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After President Bill Clinton introduced the American Heritage Rivers Initiative in January of 1997, the people living in the Upper Susquehanna-Lackawanna Watershed held several community meetings to discuss their needs and the opportunities facing them. An application embodying their vision for economic development, natural resource protection, and historic and cultural preservation was submitted to President Clinton’s Council on Environmental Quality in December of 1997. In July of 1998, the Upper Susquehanna-Lackawanna Watershed was selected as one of the nation’s fourteen American Heritage Rivers. At the request of Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) and the Northumberland County Commissioners, the adjacent Shamokin Creek Watershed was added to the American Heritage River area.
A Steering Committee was formed of representative of the six counties that encompass most of the Upper Susquehanna-Lackawanna Watershed and groups that played a major role in the drafting of the American Heritage River application. Over the past year, Steering Committee members have held a series of meetings to translate this vision into a specific inventory of potential projects in the region, which covers parts of the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Schuylkill, Columbia, Sullivan, Montour, and Northumberland.
The community vision developed for the Upper Susquehanna-Lackawanna Watershed encompasses several major elements. First, a comprehensive study of the watershed’s ecosystem should be undertaken to determine how this large restoration initiative can be most effective and efficient. The most pressing environmental problem in the region may be the acid mine drainage produced by abandoned coal mines. This acid mine drainage has a variety of harmful effects beyond the watershed -- it is the largest source of industrial pollution in the Chesapeake Bay and it prevents the free migration of the American Shad from the Chesapeake Bay to the headwaters of the Susquehanna. Innovative acid mine drainage abatement projects, such as the creation of artificial wetlands, along streams and creeks that feed into the Susquehanna River could alleviate this problem. The second major obstacle to the environmental and economic revitalization of the region is the countless acres of mine-scarred land left from decades-old mining practices. In addition to being an environmental blight and a health and safety risk, the prevalence of this mine-scarred land inhibits economic development. As the region runs out of suitable land for industrial development, pristine "greenfields" are a prime target for development. Potential solutions include a revolving fund to support continuing reclamation efforts and a brownfields-like demonstration project to reclaim mine-scarred land so that the land will be suitable for industrial development. At the same time, as a region which suffered in 1972 what was the worst natural disaster in American history (at that time), flood protection should be expanded by employing, where practical, innovative and non-structural solutions.
The following projects were identified at the public meetings as potentially helpful in achieving the economic revitalization, environmental restoration, and cultural and historic preservation of the watershed. Completed, planned, or in progress, the projects represent an initial plan of action that community members will use as a working document in cooperation with themselves, the Commonwealth, the federal government, and, especially, the River Navigator.
The Upper Susquehanna-Lackawanna work plan is divided into five categories: Watershed Master Plan, Economic Revitalization, Natural Resource Protection, Historic and Cultural Preservation, and Training and Education. The first category contains only one work item; when developed, the "Master Plan" will present a blueprint for the remaining four categories. The middle three categories reflect the three topics addressed in the Upper Susquehanna-Lackawanna Watershed’s American Heritage River Application. The fifth category, Training and Education, was added to address multi-disciplinary projects.
Although action items below are divided into categories, all of them are connected. Residents of the region understand that the land, the economy, and the culture of the Upper Susquehanna-Lackawanna Watershed are closely intertwined. These connections are reflected in projects like sustainable agriculture, which has economic, environmental, cultural and educational components. Our partners also demonstrate these connections, as we have Chambers of Commerce involved in natural resource protection, agricultural services working on heritage preservation, and environmental groups assisting with economic development.
1 items include existing efforts that are being developed or expanded, and new projects that have already begun.
2 items will begin within the next twelve months.
3 items require more planning or coordination, and will begin after one year.
This is a list of suggested federal and state agencies that may be able to offer assistance, training, funding, expertise, materials or other support for action items. These are only suggested sources, and are by no means comprehensive.
We have provided the name and phone number of a person who is involved in moving the project forward, and who has agreed to answer questions and provide more information about that action item.
The Work Plan itself is designed to be an interactive document that details an ever-changing inventory of projects necessary to restore the Upper Susquehanna-Lackawanna Watershed. The document is posted as a part of this Upper Susquehanna- Lackawanna Watershed Internet web site, http://paheritageriver.org/, to allow for ongoing public entry of additional projects to be listed as part of this Work Plan.
* NOTE: This document is intended to provide a preliminary inventory of projects important for the restoration of the Upper Susquehanna- Lackawanna Watershed. This Work Plan should be considered a dynamic document that will continue to be developed as additional projects are added and work is performed on each project. The Upper Susquehanna-Lackawanna Watershed Steering Committee is not setting any priority for the funding of these projects. Projects contained in this "Draft Work Plan" are the sole responsibility of the submitting agency, group, or contact person. The Upper Susquehanna- Lackawanna Watershed Steering Committee assumes no liability for the accuracy of any information regarding these projects.