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Meet Our Newest Watershed Team Members

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The Watershed Protection Program is thrilled to introduce the newest members of our team: Evan Hunt, Jules Smith and Zack Smith.  Evan is a Conservation Associate working through October 2020 and Jules and Zack are Co-op students from Drexel University through September 2020. “All three individuals are talented and passionate about conservation and water, and are excellent additions to the Trust family,” shared Lauren McGrath, Director of Watershed Protection.  

Read on as these new watershed staff members introduce themselves.

Evan Hunt helps out at a recent riparian tree planting.
He is our newest Conservation Associate in the Trust’s Watershed Program.

Evan Hunt
In 2018 I received a Bachelor’s degree from Ursinus College where I majored in Environmental Studies and conducted research on peoples’ connection to urban forests. Through this work I began to greatly value the social and humanistic aspect of land management. Soon after graduating, I started working for an ecological restoration company on large large-scale projects throughout Pennsylvania and New York. Later I served as the nursery assistant at a native plant nursery where I became well versed in the growth habits of trees and herbaceous plants native to the Mid-Atlantic region. I also advised clients on projects ranging from riparian buffer restorations to home garden installations. 

I first got involved at the Trust as a volunteer, assisting the watershed program with various land stewardship projects. Now as the conservation associate I have taken on a larger role in implementing riparian restoration projects and monitoring water quality throughout the watershed. 

In my current position I hopes to draw from these experiences to further enhance not only the ecological value, but also the social appeal of the waterways and preserves throughout Willistown. Outside of the Trust, I am an active volunteer with my local Tree Tenders group and spends my free time in the garden. 

Jules Smith is a new co-op student in the Watershed Program.

Jules Smith
My name is Jules Smith and I am a rising senior at Drexel University.  At Drexel I study environmental science and biology.  My personal interests include conservation biology and aquatic systems which made Willistown Conservation Trust my ideal co-op.

On campus I am in charge of a conservation genetics project under the guidance of Dr. Dane Ward.  The project is studying potential inbreeding dynamics in the Northern Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus) through microsatellite DNA analysis. 

My previous two co-ops were both in the world of water.  The first being at the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) and the second at Aqua America.  At PWD I worked as an aquatic biology laboratory analyst.  I was involved in the testing of drinking and wastewater for a variety of coliforms and other bacteria.  At Aqua I was able to expand my knowledge and skill set beyond the lab space.  I was a part of the “Treatment Team” and was heavily involved in research regarding the removal of PFAS from drinking water.  I was additionally tasked with organizing and analyzing chemical data for dozens of sites across Southeast Pennsylvania.  These two experiences gave me a strong background in state regulations and water chemistry.

I am very excited to get started working with the Trust as I think this is the perfect opportunity to take my prior experiences with water and pair them with my passion for conservation.

Zack Smith is a new co-op student in the Watershed Program.

Zack Smith
Originally from Clarks Summit Pennsylvania, I am a pre-junior environmental science major at Drexel University. At school, I am involved in Dr. Dane Ward’s research lab where our goal is to assess potential differences in biofouling communities across Barnegat Bay, as well as across different temperature regimes in the lab. Aside from research, I am also a board member of our Sierra Club and Coffee Club, which are both aligned with two of my biggest hobbies – sustainable living and coffee. 

I’ve worked in a few different areas of environmental science in the past. Before starting college, I was an intern at Lacawac Sanctuary and Field Station in Northeast Pennsylvania. During my time there I worked alongside limnologists where we collected and processed lake water samples from across the region. I even spent a few weeks building a brand-new hiking trail that brought visitors to parts of the property they couldn’t access before. Once at Drexel, I was a member of the STAR program (Students Tackling Advanced Research) in Cienfuegos Cuba, where I was part of a collaborative team that studied the ecology, morphology, and biology of Melipona beecheii honeybees at 3 different bee farms in the province. Most recently, I was a co-op at the Philadelphia Water Department’s Compliance Assurance team where I spent most of my time constructing reports the Green Cities, Clean Waters program’s progress. 

I picked Willistown Conservation Trust’s Watershed Protection Program for my second co-op because of the fantastic opportunity to study the headwater streams in the Trust’s focal area and the self-guided research aspect that allows the co-ops to dive deeper into an area of interest. Growing up, I spent a lot of time on my local nature conservancy’s land both biking and hiking. Seeing that the Trust has the same goals of land and water preservation, I was immediately drawn in. From the welcoming environment to the ample opportunity to get in the field, I knew Willistown Conservation Trust was somewhere I wanted to be. 

You Have Options

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Single-use cutlery, food containers, and straws are used for a few minutes and discarded to remain in the environment forever. Even compostable options have limitations. By choosing to refuse these single-use plastics, you can help set a precedent for sustainable alternatives and show others how easy it can be.

When dining out, try bringing your own straw for beverages and reusable containers for your leftovers. If you like getting takeout, try bringing a set of reusable cutlery with you. You can let the restaurant know that you don’t need plastic cutlery or straws.

At the grocery store, avoid plastic packaging when you can by bringing your own container to buy in bulk and refusing to buy products that are unnecessarily wrapped in plastic, like fruit. You can also avoid pre-packaged meat and deli products that are sold in plastic or on polystyrene trays by going to the counter or finding a local butcher that sells unpackaged items. Just remember to bring your own reusable container when you go shopping.

Even though Plastic Free July is coming to an end, saying no to single-use plastic is something we should consider doing every day. If we all pick a few plastic items to eliminate from our daily lives, together we can create a Plastic Free Watershed!

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Choose to refuse single-use coffee cups

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Plastic and paper coffee cups are not recyclable in most locations. Even ‘compostable’ cups are rarely composted as they require very specific facilities and conditions. 

Get your coffee in a refillable cup instead

You can easily avoid single-use coffee cups by bringing your own reusable alternative. There are many reusable coffee cups available on the market. Keep it in your bag or on your desk at work; wherever you’ll remember to use it. Bringing your own cup shows others how easy it is to reduce their waste and can create a new trend.

You don’t even need to purchase a special cup. You can bring a mug or jar from home – just be conscious of using items that can heat up or don’t travel well if you’re going far. Bring yours to your barista to fill with your morning caffeine. Some places will even give you a discount for bringing your own cup! If you forget your reusable cup and don’t have time to dine-in, consider going without. It might not be easy, but will probably mean you never forget again!

Take the the #PlasticFreeJuly challenge at https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/ and say no to single-use plastics. 

If you’re interested in other ways to help, keep an eye out for local stream cleanups to help create a plastic free watershed!

BYOB – Bring your own BAG

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The average family accumulates about 60 plastic bags in only four trips to the grocery store. The majority of these bags are not bio-degradable and can take 700 to 1,000 years to break down. A plastic bag from your neighborhood store might blow from a trash can into a storm drain before traveling through pipes into the Delaware River or a tributary.

Bringing your own shopping bags to the grocery store is a great way to reduce single-use plastics. But did you know there are alternatives to those plastic produce bags?

At our Rushton Farm we’ve even switched to biodegradable produce bags for our pickup days. Reusable mesh or cotton bags are a small investment and are available from many retailers.

This July, ditch plastic bags and bring your own reusable bags instead. Stash them in places where you’ll remember them like by your front door, in your purse, and trunk. 

Declare your independence from single-use plastic by participating in the Plastic Free July Challenge at https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/ Together we can create a Plastic Free Watershed!

New Trees Breathe New Life into Ailing Streamside Meadow

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In the haze of a steamy May morning, a team of volunteers, students, and Trust staff met in the dewy, northern meadow of Ashbridge Preserve. This meadow is the result of decades of sediment build up behind an old dam.  The lake that existed here since the dam was constructed in the early 1900’s was drained when the dam breached. 

Digging in…

Now, over 20 years since the dam failed, the resulting meadow is overrun with exotic grasses and vines.   These nonnative species have shallow root systems, which do not offer much support for the rapidly eroding stream banks nor do they provide shade for Ridley Creek, which suffers ill effects from sweltering summer sunlight. 

East Goshen Tree Tenders gave time & expertise.

Direct sunlight can cause water temperatures to increase, which can be stressful for an aquatic environment. Further, when the soil from stream banks erodes quickly into the stream, it can smother sensitive stream species.  Stabilizing the bank using tree roots can slow down the erosion to a level that even sensitive species can handle.

Volunteers planted 125 trees.

Ashbridge Preserve is owned and managed by Willistown Conservation Trust, who recently acquired funding through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and Tree Pennsylvania to re-plant the streamside forest that historically grew here. Also known as riparian forest buffers, these streamside trees will stabilize Ridley Creek’s banks, shade its water and provide valuable habitat for native pollinating insects. Once mature, the effect of this buffer will be a much healthier stream.

Thank you, volunteers!

Just before the official start of summer, the Trust was joined by the members of the East Goshen Tree Tenders, students and teachers from Harriton High School, and several community members to plant the first 125 trees of what will ultimately become nearly 5 acres of new riparian forest buffer. On the tail of several severe weather patterns, the air was wet and heavy, but spirits were high!

Watershed co-ops from Drexel University got more field experience.

Eager hands and the expertise of the Goshen Tree Tenders made quick work planting, staking, and caging the young trees and shrubs. (By the way, if you missed out on this rewarding and fun event, we’ll be planting more trees in the fall! Watch for details.)

Great work, team!

The planting incorporates a diverse assortment of species that share an affinity for the wet soils of Ashbridge’s lakebed, including sycamore, river birch, swamp white oak, and persimmon. Once established, these new trees will help improve and protect water quality, restore animal habitat, and add new beauty to the surrounding landscape!

Planting trees + protecting watershed = big smiles!

OUR NATURE PRESERVES

Our nature preserves are open to the public 365 days per year from sunrise to sunset, providing natural places that offer peace and respite for all. Willistown Conservation Trust owns and manages Hartman Meadow, Ashbridge, Kirkwood, Kestrel Hill and Rushton Woods Preserves. We maintain these lands to preserve and enhance … Learn more about our nature preserves.