An “Impaired” Susquehanna can become a Healthier River
Liz G. Deardorff, Director, Clean Water Program Pennsylvania
February 28, 2013 | Water Pollution
Smallmouth bass | Duane Raver, USFWS
American Rivers and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation have submitted a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region III (EPA) regional administrator, Shawn Garvin requesting amendment to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) list of impaired waterways. Notably lacking from the list DEP recently submitted to EPA is the Lower Susquehanna River.
The omission is notable because the evidence of declining health for smallmouth bass is supported by data ranging from declining fish catch reports to records of pH levels that are not supportive for healthy fish.
Armed with data and together with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and other partners we submitted a request to DEP to list the Lower Susquehanna as impaired in order to begin a plan to clean-up the river and restore the fish population. DEP denied our request and also shied away from public sentiment when the draft list was released. DEP persisted by submitting a final list of impaired Pennsylvania waterways to EPA without including the Lower Susquehanna despite acknowledging that the health problem with young of year smallmouth bass merited initiating a study.
Why is it still important that we secure the Lower Susquehanna a spot on Pennsylvania’s list of impaired waterways even though DEP is initiating a study? Because, under the Clean Water Act, a river segment declared impaired or unable to stay healthy enough to support a traditional activity deserves to be cleaned up. Placing the river on the list starts the planning process to clean up the river and restore its function.
Diseased smallmouth bass and poor pH levels mean the Susquehanna can no longer support healthy fish and the river’s tradition as a great place to fish. Placing the river on the impaired waterways list starts a process that can take 13 years in Pennsylvania! Although additional study may be a part of that process, the Susquehanna fisherman that emailed me Saturday doesn’t need to wait any longer—with more than 40 years’ experience fishing the Susquehanna he “began to notice something seriously wrong with the quantity and quality of the bass population more than eight years ago.”
He asks, “What can I do to help get this river back in shape?” It’s the same question I’ve heard from other fisherman and boaters who have witnessed fish behaving erratically and bearing grotesque lesions. We hope EPA will require the impaired waterways list for Pennsylvania include the Lower Susquehanna so fisherman and boaters in Pennsylvania can engage in the clean-up process, as required by the Clean Water Act.
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Submitted by tim kellon at: March 20, 2013
It's time for residents and politicians to get involved,unfortunatly gov. Corbette is as bad as a absentee parent when it comes too are environment,I believe are gov. is very politically ambitious and will only respond with political presser,we can only hope that we will have better leadership choices when the next election comes around.
Submitted by marie altese at: March 14, 2013
There has been a great deal of money put into trying to clean up the Chesepeake Bay. As I understand it, the Susquehanna is a major contributor to it's pollution.May a well circulated petition will help.
Submitted by Walter Feszchak at: March 7, 2013
At 70 years of age I and my brothers fished, swam, camped on the Wilkes-Barre PA area of the Susquehanna. At the North Street Bridge looking North we could see the left side of the 'island' had clear running water; and on the right side a 'yellow' tint which rarely changed. - On the right side of the river we would 'skinny dip' jumping from the ledge swimming to the 'island' and returning. - Unfortunately in July 19, 1959, Karen Dempsey, a 'tom boy' was crossing the river approximately 3/4 mile from the bridge, slipped being carried under water disappearing. Sad day for the neighborhood. - My first understanding of the Susquehanna was when fishing two Wilkes College students near by talked about the river being 'polluted' explaining to me the definition and critical condition of the river which has since influenced my life with interest in public conservation. - Reading of the Black Warrior River and its plight, reviewing the legal history apparently big dollars are the "tail wagging the dog." - As a combat veteran within the Korea DMZ [1961]chemicals Agent Orange and others were used with no safety standards and the US Government is consistent in denial. Resulting in many cancers of GIs and VA denial of claims. - Thanks for allowing me to rant as I remember hours of catching small mouth bass and carp nearly large as automobile tires. - Keep up the Mission we must prepare our defense against mining industries; or, perhaps develop effective 'offensive' plans which I endorse. - Be Well