Park Service seeking volunteers for Delaware River

BEACH LAKE, PA – The National Park Service, Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River are looking for volunteers to donate a few hours of their time at some of the busiest Upper Delaware River boat launches and access points on weekends throughout the summer visitor season, from June 13 through September 6.

Those who enjoy spending time outdoors, consider themselves to be a “people person” and have extra time on their hands, are encouraged to sign up to be a watershed steward.

Among the duties of a watershed steward will be helping to stop the spread of invasive species, which are a growing threat in the Delaware River.

Trained watershed stewards stationed along the Upper Delaware River will be able to play a part in stopping the introduction and transport of invasive species.

Invasive species can be spread by fishing tackle, footwear, and boat trailers.

Stewards will conduct visual inspections, interview water body users and encourage them to properly clean all equipment before using it on another body of water. When invasive species take hold in a body of water, they can displace native species and rapidly multiply, making waterways impassible to boats, alter water quality, and negatively affect tourism.

All volunteers will be required to attend a mandatory training which will be held on Friday, June 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at PPL’s Environmental Learning Center located at 126 PPL Drive in Hawley, PA. This day long training will familiarize volunteers with the Watershed Stewards Manual, get them acquainted with aquatic invasive species that threaten our region through hands on identification, and train them in how to talk to river users and conduct a boat inspection. Training day lunch will be generously provided by the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP).

Volunteer efforts will be focused on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays which are the days that see peek visitor use at the river throughout the summer. All volunteers will be signed up as official National Park Service VIPs, will receive a shirt and ball cap to wear when on duty as a watershed steward.

For more information or to sign up as a volunteer contact Watershed Steward Volunteer coordinators Ginny Fiero or Ingrid Peterec at (570) 685-4871.