| About the BCWA Accomplishments Thus Far The Buffalo Watershed Alliance has been in existence since January 2002, after extensive organizational work was done by the Linn Conservancy with the support of the North Central office of the DEP the preceding fall. The Alliance has with the support of the Linn Conservancy created a functioning board of directors, begun to educate the public of the Alliance and its concerns through articles in the paper, public meetings, and placemats in local restaurants. These were funded by the first of three Growing Greener grants. A second grant supported two projects: 1) a study of the hydro-morphology ofBuffalo Creek, recently concluded by the geology department of Bucknell University under the direction of Professor Craig Kochel, 2) the creation of a 20-minute video: You Are What You Drink; Reasons to Know and Protect the Buffalo Creek Watershed. This video is available for loan at the Union County Public Library, the Laurelton Library, and the Herr Library and is available for classroom use in all the schools in the county. A third Growing Greener grant funded an assessment of the physical, biological, and chemical health of Buffalo Creek and its tributaries, over a 2-year period ending in fall 2005. It was conducted by the Clean Water Institute of Lycoming College under the Direction of Professor Mel Zimmerman. This assessment is now be followed up by a continuing water quality monitoring program conducted at nine sites on the creek by a team of local volunteers led by Thom Fantaskey. In the summer of 2005 we received a small grant from WREN, Water Resources Educational Network to support our public outreach, including the developmentof this web site. We have submitted a fourth Growing Green grant proposal for the purpose of designing an installation to reduce the acid levels in the headwaters of Buffalo Creek. We should hear the results of this proposal soon.
The BCWA grew out of an early cooperation between the NorthCentral Regional Office of DEP and the Merrill W. Linn Land and Waterways Conservancy in the fall of 2001. Upon the formation of a first board of directors, establishment of a set of bylaws, and an agreement on a Memorandum of Understanding with the Linn Conservancy the BCWA officially began business in January 2002. The Allaiance function successfully for the first year and a half under the able leadership of its first chair, Jeff Bowers. Then in June 2003 Jeff announced that he was off to the hospital to be treated for leukemia. From that time one we had to make do without his able leadership. We profited from the great start he gave the Alliance, but we miss greatly that he was unable to continue working with us. In 2006 the Linn Conservancy awarded Jeff Bowers its Lifetime Service award. Merrill W. Linn Land and Waterways Conservancy Lifetime Service Award for Jeff Bowers April 26, 2006 This award is presented to Jeff Bowers for his active involvement and contri-butions to the Linn Conservancy, particularly his efforts in establishing and developing the Buffalo Creek Watershed Alliance. Jeff Bowers was a resident of the Middleburg area of Snyder County and a long-time Linn Conservancy member. He took a passionate interest in the Buffalo Creek watershed and played a major role in the formation of the Alliance. In the fall of 2002 Jeff helped facilitate a public meeting with breakout sessions where more than 40 residents discussed issues within the watershed. The ideas put forth at this meeting were important to the Conservancy’s decision to move ahead with the formation of the Alliance. Soon thereafter Jeff was elected to the Alliance Board of Directors and accepted the leadership role as its founding chairman. Under his dedicated and personable leadership the Alliance began to shape and moved forward successfully. In a short time it obtained funding to support operations, promotion of the group and its mission in the community, to conduct research in partnership with Bucknell University, and to develop an educational video about the watershed. Jeff also worked diligently behind the scenes to convince Union County to create the position of watershed specialist at the Union County Conservation District. As chairman of the Alliance board Jeff was a hands-on leader. He led by example, rolling up his sleeves and getting his hands dirty right along with everyone else. Under his guidance the first hands-on projects of the Alliance, a number of clean-ups in and along Buffalo Creek were planned and carried out. While doing all this, Jeff continued his other important volunteer service to the Conservancy, including the creation of an environmental education award and work on Dale’s Ridge trail. One of Jeff’s favorite trees was the red oak, one of the strongest and most majestic trees in the eastern hardwood forest. Like his favorite tree, Jeff was an oak to the Alliance and the Conservancy. He was a strong, quietly majestic member of both organizations. A fine young red oak now stands before the Dale Engle Walker house in his memory. Every time we pass it, we are reminded of Jeff and what he meant to the Conservancy, the Alliance, his friends, and his family. It will grow tall and stand for many years as a symbol of all that Jeff was and all that he meant to us. There were many times along the way when Alliance Board members may have doubted themselves and the new organization, but Jeff always had a positive outlook, steered the group in the right direction, and was able to keep spirits high. The work of the Alliance continues today thanks to his many contributions and sacrifices. Now and in the future the Conservancy and Alliance will continue to work to keep Buffalo Valley that special place that Jeff enjoyed and cared so much about. May his legacy continue to live on through our efforts.
Jeff Bowers 1959--- 2004
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