Meet Pike County’s Watershed Steward: Protecting Pennsylvania’s Waterways

Rachael Marques, Watershed Specialist of the Pike County Conservation District, spends most of her work week protecting Pennsylvania’s water basins.

At Shohola Falls in Shohola, Pennsylvania, Marques says she often sees hikers and even fishers enjoying the falls’ breathtaking cascades. But she said many people are often surprised that the multi-tiered waterfall is also part of Pike County’s expansive network of 18 major watersheds.

Watersheds are land areas where water and its sediments flow to a single common point. 95% of Pennsylvania drains into three major watersheds: the Delaware River, Susquehanna, and Ohio Basins. In Pike County, water from streams, rivers, and rain eventually makes its way down to the Delaware River, says Marques.

“Watersheds are really cool in that they’re all nested within one another,” said Marques. “Right now, we’re near the Shohola Creek, and that’s gonna eventually find its way downstream.”

Marques’s work didn’t always focus on watershed protection, but she always cared deeply about the environment. She received her undergraduate degree in ecology from Kutztown University before landing at the Pike County Conservation District, the county department tasked with the conservation of soil, water, and natural resources. As her team’s watershed specialist, she teaches community members about topics like invasive plant species and a watershed’s changing water quality.

“A lot of the learning is really on the job,” said Marques.

The impact of climate change on the state’s watersheds has also shaped what her work looks like. She said she and her team have increasingly seen more intense rainfall events in Pike County. More intense rainfall could influence the force of water, says Marques.

“Oftentimes, when we do have a lot of water all at once, that rain doesn’t get the chance to soak back into the ground. When [rain] is really fast, it is more likely to become runoff.”

A big part of her job is educating community members about source water protection and stormwater mitigation. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 75% of the state’s water pollution is from non-point source pollutants. Marques said small daily actions can make a big difference in protecting local resources.

“Even things like maintaining your septic system, disposing of household hazardous waste properly, there’s a million things that we can do,” said Marques.

You can find a checklist on how to maintain a watershed-friendly home on the Pike County Conservation District’s website.

Image: Rachael Marques overlooking the Shohola Marsh Reservoir in Shohola, P.A. (Photo Credit: Kimberly Izar)