Angelica Creek Watershed Association

Who We Are

A program of Berks Nature, Angelica Creek Watershed Association (ACWA) is made up of volunteers with a mission to preserve, protect, and restore Angelica Creek watershed for the enjoyment and survival of its wildlife, local and downstream neighbors, and generations to come.

Ready to take the plunge? View the ACWA Welcome Package & Orientation Manual here!

Where We Are

The Angelica Creek’s headwaters stem from hills near Knauers in Cumru Township. From here, Angelica Creek winds northeast for about six miles through some of the most beautiful areas of Cumru and Brecknock Townships, including the Boroughs of Kenhorst and Shillington, before joining the Schuylkill River just south of the City of Reading.

Despite its notably urban surroundings, the 7.5-acre Angelica Creek watershed is primarily forested – in fact, at 57% forest cover, Angelica Creek is one of the most forested watersheds in Berks County! A large portion of Nolde Forest State Park, 725 acres of diverse woodland habitat before flowing through Angelica Creek Park, an active floodplain restoration site managed by Berks Nature.

The Angelica Creek and its wooded watershed are treasured by its local residents and attract anglers and birdwatchers from afar. Nature lovers of all ages can learn, play, and explore at Berks Nature’s The Nature Place or at Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center. Angelica Creek also provides outdoor learning opportunities for local academic institutions including the Governor Mifflin School District, Alvernia University, and Albright College.

Become A Member

The Angelica Creek Watershed Association meets on the 4^th Wednesday of each month at 4:30 pm at The Nature Place in Reading, PA.

For more information on becoming a member or getting involved, join us at an up-coming meeting or contact Beckey Seel, Berks Nature’s Volunteer Coordinator.

Beckey.Seel@berksnature.org
610-372-4992 x103

Find us on Facebook!

What We Do

ACWA’s volunteers invite stewardship through recreation, science, and education.

ACWA is proud to have assisted with successful efforts granting names to two of Angelica’s previously unnamed tributaries and are currently advancing a petition to redesignate the entire Angelica Creek from Cold Watery Fishery to Exceptional Value, which will give the creek a greater level of protection.

Water Quality Monitoring

We monitor Angelica Creek’s health by conducting physical, biological, and chemical testing throughout the watershed. Our volunteers also maintain three EnviroDIY Monitoring Station running on the Mayfly Data Logger – remote stream monitoring technology developed by Stroud Water Research Center.

Restoration

We have and continue to work in service to the Angelica Creek: removing tons of trash from the Creek’s currents, planting hundreds of trees along Angelica’s banks, and eliminating disruptive invasive species that would otherwise compromise the ecological integrity of the watershed.

Education and Outreach

We promote drinking water protection and responsible choices about environmental issues affecting the watershed through local advocacy and by participating in local educational activities for children and adults. These efforts have educated thousands within the watershed community about streams and their role in providing clean and abundant drinking water.

Current Projects

Redesignation of Angelica Creek

In July 2021, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network (DRN) partnered with Angelica Creek Watershed Association (ACWA) to submit a petition to the PA Department of Environmental Protection requesting that they reevaluate and redesignate the entire Angelica Creek to Exceptional Value.

The PA DEP develops water quality standards for all surface waters of the Commonwealth to safeguard Pennsylvania’s streams, rivers and lakes. These standards consist of both use designations and the criteria necessary to protect those uses. The Exceptional Value designation is the highest rating achievable, and puts protections in place to maintain the water body’s existing quality; in other words, any reductions in water quality are prohibited for Exceptional Value streams.

In 1977, Angelica Creek was placed on PA Fish and Boat Commission’s list of naturally reproducing trout streams. Since then, environmental conditions have only improved as it is now a free-flowing stream since the Angelica Creek dam was removed (breached by Tropical Storm Allison in 2001).

From native vegetation to high trout biomass and pollution-intolerant macroinvertebrates, the evidence is clear that the watershed’s natural communities have responded to the restoration efforts and investments over the past 15 years and will only continue to improve.

Combined with the large portions of preserved lands (both state and privately owned), protective township ordinances, and the recreational and local community significance, the DRN and members of ACWA believe that Angelica Creek meets several qualifiers to be redesignated to Exceptional Value status.

EnviroDIY Mayfly Sensors on Angelica Creek

The Mayfly Data Logger is a unique, remote-sensing technology developed by the Stroud Water Research Center. The “Mayfly” as it is affectionately known can manage dozens of sensors or linked devices, can relay data via cell modem, wi-fi, or radio, and is powered by a solar panel and lithium-ion battery.

The data logger itself is housed within a waterproof case, while sensors that measure water temperature, depth, conductivity, and turbidity (water clarity) are installed directly into the stream. These sensors measure water quality parameters every 5 minutes and, thanks to the Mayfly, then transmit these data to the ACWA volunteers.

While the Mayfly technology represents a treasure trove of research opportunities for the volunteers of ACWA, so far the data has been most helpful in painting a picture of road salt contamination come winter and spring.