Citizen Science - Water Quality Monitoring
"The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value."
EnviroDIY Mayfly Loggers
Perkiomen Valley Trout Unlimited has partnered with the Stroud Water Research Center on a Citizen Science Program known as Enviro DIY/Mayfly Logger.
PVTU is the owner/operator of the Mayfly Logger Water Quality Monitoring Station on the Hosensack Creek. The purpose of the program is to establish citizen-based water quality monitoring on local waterways. Citizen Science is needed to help protect future water quality by constantly recording stream conditions. The Mayfly Logger continuously monitors water conditions and transmits data to the web, which you can view here.
As of 2025, PVTU is considering adding another Mayfly Logger to our Longacre Farm project site.
Road Salt Sampling Study
Road salt application in the winter can have impacts on the water quality of our streams and fisheries both from the direct runoff and the persistent leaching into the groundwater aquifers.
PVTU continues to participate in Road Salt Day, a regional stream sampling event sponsored by the Stroud Water Research Center. PVTU samples locations on the head waters of both the Perkiomen Creek and the West Branch of the Perkiomen, as well as tributaries Macoby Run and the Hosensack Creek. In all, 14 locations were sampled. Data from 2025 showed low impact from road salt. Additional rounds of sampling were performed after major winter storms showing moderate impacts.
On October 3rd 2025, a new round of sampling was performed after a week of no rain to obtain a ‘baseline’ normal flow set of sample data. PVTU plans to continue to support the Stroud Road Salt sampling initiative.
AQUA Dam Removal Macroinverbrate Study
Ah, macroinvertebrates – the little stream bugs that flyfishers spend endless hours imitating at the vise. These little critters are important indicator species for the health of a waterway.
