Will Hydrofracking Affect Local Streams?

Volunteer to Monitor Local Stream Quality

No one can say with certainty how or if hydrofracking will impact our streams, lakes and rivers.

The Community Science Institute (CSI), based in Ithaca NY, will be recruiting and training several groups of volunteers in the Upper Susquehanna River Watershed to find out.

The Community Science Institute is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower citizens to monitor and protect their community's natural resources, especially water. In addition to partnering with volunteer groups, CSI also operates a state certified water quality testing lab (NYSDOH-ELAP #11790). CSI's currently partners with eight volunteer groups in the Cayuga

Lake watershed and Upper Susquehanna River Basin, covering over 800 square miles of drainage area.

Water monitoring by volunteer groups in partnership with the certified laboratory is a low-cost and effective strategy for tracking water quality. With support from the CSI lab, volunteers will perform regular "red flag" field tests on stream samples to assess whether or not contamination occurs from shale gas operations. If a "red flag" is found, the CSI lab will perform further testing.

CSI will be holding an Information Session on

Tuesday, May 8th 6:00 PM at the Schuyler County Human Services Complex - Room 120 at 323 Owego Street in Montour Falls. Come and find out how CSI's stream monitoring program works and how to get involved! This event is hosted by the Schuyler County Cooperative Extension Office*. CSI is not affiliated with Cornell Cooperative Extension.

If you would like to get involved but cannot come to the Info Session, please email Becky Bowen, CSI's Outreach Coordinator, at becky@communityscience.org or call 607-257-6606.