Zach
@zcnem.bsky.social
coastal hazards & watershed health,
Philly-based, mostly thinking about trash,
rust belt offspring, views = mine, he/him
Philly-based, mostly thinking about trash,
rust belt offspring, views = mine, he/him
Pinned
Zach
@zcnem.bsky.social
· Nov 16
Hi folks! I do outreach around coastal and watershed topics in the Philly area - anywhere from vernal pools to the Delaware River coast! I’m also into music, art, writing, food, bikes, travel, and beer! Excited to make connections on here👋
👀PA data center tracker: www.padatacenterproposals.com
Pennsylvania Data Center Proposals
Explore data center proposals across Pennsylvania. Stay informed on AI-driven growth and infrastructure projects shaping the state’s digital future.
www.padatacenterproposals.com
January 5, 2026 at 4:12 PM
👀PA data center tracker: www.padatacenterproposals.com
Reposted by Zach
Christmas Eve Checklist:
Wrapped presents ✅
Cookies for Santa ✅
Bathtub Carp ✅ (www.npr.org/sections/the...)
#25DaysofFishmas
Wrapped presents ✅
Cookies for Santa ✅
Bathtub Carp ✅ (www.npr.org/sections/the...)
#25DaysofFishmas
December 24, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Christmas Eve Checklist:
Wrapped presents ✅
Cookies for Santa ✅
Bathtub Carp ✅ (www.npr.org/sections/the...)
#25DaysofFishmas
Wrapped presents ✅
Cookies for Santa ✅
Bathtub Carp ✅ (www.npr.org/sections/the...)
#25DaysofFishmas
Reposted by Zach
Ghost shiners are part of the shiner, dace, and minnow family Leuciscidae, a group of 600+ species. While many - but not all! - of the species in this group are small, the ghost shiner is definitely one of the smaller ones found in North America, typically growing <2 in/4.5 cm long #25DaysofFishmas
December 23, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Ghost shiners are part of the shiner, dace, and minnow family Leuciscidae, a group of 600+ species. While many - but not all! - of the species in this group are small, the ghost shiner is definitely one of the smaller ones found in North America, typically growing <2 in/4.5 cm long #25DaysofFishmas
Reposted by Zach
Part of the Ichthyomyzon genus of North American lampreys, the Ohio lamprey’s scientific name comes from ichthys = “fish” + myzon = to suck, while bdella comes from the Greek for “leech” - very apt for a smallish (<15 in long), wriggly worm-looking fish #25DaysofFishmas
December 22, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Part of the Ichthyomyzon genus of North American lampreys, the Ohio lamprey’s scientific name comes from ichthys = “fish” + myzon = to suck, while bdella comes from the Greek for “leech” - very apt for a smallish (<15 in long), wriggly worm-looking fish #25DaysofFishmas
Reposted by Zach
If a “little toy doll(y) that toddles and coos” is on your list, Salmonid Claus is definitely going to deliver on Day 21 of #25DaysofFishmas!
We end the northwest leg of our road trip with the Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma), a brightly colored fish + this week’s #SundayFishSketch mystery species!
We end the northwest leg of our road trip with the Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma), a brightly colored fish + this week’s #SundayFishSketch mystery species!
December 21, 2025 at 2:01 PM
If a “little toy doll(y) that toddles and coos” is on your list, Salmonid Claus is definitely going to deliver on Day 21 of #25DaysofFishmas!
We end the northwest leg of our road trip with the Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma), a brightly colored fish + this week’s #SundayFishSketch mystery species!
We end the northwest leg of our road trip with the Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma), a brightly colored fish + this week’s #SundayFishSketch mystery species!
Reposted by Zach
The Borax Lake chub is part of the Leuciscidae family (minnows, shiners + chubs). It’s one of only 2 living fish species endemic to the Alvord Basin, a desert valley in southeast Oregon/northeast Nevada - the other being its close relative the Alvord Chub (Siphateles alvordensis) #25DaysofFishmas
December 18, 2025 at 2:04 PM
The Borax Lake chub is part of the Leuciscidae family (minnows, shiners + chubs). It’s one of only 2 living fish species endemic to the Alvord Basin, a desert valley in southeast Oregon/northeast Nevada - the other being its close relative the Alvord Chub (Siphateles alvordensis) #25DaysofFishmas
Reposted by Zach
The largescale sucker is in the Catostomidae (sucker) family, a group whose name comes from the Greek kata = “down” + “stoma” = mouth in reference to their downward-facing mouths. There are about 80 sucker species, and all but 2 are found only in North America #25DaysofFishmas
December 17, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The largescale sucker is in the Catostomidae (sucker) family, a group whose name comes from the Greek kata = “down” + “stoma” = mouth in reference to their downward-facing mouths. There are about 80 sucker species, and all but 2 are found only in North America #25DaysofFishmas
Reposted by Zach
#25DaysofFishmas Day 13 brings us a fish that shines like B-E-A-UTIFUL holiday lights! 🌟
Our road trip takes us to the deserts of southern Arizona + New Mexico to find the Beautiful Shiner (Cyprinella formosa), a small, threatened species that was briefly lost from the US but has been reintroduced
Our road trip takes us to the deserts of southern Arizona + New Mexico to find the Beautiful Shiner (Cyprinella formosa), a small, threatened species that was briefly lost from the US but has been reintroduced
December 13, 2025 at 2:01 PM
#25DaysofFishmas Day 13 brings us a fish that shines like B-E-A-UTIFUL holiday lights! 🌟
Our road trip takes us to the deserts of southern Arizona + New Mexico to find the Beautiful Shiner (Cyprinella formosa), a small, threatened species that was briefly lost from the US but has been reintroduced
Our road trip takes us to the deserts of southern Arizona + New Mexico to find the Beautiful Shiner (Cyprinella formosa), a small, threatened species that was briefly lost from the US but has been reintroduced
Reposted by Zach
Mele kalikimaka! 🌴🐟
On Day 12 of #25DaysofFishmas, we head to the land where palm trees sway and the season's always green and bright to find the Nopili rockclimbing goby / ‘o‘opu nōpili (Sicyopterus stimpsoni), one of only a few freshwater fish species native to the islands of Hawai‘i
On Day 12 of #25DaysofFishmas, we head to the land where palm trees sway and the season's always green and bright to find the Nopili rockclimbing goby / ‘o‘opu nōpili (Sicyopterus stimpsoni), one of only a few freshwater fish species native to the islands of Hawai‘i
December 12, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Mele kalikimaka! 🌴🐟
On Day 12 of #25DaysofFishmas, we head to the land where palm trees sway and the season's always green and bright to find the Nopili rockclimbing goby / ‘o‘opu nōpili (Sicyopterus stimpsoni), one of only a few freshwater fish species native to the islands of Hawai‘i
On Day 12 of #25DaysofFishmas, we head to the land where palm trees sway and the season's always green and bright to find the Nopili rockclimbing goby / ‘o‘opu nōpili (Sicyopterus stimpsoni), one of only a few freshwater fish species native to the islands of Hawai‘i
Reposted by Zach
🎶Come, they told me, pa rump (poolfish) pum pum pum🎶 🥁
Move aside, little drummer boy, it’s the Pahrump Poolfish’s (Empetrichthys latos) time for a solo!
On Day 11 of #25DaysofFishmas, we say Vegas or bust and head to southern Nevada to meet a critically-endangered fish without a home
Move aside, little drummer boy, it’s the Pahrump Poolfish’s (Empetrichthys latos) time for a solo!
On Day 11 of #25DaysofFishmas, we say Vegas or bust and head to southern Nevada to meet a critically-endangered fish without a home
December 11, 2025 at 2:02 PM
🎶Come, they told me, pa rump (poolfish) pum pum pum🎶 🥁
Move aside, little drummer boy, it’s the Pahrump Poolfish’s (Empetrichthys latos) time for a solo!
On Day 11 of #25DaysofFishmas, we say Vegas or bust and head to southern Nevada to meet a critically-endangered fish without a home
Move aside, little drummer boy, it’s the Pahrump Poolfish’s (Empetrichthys latos) time for a solo!
On Day 11 of #25DaysofFishmas, we say Vegas or bust and head to southern Nevada to meet a critically-endangered fish without a home
Reposted by Zach
RAVISHING excerpt out today!! Thank you @literaryhub.bsky.social!!
“Her mouth drops into a hesitant o when she first looks at herself in the mirror.” Read from @eshanisurya.bsky.social’s new novel, Ravishing.
Ravishing
Her mouth drops into a hesitant o when she first looks at herself in the mirror. The girl on the screen films whenever she can. Her phone’s camera, a hungry eye, beckons. But she doesn’t mind being…
buff.ly
December 10, 2025 at 10:20 PM
RAVISHING excerpt out today!! Thank you @literaryhub.bsky.social!!
Reposted by Zach
You better not cry, you better not trout, ‘cause Salmonid Claus is coming to town! 🎅🐟
On Day 10 of #25DaysofFishmas, we head to Arizona's White Mountains to meet the Apache Trout (Oncorhynchus apache), whose recovery isn't a #Fishmas miracle, but a result of over 50 years of people working together
On Day 10 of #25DaysofFishmas, we head to Arizona's White Mountains to meet the Apache Trout (Oncorhynchus apache), whose recovery isn't a #Fishmas miracle, but a result of over 50 years of people working together
December 10, 2025 at 2:03 PM
You better not cry, you better not trout, ‘cause Salmonid Claus is coming to town! 🎅🐟
On Day 10 of #25DaysofFishmas, we head to Arizona's White Mountains to meet the Apache Trout (Oncorhynchus apache), whose recovery isn't a #Fishmas miracle, but a result of over 50 years of people working together
On Day 10 of #25DaysofFishmas, we head to Arizona's White Mountains to meet the Apache Trout (Oncorhynchus apache), whose recovery isn't a #Fishmas miracle, but a result of over 50 years of people working together
Reposted by Zach
Better check autocorrect to make sure your Christmas list makes it to Santa and not Day 9’s #25DaysofFishmas feature! 🎅😈
The #Fishmas train keeps a-rollin' on down to San Antone to meet Satan eurystomus - better known as the Widemouth Blindcat - a rare blind catfish living deep, deep underground
The #Fishmas train keeps a-rollin' on down to San Antone to meet Satan eurystomus - better known as the Widemouth Blindcat - a rare blind catfish living deep, deep underground
December 9, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Better check autocorrect to make sure your Christmas list makes it to Santa and not Day 9’s #25DaysofFishmas feature! 🎅😈
The #Fishmas train keeps a-rollin' on down to San Antone to meet Satan eurystomus - better known as the Widemouth Blindcat - a rare blind catfish living deep, deep underground
The #Fishmas train keeps a-rollin' on down to San Antone to meet Satan eurystomus - better known as the Widemouth Blindcat - a rare blind catfish living deep, deep underground
Christmas coot? Apparently on the holiday menu according to Tyus’s Ecology and management of Colorado Pikeminnow (Battle Against Extinction Ch. 19)
December 8, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Christmas coot? Apparently on the holiday menu according to Tyus’s Ecology and management of Colorado Pikeminnow (Battle Against Extinction Ch. 19)
Reposted by Zach
If you can think of a better fish for Day 8 of #25DaysofFishmas, let minnow!
Westward ho, we go on our #Fishmas road trip to the canyon rivers of the Intermountain West, home of the Colorado Pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius), a minnow who's no small fry - meet the largest minnow in North America!
Westward ho, we go on our #Fishmas road trip to the canyon rivers of the Intermountain West, home of the Colorado Pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius), a minnow who's no small fry - meet the largest minnow in North America!
December 8, 2025 at 2:02 PM
If you can think of a better fish for Day 8 of #25DaysofFishmas, let minnow!
Westward ho, we go on our #Fishmas road trip to the canyon rivers of the Intermountain West, home of the Colorado Pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius), a minnow who's no small fry - meet the largest minnow in North America!
Westward ho, we go on our #Fishmas road trip to the canyon rivers of the Intermountain West, home of the Colorado Pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius), a minnow who's no small fry - meet the largest minnow in North America!
Reposted by Zach
Keep an eye on your #Fishmas tree - there’s a cat(fish) on the loose! 🎄🐈
Carolina’s on our minds here on Day 5 of #25DaysofFishmas, as we meet the Carolina Madtom (Noturus furiosus), a small - but mighty - endangered catfish species only found in North Carolina
Carolina’s on our minds here on Day 5 of #25DaysofFishmas, as we meet the Carolina Madtom (Noturus furiosus), a small - but mighty - endangered catfish species only found in North Carolina
December 5, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Keep an eye on your #Fishmas tree - there’s a cat(fish) on the loose! 🎄🐈
Carolina’s on our minds here on Day 5 of #25DaysofFishmas, as we meet the Carolina Madtom (Noturus furiosus), a small - but mighty - endangered catfish species only found in North Carolina
Carolina’s on our minds here on Day 5 of #25DaysofFishmas, as we meet the Carolina Madtom (Noturus furiosus), a small - but mighty - endangered catfish species only found in North Carolina
Reposted by Zach
It’s all about that bass on Day 4 of #25DaysofFishmas - the Suwannee Bass (Micropterus notius), that is!
We head to the Florida Panhandle to find this lesser-known cousin of the largemouth bass who is like the quiet - but interesting - cousin at the black bass family holiday get-together.
We head to the Florida Panhandle to find this lesser-known cousin of the largemouth bass who is like the quiet - but interesting - cousin at the black bass family holiday get-together.
December 4, 2025 at 2:01 PM
It’s all about that bass on Day 4 of #25DaysofFishmas - the Suwannee Bass (Micropterus notius), that is!
We head to the Florida Panhandle to find this lesser-known cousin of the largemouth bass who is like the quiet - but interesting - cousin at the black bass family holiday get-together.
We head to the Florida Panhandle to find this lesser-known cousin of the largemouth bass who is like the quiet - but interesting - cousin at the black bass family holiday get-together.
Reposted by Zach
It’s time to hang up the holiday GAR-land 🎄
Move over Florida Man, it’s Florida Gar’s time to shine!
On Day 3 of #25DaysofFishmas, we head down to the Sunshine State to find the Florida gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus), an ancient-looking fish whose appearance hasn’t changed much since the Mesozoic
Move over Florida Man, it’s Florida Gar’s time to shine!
On Day 3 of #25DaysofFishmas, we head down to the Sunshine State to find the Florida gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus), an ancient-looking fish whose appearance hasn’t changed much since the Mesozoic
December 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM
It’s time to hang up the holiday GAR-land 🎄
Move over Florida Man, it’s Florida Gar’s time to shine!
On Day 3 of #25DaysofFishmas, we head down to the Sunshine State to find the Florida gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus), an ancient-looking fish whose appearance hasn’t changed much since the Mesozoic
Move over Florida Man, it’s Florida Gar’s time to shine!
On Day 3 of #25DaysofFishmas, we head down to the Sunshine State to find the Florida gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus), an ancient-looking fish whose appearance hasn’t changed much since the Mesozoic
Reposted by Zach
Rudolph, the red-eared reindeer! 🦌
With ears so bright, the Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) guides us into Day 2 of #25DaysofFishmas! This member of the sunfish family found throughout the southeastern US is a warm-water loving ray of sun on a cold winter day ☀️
With ears so bright, the Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) guides us into Day 2 of #25DaysofFishmas! This member of the sunfish family found throughout the southeastern US is a warm-water loving ray of sun on a cold winter day ☀️
December 2, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Rudolph, the red-eared reindeer! 🦌
With ears so bright, the Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) guides us into Day 2 of #25DaysofFishmas! This member of the sunfish family found throughout the southeastern US is a warm-water loving ray of sun on a cold winter day ☀️
With ears so bright, the Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) guides us into Day 2 of #25DaysofFishmas! This member of the sunfish family found throughout the southeastern US is a warm-water loving ray of sun on a cold winter day ☀️
Reposted by Zach
🎶It’s beginning to look a lot like #Fishmas🎶
There’s no better fish to kick off this year’s #25DaysofFishmas than the aptly-named Christmas darter (Etheostoma hopkinsi)! We get our road trip started down in the southeastern US with this small species of fish who has big holiday spirit all year long
There’s no better fish to kick off this year’s #25DaysofFishmas than the aptly-named Christmas darter (Etheostoma hopkinsi)! We get our road trip started down in the southeastern US with this small species of fish who has big holiday spirit all year long
December 1, 2025 at 2:00 PM
🎶It’s beginning to look a lot like #Fishmas🎶
There’s no better fish to kick off this year’s #25DaysofFishmas than the aptly-named Christmas darter (Etheostoma hopkinsi)! We get our road trip started down in the southeastern US with this small species of fish who has big holiday spirit all year long
There’s no better fish to kick off this year’s #25DaysofFishmas than the aptly-named Christmas darter (Etheostoma hopkinsi)! We get our road trip started down in the southeastern US with this small species of fish who has big holiday spirit all year long
Reposted by Zach
Read an excerpt from The Great Black Swamp 🐸 www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/11/the-...
The history of taming the Great Black Swamp | Great Lakes Now
Before farms and suburbs, the Great Black Swamp thrived. Restoring it could help curb Lake Erie’s harmful algal blooms today.
www.greatlakesnow.org
November 20, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Read an excerpt from The Great Black Swamp 🐸 www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/11/the-...
When saying no leads to more yes’s also indicates I’ve been in the job long enough
You know you’ve been at Sea Grant long enough when someone introduces you as, “this is Zach, he herds cats”🐈🐈⬛🐈🐈⬛
November 20, 2025 at 1:55 PM
When saying no leads to more yes’s also indicates I’ve been in the job long enough
Reposted by Zach
Listen to @eshanisurya.bsky.social discuss the path to her debut novel, RAVISHING, over on the Debutiful podcast feed!
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6IF9...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6IF9...
November 13, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Listen to @eshanisurya.bsky.social discuss the path to her debut novel, RAVISHING, over on the Debutiful podcast feed!
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6IF9...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6IF9...
Reposted by Zach
Fifty years ago, the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior after hitting a ferocious storm. None of the 29 crew members survived. Learn more about this wreck and others at wisconsinshipwrecks.org.
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
November 10, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Fifty years ago, the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior after hitting a ferocious storm. None of the 29 crew members survived. Learn more about this wreck and others at wisconsinshipwrecks.org.
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
