Bucknell Student Research Helps Shape Stream Restoration Plan in Milton

On summer mornings in Milton's Brown Avenue Park, Bucknell University student Mason Klotz '26 could be found wading into Limestone Run — collecting water samples, surveying habitat and documenting the health of a stream he hopes will soon anchor a revitalized community space.

A psychology major from Charlotte, N.C., Klotz made Milton almost his adopted summer home  — spending 10 weeks conducting undergraduate research with Sean Reese, program scientist; and Benjamin Hayes, program director, Watershed Sciences & Engineering — a program of The Ecology Center — to develop a restoration plan for the stretch of Limestone Run that flows through the park. With borough grant funding already secured for park improvements, the plan could help guide the project's next phase.
 

Sean Reese, program scientist, Watershed Sciences & Engineering; and Mason Klotz '26 assess the fish habitat currently in Limestone Run in Milton's Brown Avenue Park. Photo provided by Mason Klotz

"Pretty much every day, we took drone footage, pictures of it, and did water quality assessments from the end of June through August," Klotz says.

Klotz's project grew out of a Bucknell course he took with Reese last spring — Stream Ecology and Restoration: The Science of Fly Fishing — which combines hydrology, biology and fieldwork.

"We talk about the hydrology of the stream, the physics of a fly cast, biomimicry using aquatic insects," Reese says. "Students conduct bioassessments, learn electrofishing techniques, and ultimately develop a comprehensive stream restoration plan."

Inspired by the course, Klotz agreed to participate in a summer research internship to continue the work. Together, he and Reese conducted a full assessment of Limestone Run — from its headwaters to where it meets the Susquehanna River — focusing closely on the Brown Avenue Park section.

They evaluated water chemistry, measured streambed composition, analyzed macroinvertebrates and assessed habitat conditions — all critical inputs for restoration planning.

"It's a limestone-fed stream, so it's cool enough to support trout," Reese says. "There's already been restoration upstream, and we saw an opportunity to continue that momentum through Milton."

Klotz agrees the stream shows promise.

"I think there's a high chance that if they stock native species, they could reproduce. It could be a cold-water fishery," he says. "That's really awesome."

Brown Avenue Bridge runs over Limestone Run at the entrance to the Milton's Brown Avenue Park. Photo by Mason Klotz '26

The plan emphasizes modern ecological restoration practices — reconnecting the stream to its floodplain, improving canopy cover and restoring natural flow — rather than traditional approaches that confine waterways.

"Streams are dynamic systems," Reese says. "Instead of hardening banks and locking them in place, we're looking at ways to let the stream move, connect to groundwater and function more naturally."

Challenges remain, particularly agricultural runoff and limited tree cover in some areas, which can increase water temperatures. But researchers say conditions in Limestone Run are overall favorable.

Beyond environmental benefits, Reese sees the project as an opportunity to strengthen community connections.

"This could be a space with walking paths, native plants and outdoor learning opportunities," he says. "Especially being near the elementary school, it could become a living classroom and a point of pride for Milton."

Klotz's work will be presented to Milton Borough Council leadership as a reference for future planning decisions.

Hayes sees the project highlighting the value of student-driven, community-engaged research.

"This kind of applied work helps communities make informed decisions while giving students meaningful, hands-on experience," Hayes says.

The effort reflects The Ecology Center's mission to connect research, teaching and community partnerships to address environmental challenges.

For Klotz, the project has also been personal.

"I really just think I love the town of Milton," he says. "It's close to Bucknell, but it feels like a different world — and being able to work on something that could benefit the community has been really meaningful."

The project was one of two Bucknell students were conducting to help inform Milton's restoration efforts of Limestone Run and surrounding areas to a more natural state near Brown Avenue Park. The second was a senior design project by four civil and environmental engineering students — Mason Helms '26, Chris Coury '26, Eva Shafer '26 and Adam Walker '26 — who conducted computer modeling on what that restoration may look like.

As Milton advances its park improvements, the student-led restoration plan offers a vision for Limestone Run — not just as a stream running through town, but as a revitalized natural and community resource.