Howdy River Folks,

What a great month we have had! I spent 3 days in Washington with 100 other river advocates meeting with our elected officials and EPA. Shortly after, the US House passed the Community Sewage Right-to-Know Act, which requires wastewater treatment plants to alert the public to sewage overflows that may cause health risks. We still need to get movement in the Senate (S.B. 2080) and from President Bush. Please write your Senators and President Bush (click here for addresses), so we can protect our families and pets from entering our waterways during sewage releases. This is particularly important for us as there are STILL over 400 pipes that pump RAW sewage into the Susquehanna when it rains too much for treatment plants to control it. Sixty of these pipes are in Harrisburg! I explained to top EPA officials that we have Harrisburg on our list of major polluters that need to be addressed ASAP. We will take action against them if they do not meet their deadline of 2010 to begin significant progress on their problem. American Rivers voiced their interest in being part of legal action that we may take.

We had a great cleanup along Codorus Creek. Thanks to the 48 Stewards who came out over two days to help us remove about 3 tons of bikes, shopping carts, lawnmowers, carpets, and loose trash from the creek. Thanks also to Zero Restriction Outerwear, Gander Mountain Sports, Central Family Restaurant, North York Borough, J&K Salvage, Glatfelter, and PPL for providing gear, lunches, and funding for this project. On a side note, I got up early the first day and fished at the George Street bridge, catching a 17-inch smallmouth out of what was just recently still referred to as the "Inky Stinky Codorus Creek".

After the Codorus Cleanup, I jumped on a plane for the annual Waterkeeper Conference, this year in Seattle. I got to network with and learn from so many other waterkeepers, scientists, and attorneys. Just like we all communicate to share our similar concerns and plan strategies for the Susquehanna, it is amazing to sit down with folks from all over this country, AND Canada, South America, Africa, China, India, Australia and now even Russia. We are definitely a growing movement that is shaking up the whole world and bringing our water resources back to the people who need and love them.

We have some interesting work planned for this summer.

USGS will be conducting mussel surveys in the Susquehanna and we have been asked to join in this. This will include mapping and gridding of areas of the river, and snorkeling and sampling for our freshwater mussel species. Dates have yet to be announced, but contact us if you are interested.

We have received an $18,680 grant from the Foundation for PA Watersheds to produce educational materials and to hold public meetings on the Conowingo sediment threats. Let us know if you would like to help coordinate a meeting near you, or with your elected officials. By the way, yesterday I met with Governor Rendell and thanked him for funding the first study needed to assess the threats at Conowingo Dam. Just to remind you, he provided this funding after we formed a coalition, and received the assistance of Congressman Platts, to address the Chesapeake Executive Council. This is another big 'win' for Stewards of the Lower Susquehanna. Before we stepped in, all work on this issue had stalled due to concerns over funding.

A Cleanup of the Conodoguinet Creek will be held Saturday, July 19th, starting at 9 am. Please call Paul Garrett at 514-3546 or 737-2554 to participate.

Lastly, we have received a $1200 grant from the Chesapeake Bay Funders Network to send out brochures and membership requests. We need to compile lists of organizations and individuals who may have interest in our work. Please let us know if you can help with this. AND... if you haven't become a member yet, need to renew, or have a friend that should be a member, you can get a membership form here. And again remember, ALL DONATIONS ARE DOUBLED by the Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment. We only have a couple more months left on this challenge, so please give what you can today.

Goodness, if you made it through all of this text, you are definitely dedicated to the Susquehanna. Please let us know how else we can serve you. Thanks.

From the Mighty Susquehanna, Michael R Helfrich
Lower Susquehanna RIVERKEEPER®

 

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