by Jessica Helm, Conservation Chair
Members of Concerned Citizens of Cattaraugus County (CCCC), students from St. Bonaventure University’s Tread Lightly Environmental group and other area residents met for an all day training workshop on a recent Saturday to establish a water monitoring program for Cattaraugus County.
The workshop was led by Atlantic Chapter Conservation Chair Jessica Helm, and Julie Vastine of the Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring (ALLARM), an environmental organization based out of Dickinson College.
Kathy Boser, president of CCCC, said its members were most grateful for the workshop leaders and for the training equipment donated to the group by the Sierra Club to begin this initiative. She was also impressed by the number of local residents and students who volunteered for this undertaking. “With all the concerns with water quality being affected by Marcellus Shale [drilling] in neighboring states, we need to establish baselines for our local streams and water sources.”
For more information, or to become involved, contact CCCC via email at gabraham44@eznet.net or phone Kathy Boser at 716-373-0406.