David Staebler posthumously honored with Kathy Snavely Environmental Advocate Award as an example of how one person can make a difference

David Staebler gestures during a presentation that was part of the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association's Clean Water Celebration in the fall of 2023 in Lewisburg.

​Taylor Weddington admits that she always had a special connection with her grandfather, David Staebler, who passed away earlier this year but leaves behind a lasting legacy for our natural resources.

“He cared deeply about the environment, with his core rule anytime we visited a new place being to always leave it better than when you found it,” she said. “Whether that was picking up a piece of trash on the walking trail or making someone’s day a little brighter.”

An instrumental mover-and-shaker within the Buffalo Creek Watershed Alliance out of Lewisburg, Staebler had become a fixture in water quality conversations and improvement projects across the watershed.

Because of his countless hours of volunteer work and dedication to inspiring others, Staebler is being posthumously honored with the 2024 Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association’s Kathleen Snavely Susquehanna River Environmental Advocate Award.

The annual award is given to an individual or group that goes above and beyond in efforts to promote and protect the health and vibrancy of the Susquehanna River, its tributaries and its watershed.

“When I first got involved in this position, Mr. Staebler was one of the first people from the community to come alongside me and offer support and mentorship. He was someone who was knowledgeable, but also down-to-earth and genuinely cared,” said Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky. “He was the perfect example that really anyone can make a difference by getting involved, putting in the time and effort and being a positive encourager to those around you.”

That encouragement started at home, according to Weddington.

Listen to our Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Podcast episode with David Staebler ahead of the Buffalo Creek Watershed Alliance's 20th anniversary in 2022:

“From an early age, my grandpa was extremely supportive in fostering my interest in science and nature,” she said. “Some of my earliest memories of him are when he would take me out kayaking on the Brunswick River in North Carolina and pointing out the areas where alligators had pushed through the reeds to congregate, and pointing out the weird dangly fruit of the bald cypress trees that hung over the water.”

Staebler’s passion for protecting waterways continued to inspire Weddington, especially later in Pennsylvania.
“He was always handy with his water testing kit to monitor levels of acidification of local streams, or planning presentations, clean-ups or live-stake plantings,” she recalled. “When I asked about these subjects or if I showed a slight interest in a topic, he was already taking me to the library to find books on the subject or finding related documentaries that would be interesting to watch. Fostering my curiosity and interests was the way he showed love, and he did this for everyone around him.”

According to Weddington, Staebler lived in many different places and his ability to connect with nature and the people around him was what gave him his sense of belonging.

“He would love to learn the details of the ecosystems, and the history of the people and culture of all the places he lived in,” she said. “By connecting with local environmental stewardship groups and historical and cultural organizations, he could ground himself in the area, and connect with people to form lasting relationships.”

She said that approach has become an important life lesson for her and others that knew him well.

“When you are feeling a bit lost or new, taking some time to volunteer for a cause that matters to you is an amazing way to meet people, build relationships and feel a deeper connection to your surroundings,” she said. “This is another reason why he loved working with the Buffalo Creek Watershed Alliance. He was able to make connections, give back to his community and get outside.”

Staebler’s love for waterways, nature and environmental advocacy directly inspired Waddington’s personal and career arc.

“I followed in his path by working for environmental stewardship programs, and am now working within renewable energies,” she said. “But another point he taught me was that taking care of the people and space around you does not have to be an overwhelming obligation. It can be just taking some time to pick up a piece of litter, spending some time outdoors, going to community meet-ups or volunteering at events or programs.”

Zaktansky agreed.

“One of the biggest issues our watershed faces right now is a lack of support for many of the smaller groups that do the important work on tributaries … the streambank stabilization projects where trees need to be planted, the litter pickups, the efforts to raise awareness,” he said. “Too many of our watershed groups are struggling with membership, able hands and funds to tackle necessary projects.

“We need more people like David Staebler, and hopefully in showcasing his example through this advocate award, it helps inspire others to step up and do their part to make a difference.”

Those interested specifically in the Buffalo Creek Watershed Alliance and its upcoming projects can check out the group’s website at www.buffalocreek.org/

Those interested in donating to the Buffalo Creek Watershed Alliance in David's memory are encouraged to write a check to BCWA with David Staebler in the memo line and send to PO Box 501, Lewisburg, PA 17837; or use the Linn Conservancy website's donation link and include "in memory of David Staebler" in the "What motivated you to make this gift today?" box.

To find other watershed groups across our river basin that may need assistance in your community, check out our Watershed Opportunities page: www.middlesusquehannariverkeeper.org/watershed-opportunities.html

Previous winners of the Kathleen Snavely Susquehanna River Environmental Advocate Award have included the Emert family in 2023 and the award's namesake, Kathy Snavely, in 2022. Snavely was a founding board member and long-running board president that kept the association going when it lost its original Riverkeeper and needed to find a new executive director. You can read more about her here.