TC/TCWA

Exceptional Value Sought for Tunkhannock Creek

For more than ten years, The Tobyhanna Creek/Tunkhannock Creek Watershed Association (TC/TCWA) and its volunteers in partnership with the Monroe Co. Conservation District have been sampling the Tunkhannock Creek, which is classified as a High Quality-Cold Water Fishery.  Based on this data, TC/TCWA decided to seek a classification that matched the quality of the stream – Exceptional Value - in order to preserve that body of water’s quality.

TC/TCWA strives to protect the waters, woodlands and wildlife in its 125 square mile watershed on top of the Pocono Plateau. One important component of protecting the waters is having the waters classified appropriately so that streams that have exceptional biological, chemical or ecological properties are classified as "exceptional value" or "EV" streams to receive the protection afforded EV streams.

The samples collected by volunteers showed that the Tunkhannock scored very high on both chemical and biological tests year after year. It scored as high as other streams that are listed as Exceptional Value - Pennsylvania’s highest ranking. Further support was added by a detailed study of the Tunkhannock Creek watershed completed by The Nature Conservancy. It found that the Tunkhannock Creek watershed is unique in its pristine condition, plant and animal diversity and its vulnerability to degradation. 

Reclassifying a stream requires filing a fact-filled Petition with the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board for a change in designation.  After discussing the proposal with Monroe and Carbon counties and the three townships involved, as well as with many different interest groups, the Watershed Association filed the Petition in March of 2005. The Petition was accepted for study at the June 21, 2005 Environmental Quality Board (EQB) meeting and a copy of the Petition, as well as information about the EQB can be found on its website: www.depweb.state.pa.us/pubpartcenter/site/default.asp.

Once the Petition is accepted for study, DEP scientists perform their own assessment of the stream and make a recommendation to the Environmental Quality Board. This takes time, but we are hoping that DEP will complete its study of the Tunkhannock Creek and make a recommendation some time in 2007. You can track the progress of the Petition on the website. In addition, you can lend your support to the Petition by writing a letter to the Chair of the Environmental Quality Board, its members or your legislators.

If you would like further information about classifying streams as Exceptional Value, please contact TC/TCWA.