, consider yourself asked
—and good pickin’s to you.*
*****
dark red and gold.
My imaginative journey through the four
seasons has concluded, and I’m back at my
kitchen window looking at brilliant white
snow covering the sleeping wonders of
Mother Nature.
I treasure living in the watershed, but I’m
also keenly aware that I’m a caretaker of
all that Mother Nature has provided. And
all of us who enjoy the natural beauty of
our watershed today must continue to preserve
its health and beauty for those who
will gain our good fortune in the future.
*****
Darlene Smicker, Resident of Richland
Township
6
Perhaps an Indian trail marker along
the Upper Tohickon Creek

What, you’re not
a member yet!!??
Go back to page 3.
Look for us on the net.
www.uppertohickon.org
7
Join us each summer and fall under our
tent at Community Days in Richland
Township, Springfield Township, and
Quakertown Borough. Check for dates
and times in the newspapers.
Regular Board Meetings
Bucks County Free Library
Quakertown Branch
Fourth Tuesday every month
except July and August
7pm
Board Members
Chairperson: Francine Schmitt
Co-Chairperson: Kathy Fedorocsko
Secretary/Treasurer: Tom Smicker
Director
Dale Henninger
Contacts
Email: UTWA@verizon.net
Phone: (215) 536-7184

(End of Year, from p.1)
Communication
Communication is vital to
enhance the effectiveness of
UTWA. To this end, UTWA
established relationships with
neighboring Gallows Run
and Cooks Creek Watershed
Associations. This provides
opportunities to share best
business practices and
support joint projects. Initial
steps were taken to identify
points of contact between
Richland Township and
Quakertown Borough on watershed
issues that overlap the
municipalities. UTWA also
established lines of communication
with state Senator
Mensch staff on a variety of
watershed topics.
Education/Training
UTWA members remained
current on watershed issues
by attending classroom and
field training programs
presented by Stroud Water
Research Center, Bucks
County Conservation District
(BCCD) and Willamette
Resources and Network.
Knowledge/training gained at
the sessions serves UTWA
well in developing its own
―pay it forward‖ educational
programs.
Assistance
Finally, UTWA assisted
BCCD in taking water samples
from Tohickon Creek,
assisted township officials in
spring cleanup tasks in the
watershed, and initiated
efforts to plot road-flooding
occurrences in the watershed
during heavy rains.
Success
UTWA succeeded beyond its
initial ambitious goals since
its formal inception less than
a year ago. With much of its
organizational tasks completed,
UTWA looks forward
to dedicating more
time and resources in advancing
the health of the watershed
through hands-on
community projects and educational
programs.
*****
Headwaters of Upper Tohickon Creek
in pristine northern Richland Township
Production of this newsletter was funded by a Growing Greener grant provided by the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and
do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Environmental Protection.
8
— The Value of Trees —
* Trees are pretty.
* Trees increase economic stability.
* Trees increase home values.
* Trees aid traffic control; they
separate walker and vehicle.
* Trees enhance tourism.
* Trees are essential to our health and
the health of our environment.
* Trees are a critical part of the urban
ecosystem.
* Trees save energy by reducing the
need for cooling and heating.
* Trees reduce water run-off and
erosion costs.
* Trees have a positive effect on
people; they make us feel happy
and connected with nature.
* Trees reduce stress and help us
recover from illness faster, and
they restore our spirits.
*****