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"The most precious commodity in the county, commonwealth, US, and world is fresh clean water," said John Levitsky, watershed specialist at the Luzerne County Conservation District. "We all live upstream or downstream of someone and it is critical for everyone to work together as a community to better the watershed. One person can't do it all but if we all join hands as a community, we can protect our waterways for drinking, fishing, swimming and boating."
In an effort to keep everyone on the same page to protect the Chesapeake Bay and the waterways that feed her, county conservation districts throughout the Susquehanna River watershed have been working on Countywide Action Plans which "provide an opportunity for everyone involved to learn more about their local waters and ... outline how to achieve local clean water goals in a way that fits with local priorities," according to the state's Department of Environmental Protection.
For approval of their CAPs, county conservation districts must meet with local stakeholders, including, but not limited to municipalities, farmers, policy makers and environmental partners, and create a first draft and then a finalized draft to be submitted to the EPA for comment.
The Middle Susquehanna Watershed is home to 23 counties. Most of these counties are in the drafting phase of their CAPs and the conservation districts have identified three main waterway issues hampering the quality of the water.
Abandoned mine drainage is a widespread issue throughout our watershed. AMD is any highly acidic surface or groundwater rich in heavy metals that is draining from an abandoned mine. Contaminants like this in the waterways are harmful to aquatic populations and in severe cases can create biologically dead zones.
The other two main issues identified by CAPs within our watershed include sedimentation and nutrient runoff, both of which are associated with agriculture and logging.
Sediments are loose clays, sands and silts that settle to the bottom of a water body. Although natural erosion creates some sedimentation, artificial erosion from construction, logging, and farming creates much more. Sediment pollution can create more severe flooding, inhibit aquatic organisms from seeing in the water, and alter the flow of water for aquatic life and recreation.
Nutrient runoff in the watershed can be traced to agriculture, livestock and sewage, among other sources. Increased levels of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphate from fertilizers and manure can greatly affect water quality, causing some organisms like algae to grow abundantly. As algae from the eutrophication decompose, dissolved oxygen in the water is depleted. In addition to increased bacteria counts, the lack of oxygen in the water can cause aquatic populations to die off.
The countywide action plans are being written to address the waterway issues specific to each county. Many of the plans are using best management practices (BMPs), which have the potential to bring the community together to address issues affecting everyone. As citizens in the Middle Susquehanna Watershed, everyone has the ability to create change. Provided below in the county-by-county report are ways you can reach out and get involved.
"We all need water, and it needs to be clean water," said John Dryzal, district manager at Cambria County Conservation District. "Steps that people do even around their own homes, connecting to municipal sewage, applying fertilizers and pesticides responsibly, all which helps to achieve the overarching goal of clean water."
The Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association serves an 11,000-square-mile watershed of the Susquehanna River, including Sullivan, Lycoming, Clinton, Union and Northumberland counties. Read more at www.middlesusquehannariverkeeper.org.
A COUNTY-BY-COUNTY LOOK AT ACTION PLANS REGARDING THE CHESAPEAKE BAY
BRADFORD COUNTY
• Information pending
CAMBRIA COUNTY
• Main county waterway issues: Abandoned mine drainage
• Highlights of the CAP: Concentrating in the northern 40% of the county that drains into the Chesapeake Bay
• CAP progress: Developmental phase
CAMERON COUNTY
• Does not have CAP
CENTRE COUNTY
• Main county waterway issues: 1) abandoned mine drainage … 2) agriculture (Nutrients and sedimentation)
• Highlights of the CAP: Over 50 stakeholders from around the county are actively involved; CAP is opportunity to help farmers and landowners promote a healthier environment for all
• CAP progress: Implementation phase
CLEARFIELD COUNTY
• Main county waterway issues: 1) abandoned mine drainage … 2) legacy sediment from logging and mining operations … 3) Nutrients from agriculture (minimal)
• Highlights of the CAP: Covers 3/4 of the county that drains into the Chesapeake Bay Watershed; very widespread projects including BMP installation, nutrient health, outreach and education, and the implementation of watershed projects
• CAP progress: Developmental phase
CLINTON COUNTY
• Main county waterway issues: 1) nutrient related problems and sedimentation in southern portion … 2) abandoned mine drainage in northern portion
• Highlights of the CAP: will mostly be focused on the southern part of the county due to the larger population and agricultural practices
• CAP progress: Developmental phase
ELK COUNTY
• Does not have one
INDIANA COUNTY
• Does not have one
LACKAWANNA COUNTY
• Main county waterway issues: 1) nutrients … 2) Sedimentation … 3) abandoned mine drainage
• Highlights of the CAP: Still being developed to pinpoint areas of improvement
• CAP progress: Developmental phase
LUZURNE COUNTY
• Main county waterway issues: 1) abandoned mine drainage … 2) agriculture
• Highlights of the CAP: Focus on initiating BMPs, investigating mine drainage, municipal, wetlands, stream banks and riparian zones
• CAP progress: Developmental phase
LYCOMING COUNTY
• Main county waterway issues: 1) nutrient pollution … 2) atmosphere deposition (pH) and abandoned mine drainage … 3) sedimentation via runoff
• Highlights of the CAP: Over 100 stakeholders are involved from a variey of sectors; There are some hotspots in the county, but the CAP is mostly focusing on county-wide implementation; Most projects are focused on not changing their programs, but instead prioritizing placement of them
• CAP progress: Developmental phase
MONTOUR COUNTY
• Main county waterway issues: 1) Agriculture and nutrients from lack of riparian buffers … 2) Municipal storm water
• Highlights of the CAP: Teamed up with Sullivan and Columbia counties to formulate CAP programs; focused heavily on agriculture
• CAP progress: Implementation phase
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY
• Main county waterway issues: 1) Abandoned mine drainage (central eastern) … 2) Agriculture nutrient loads (northern and southern)
• Highlights of the CAP: Structured into four initiatives:
1--Sorting through existing programs that might overlap with CAP goals
2--Enhancing and expanding data tracking efforts on already existing programs
3--Identifying new places for BMPs
4--Highlighting research, education and training opportunities
• CAP progress: Working on finalizing final draft for submission in September
POTTER COUNTY
• Main county waterway issues: 1) agricultural issues … 2) sedimentation from dirt roads/storm water runoff … 3) aquaculture and fish hatchery
• Highlights of the CAP: Large stakeholder involvement; Focusing on forestry/forest management and moving forwards with BMPs in forested regions
• CAP progress: Developmental phase
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
• Main county waterway issues: 1) agriculture (nutrient management) … 2) abandoned mine drainage … 3) flood mitigation and recovery
• Highlights of the CAP: Focusing on priority areas including agriculture, natural resources, municipal efforts, data management and routine waterway management; Switching focus to natural restoration efforts like riparian buffers
• CAP progress: Developmental phase
SNYDER COUNTY
• Main county waterway issues: Agriculture (nutrients and sedimentation)
• Highlights of the CAP: Union and Snyder counties are working together on the CAP; Focused heavily on agriculture with help from agriculture stakeholders; Prioritized several small watersheds within the county
• CAP progress: Final draft is due for review on August 26
SULLIVAN COUNTY
• Main county waterway issues: 1) flooding … 2) abandoned mine drainage … 3) nutrients
• Highlights of the CAP: Focusing on flooding, abandoned mine drainage and nutrients
• CAP progress: Developmental phase
SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY
• Main county waterway issues: 1) agriculture (nutrients) … 2) storm water management … 3) forest management
• Highlights of the CAP: Partnered with Lackawanna and Luzerne counties; Focused on overall water quality, soil health and getting people involved
• CAP progress: Recently submitted initial plans
TIOGA COUNTY
• Main county waterway issues: Acid mine drainage
• Highlights of the CAP: Focused on mostly agricultural and some municipal waste
• CAP progress: Developmental phase
UNION COUNTY
• Main county waterway issues: 1) agricultural impairment … 2) sediment control
• Highlights of the CAP: Working with HRG engineering and Snyder County putting together the CAP program; Focused heavily on agricultural impairment and sediment control; Organized focus groups to prioritize efforts; Looking to expand soil health testing, stream restoration and connections with municipalities
• CAP progress: Developmental phase