Dr. Adam Effler Special to The Citizen The saying that âa trained eye can find a needle in a haystackâ describes well oneâs ability to understand natural surroundings and observe changing conditions. Through education and careful analysis, one may identify and diagnose improving and degrading conditions in watersheds and landscapes. Wilted tree leaves and brown lawns, for example, are natural signs of plant distress and drought conditions that many have learned to easily recognize over time. Natural ecosystems are constantly providing us familiar and unfamiliar clues about the health of the landscape through subtle signs and signals. However, there is often a variety of overlooked patterns we may not recognize at first, but through observation and analysis of symptoms, revelations of dynamic environmental health conditions can emerge.