Cumberland County, PA - Clean Water Cumberland

03/09/2026

Check out this livestaking training at Carlisle Borough's Biddle Mission Park which received funding from the Clean Water Grant Program in 2025 to enhance and expand the forest buffer on the Letort Spring Run.

Join us at Biddle Mission Park on Saturday, March 21st, to learn how to collect and install livestakes and help restore native habitat!

🌱What is livestaking?
“Livestaking” consists of taking roughly foot-long cuttings of trees and shrubs and directly installing them into the ground. The cuttings will resprout and grow into new individual plants.

🌱Why are we doing it at Biddle Mission Park?
During the summer of 2025, the Borough hired a contractor to remove the invasive plants growing on the bank of the Letort in Biddle Mission Park. The invasive plant removal left the streambank edge exposed and without trees or shrubs in some sections. To help prevent further bank erosion, it is important that we establish new plants on the streambank so that their roots can help hold the soil in place.

Register by emailing [email protected] or using this link --> https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1982974726788?aff=oddtdtcreator

03/02/2026

Please note there is a DEP notice advising no fish be consumed from Middle Spring Creek near Shippensburg due to high levels of PFOS.

⚠️ Pennsylvanians Advised to Not Eat Fish from Portions of Briar Creek and Middle Spring Creek

High levels of PFOS in fish tissue prompted this “Do Not Eat” advisory. These streams will be removed from PFBC trout stocking program.

Pennsylvania DEP, Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission have issued a “Do Not Eat” advisory for all species of fish in Briar Creek (Columbia County) and Middle Spring Creek (Cumberland and Franklin Counties), due to the high levels of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (aka PFOS).

PFOS, a “forever chemical,” was found in sampled fish tissue above the 0.04 parts per million “do not eat” advisory level.

30 point of entry (POET) filtration systems have been installed at properties in the Briar Creek watershed; another 24 will be installed in the Middle Spring watershed in order provide safe drinking water for residents, thanks to the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act response in these watersheds.

Read for more detail 👉 bit.ly/3ZVQRwZ

08/25/2025

The MWS Native Tree & Shrub sale closes this Thursday (8/27) at 5:00 PM.

Order before then to support healthy streams!

08/03/2025

Did you know that several of the species included in Penn State Extension - Cumberland County Master Watershed Steward Program's annual Native Tree & Shrub sale this year work well as live staking plants? That includes the buttonbush, profiled below. Don't know what live staking is or how you can use this low-cost technique to stabilize eroding streams? Come to their stream repair presentation at Bosler Memorial Library on Aug. 14, 6:00 PM.

We use this species in our live staking projects, a stream repair technique used for bank stabilization. But it's also a great plant for pollinators. Where can you get one? Fromour fundraiser sale: https://extension.psu.edu/mws-tree-sale-workshop

07/28/2025

Want to replace some of those invasive species on your property? Interested in adding more native plants to support watershed health? Do that and support local watershed improvement efforts by getting your native trees and shrubs from the Penn State Extension - Cumberland County Master Watershed Steward Program annual Tree & Shrub Sale Fundraiser.

This year we're offering 23 species, including the highly requested pawpaw and persimmon! We have very limited quantities of sweetfern so get your orders in today! 🌳

07/19/2025

The Penn State Extension - Cumberland County Master Watershed Steward Program is getting ready to host their annual native tree and shrub sale. Help Cumberland County meet our goals for healthier watersheds and replace your invasive species with one of these native plants.
https://extension.psu.edu/master-watershed-steward-native-tree-and-shrub-sale

06/26/2025

What's one thing you can do to help improve water quality? Add more native landscaping to your property. Check out this local fundraiser through the Penn State Extension - Cumberland County Master Watershed Steward Program to support local pollinator habitat, water quality, and other efforts to improve our waterways.
https://tinyurl.com/2025MWS-NativePlantKits

Did you know about our native plant kit sale? We still have kits available in this pre-order sale. Order now, plant in the fall. 🌱 Check it out and help us improve water quality and provide habitat for our pollinators!
https://tinyurl.com/2025MWS-NativePlantKits

06/16/2025

Welcome to the new Cumberland Valley Master Watershed Stewards! We look forward to working with them as we continue with our pollution reduction goals in the Cumberland County watersheds.

A week ago today, our newest cohort of MWS volunteers completed their training to become Master Wastershed Stewards in the Cumberland Valley. We're so excited to have you as part of our program. Congratulations!! 👏🏻🎉

06/09/2025

Interested in a tool to help monitor the success of improvements made along your stream? Join the Penn State Extension - Cumberland County Master Watershed Steward Program at one of two free events in July:
Community Science Tool to Track Stream Health

Webinar: July 14 (12:00 – 1:30 PM)
https://extension.psu.edu/community-science-tool-to-track-stream-health-webinar
In-person Workshop (Carlisle, PA): July 24 (5:30-7:00 PM)
https://extension.psu.edu/community-science-tool-to-track-stream-health

05/28/2025

Join Pa Reel Sisters at Stuart Park in Dickinson Township on Sunday June 8th to maintain the riparian buffer plantings!

05/27/2025

Did you know adding native plants to your property helps support healthy waterways?

Our first of two annual native plant fundraisers has just launched! Please help support our efforts to improve water quality across Cumberland and Franklin counties while adding more native plants to your landscape. Order before July 13 (or while supplies last) for pickup in late September. https://tinyurl.com/2025MWS-NativePlantKits 🌱