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What is PLEON? 
The Pocono Lake Ecological Observatory Network is a regional lake monitoring program focused on educating the public and lake associations on water quality and lake management. 

Our goals:
  • Empower the public to better understand and manage their fresh waters
  • Create a community of scientists, students, environmental educators, and landowners to work together in improving the ecological state of Pennsylvania’s lake ecosystems
  • Provide ongoing monitoring data on lakes and ensuring that land owners fully understand the advantages and limitations of different lake management approaches

Why PLEON?
Lakes are ecological treasures that form the economic backbone of tourism in the Pocono region. They provide both recreational enjoyment as well as critical habitat for a variety of wildlife, including plants and animals. 

Lakes are complex ecosystems, and effective management requires good data as well as an understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of lakes and their surrounding catchments.

Despite their aesthetic, recreational, and environmental importance, we know little about water quality in our Pocono lakes. Neither the state nor regional counties offer regular surveys to provide data essential for good management of these complex ecosystems. Increasing concerns about harmful algal blooms throughout the region make responsible lake management of central importance to the health of these ecosystems and the people, pets, and wildlife that depend on them. ​

Upcoming PLEON Events and News

PA DEP 2109 HAB Survey
PLEON is working with the PA DEP to survey potential harmful algal blooms in the Poconos
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is currently sampling as many potentially harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the state as they can. PLEON is helping with this sampling effort for the Pocono region. If you see a HAB, what you think might be a HAB, or just want to know if you have potentially toxigenic algae in your lake, please contact Beth Norman at beth.norman@lacawac.org to discuss participating in the survey.
Note that you must own land on the water body to participate!
PLEON Workshop: August 3, 2019
Harmful Algal Blooms
Presenter: Lauren Knose, Miami University
See Workshops to access workshop slides
Citizen Science Opportunities for 2019
PLEON is offering several opportunities for citizen science this summer!

Help us survey Pocono lakes for invasive aquatic plants. See our Aquatic Plant Workshop page for more details. 
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Help us track changes in water quality in Lake Wallenpaupack over space and time by joining our Dynamic Wallenpaupack Program. 

Lake Monitoring



​PLEON Scientists

Workshops

Lake Science

Citizen Science

Contact Us

​Lacawac Sanctuary
ATTN: PLEON
94 Sanctuary Road, Lake Ariel PA 18436

(570) 689-9494

Beth Norman, PhD
Director of Science and Research
beth.norman@lacawac.org