Monitoring with Purpose: WAAC’s Ongoing Impact in Adams County

Partner Spotlight: Watershed Alliance of Adams County

The Watershed Alliance of Adams County (WAAC), based in Adams County, Pennsylvania, is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the region’s water resources. Since its founding, WAAC has undertaken numerous projects focused on stream restoration, education, advocacy, and water quality monitoring. Their stream monitoring program, launched in 2004, began with a mission to assess the health of local streams through baseline monitoring.

Over the years, WAAC’s monitoring efforts have evolved alongside the changing landscape of Adams County. In the program’s early days, growing concerns over urban sprawl and its potential impact on stream flow prompted the Alliance to revise its study design. WAAC began monitoring Marsh Creek and Rock Creek specifically to assess the effects of development on local waterways.

As development pressures subsided, WAAC once again revisited its monitoring goals—shifting focus back to county-wide baseline water quality monitoring. This ongoing commitment to responsive, community-driven science is a hallmark of their program.

WAAC meeting to discuss conservation & outreach issues.  (Source)

Today, with support from the Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative (CMC), WAAC is refining its monitoring scope, strengthening its program structure, and enhancing quality assurance and quality control through updated methods and protocols. A key milestone in this evolution has been the integration of WAAC’s baseline data into the CMC Data Explorer, expanding opportunities for visibility and use of their data.

We’re thrilled to support WAAC as they continue to grow their program, sharpen their scientific tools, and contribute valuable data to the broader Chesapeake Bay watershed community.