[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 148 (Wednesday, October 31, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1963-E1964]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TRIBUTE TO STREAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BILL SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 31, 2001

  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share the success of an 
environmental organization from Huntingdon Area Middle School, a school 
in my district, that has shown determination to protect our precious 
natural resources. The students are members of Science Teams in Rural 
Environments for Aquatic Management Studies, or STREAMS. Members of the 
eleven year old organization, STREAMS, study watershed ecology and then

[[Page E1964]]

apply their knowledge to resolving local environmental problems.
  The members of STREAMS share a common belief that we need to protect 
and preserve our environment for future generations. Three members 
under the leadership of STREAMS advisor Fred Wilson recently completed 
a stream assessment of Standing Stone Creek. I commend students Kaleigh 
Selisberto, Amy Slicker, and Margo Wilson for their hard work on this 
project. Let me share some of the accomplishments of STREAMS members 
over the last few years:
  Constructed a wetland--They helped design, pay for, construct, 
landscape and create partnerships to build the wetland completed in 
September 1996.
  Built a shallow ditch known as a swale--550 feet long by 35 feet wide 
with a two-feet depth to stabilize the streambanks with vegetation and 
prevent erosion, completed in September 1998.
  Created Riparian Buffer Projects--Planted vegetation along a stream 
to stabilize the 550 feet swale in March 1999, and a second project was 
completed along another 440 feet swale in October 1999.
  Planted Street Trees--Since 1995, students planted over 100 street 
trees, costing $4,100, in Huntingdon Borough.
  Completed Streambanks Restoration Projects--To encourage private 
property owners along Muddy Run stream to restore streambanks sections 
of the waterway, made a monetary contribution to help one homeowner 
place a 60 feet rip rap along an eroded high bank and donated large 
limestone rocks for a project on 24th Street.
  Established a Tree Honorarium Program--In 1998, established a 
Community Tree Honorarium Award for people who have made significant 
contributions to improve the quality of life in Huntingdon. American 
veterans were the first recipients of this program.
  Education--Delivered a paper document that they created to over 400 
residences in the Muddy Run Watershed explaining how land management 
practices could help prevent storm water runoff, April 1998.
  Started a School Recycling Program--The school district is now the 
largest recycler in the Huntingdon Borough.
  Through their participation in the STREAMS organization the students 
of Huntingdon Area Middle School have learned the value of citizenship 
and stewardship in their community.
  Mr. Speaker, I think each one of us has the right to enjoy the great 
outdoors either through camping, fishing, hunting, picnicking, biking, 
or any outdoor activity in which people choose to engage. Each one of 
us also has a larger responsibility to leave our environment cleaner 
than we received it so our children and grandchildren may enjoy the 
splendors of mother nature. The participants of STREAMS each deserve 
thanks for helping to improve our environment.

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