Many of Centre County’s beautiful waterways are impaired in their ability to support wildlife and aquatic creatures because of human influence over time. One such waterway is Spruce Creek, which runs all the way through a farm property owned by myself and my husband.

ClearWater Conservancy has worked on the stream on our property to restore habitats and stream function through its Riparian Conservation Program and has also planted 1,300 trees. Through the program, ClearWater has installed streamside buffer plantings along Spruce Creek. The vegetation provides cooling shade and slows storm water runoff.

I must say that I have never met a more wonderful group of people as the ClearWater Conservancy for their dedication in preserving the environment. I would like to express my appreciation to them and, more specifically, to ClearWater’s restoration team — WHM Consulting Inc., Aquatic Resource Restoration Co., Williams Forestry and Fruit Town Land Stewardship Services.

I would also like to thank the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for conducting a fish survey and Farm Service Bureau and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for providing technical and financial assistance to develop a conservation plan and for riparian buffer establishment.

I also owe special thanks to project volunteers Malcolm Taylor, Larry Reese, Chris Fox and conservation biologist Katie Ombalski.

Marcelina V. Rothwell, State College