b'FISH AND MUSSEL SURVEYMACROINVERTEBRATE SURVEY Members of our stewardship team joined the Pennsylvania Fish andOver the summer, our stewardship team conducted Boat Commission at our Quakertown Swamp site to complete a fish a macroinvertebrate survey at Quakertown Swamp. and mussel survey. During the survey, electrodes were used to send Aquatic macroinvertebrates are extremely important, currents throughout the water to temporarily stun the fish, causing themas they redistribute nutrients and provide food to float to the surface. Afterwards, they were able to observe whichto higher trophic levels. One great example of a species live in the water, including many American eels, which are thecommon macroinvertebrate that we love to see are host fish species to the Eastern elliptio mussels. Upstream developmentsstoneflies. Not only are they extremely beneficialand future environmental changes have the potential to impact thesein their environment, but their presence is a reliable creatures, making this work vital! indicator of high-quality water. It was hearteningto find as many as they did!CORPORATE WORKDAY In June, we welcomed volunteers from Fulton Bank and our Fridays in the Forest volunteer group to our Russell-Mandel Preserve to work alongside our staff on a property stewardship workday. In a few short hours, the crewremoved grass and weeds from the rain garden, which was later mulched, and cleared out trees and other debris around the property. As always, the hard-working attitudes of our volunteers made the day a total success!NATIVE PLANTING CROYDON WOODSThroughout May, Heritage Conservancys stewardship From Superfund site to community treasure, Heritage Conservancys team held native tree and shrub plantings at our 80-acre Croydon Woods Nature Preserve provides publicly accessibleQuakertown Swamp Preserve, Bellwood Preserve, green space in a densely developed area. As one of the last remainingand Fuller/Pursell Nature Preserve. Because of their coastal plain forests in the state, the conservation of this environmental location within riparian buffer zones, these tree asset supports over 300 species of plant life and wildlife, while also plantings will help to strengthen wetland areas, celebrating the community activism that has made this ecosystemwhich will in turn increase wildlife habitat, prevent healthier. Visit HeritageConservancy.org and go to our Ambassadorsoil erosion and flooding, and protect water quality. Properties page to see all that Croydon Woods has to offer and to learnWith the help of dedicated volunteers, the group how you can be a part of its ongoing success story. planted nearly 300 native trees and shrubs!15'