Joe and his interns make significant contributions
Under the leadership of Joe Stefko over the last two years, six
interns have given in excess of 2,700 hours to the Sewickley Creek
Wetlands. Listed below are some of the tasks the interns have
completed:
- Mowed, weed-wacked, weeded, and trimmed trees and shrubbery
and removed tree guards
- Cleaned and repaired the bulletin boards; changed the posters
and wildlife information monthly
- Repaired walkways, installed drains under the trail, and
filled washouts with stone and gravel
- Installed bluebird and wood duck boxes and turtle platforms at
the wetlands
- Designed, cleared, limed, fertilized, and planted wildlife
food plots and a butterfly garden
- Removed 7 trailer loads of purple loostrife (a noxious weed)
- Provided environmental education programs to school groups
visiting the wetlands
- Provided training for the new PA Songbird Curriculum to
educators from Carnegie Science Center's ASSET Program (84) and
participants of the SITE E 99 Environmental Workshop (40)
- Supervised many volunteer youth program groups
- Erected 272 bluebird boxes along 12 miles of the Amos K.
Hutchinson Bypass.
(Do visit the Sewickley Creek Wetlands /located at the
Intersection of Turnpike Extension Rt. 66 [Amos K. Hutchins on
Bypass] and Arona Road. It is a worthwhile experience !)
All of these jobs would not have been accomplished had it not been
for the interns, but especially for Joe. Without his vision, his
determination, his time, and his leadership, none of the habitat
improvement projects would have been done. Thank you interns,
students, and volunteers. And thank you, Joe, for showing us the way
to care for Pennsylvania's wildlife.
The Sewickley Creek Watershed Association promotes the
conservation of natural resources, monitors and improves water
quality, and advocates wise land use practices in the Sewickley Creek
Watershed.
As such the Association shall use its resources to educate the
citizens of the watershed as to sound environmental practices. In
addition, the Association will seek out and cooperate with government
agencies, interested organizations, businesses and individuals to
implement programs to improve water quality and encourage proper land
use.
