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Lower Saucon EAC to test road‑salt salinity and work with Lehigh Valley planners on trail projects
Summary
Committee members discussed citizen science salinity testing to measure road‑salt impacts on Saucon Creek, confirmed at least three sampling sites, and noted participation in a year‑long Lehigh Valley Planning Commission study that includes grant funding for rail‑trail and intersection work.
Members of the Lower Saucon Township Environmental Advisory Council discussed plans to assess the effect of road salts on local waterways and to engage with the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission on multiyear planning projects.
Chad Heimbecker and other members described a citizen science approach: students and volunteers would collect water samples at predetermined sites, send samples to a lab such as Stroud Water Research Center for analysis or use field salinity meters, and return results to inform township outreach and MS4 education requirements. Committee members said at least three sampling sites have been identified for baseline and event‑driven sampling.
The committee also reviewed participation in a Lehigh Valley Planning Commission analysis that will run through the year and noted that grant funds have been allocated for local projects. One member cited an allocation of around $300,000 for a rail‑trail extension to Polk Valley Park; committee members said details on scope and timing will be clarified through planning documents and Commission meetings.
Members agreed to coordinate sampling logistics, work with Stroud for organized testing protocols, and use the February presentation by Jennifer Latsko of the Little Lehigh Watershed as an educational step for residents and volunteers.
Next steps: finalize sampling sites and protocol, coordinate with Stroud for analysis, and follow Lehigh Valley Planning Commission updates on grant‑funded projects.
