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Susquehanna River’s West Branch Named DCNR’s ‘River of the Year'
It’s coming back. Back from the days when it served as the lifeline of a timber industry that helped build a nation. Back from a time when its waters ran clear and cold, and native trout and American finned in its currents. And, sadly, back from a time when some of its stretches once were nearly devoid of aquatic life. Slowly, surely this waterway is rebounding.
Just ask tourism folks who point visitors to existing barge anchors on the river bottom, remains of timber dams, and other remnants of a once-booming logging and timber industry. Or local and state officials, who see it as a serpentine cornerstone of the Pennsylvania Wilds initiative, drawing more nature-based tourism to the north central section of the state. And then there is the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, which this year is stocking trout in waters of a river where acid mine drainage had once taken a heavy toll. Commission efforts continue, meanwhile, to reintroduce the migrating shad to waters where it once spawned. In a March 21 announcement, DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis celebrated this waterway's recovery from a troubled past to a promising future by naming the West Branch of the Susquehanna River as Pennsylvania's River of the Year for 2005. The annual designation applauds local residents, governments and non-profit and conservation organizations working to improve both waterways and the quality of life in their watersheds across the state. “Acid mine drainage has taken its toll on some sections of the waterway, but thanks to joint federal and state efforts, and the vision, commitment and concerns of many, the river is rebounding,” Secretary DiBerardinis said. “Each year the West Branch draws more and more people to fish and float its waters and hike along its scenic banks.” This year's honor also focuses on the unlimited recreational and tourism potential offered by the river as it travels over 230 miles from near Bakerton, Cambria County, to its junction with the river’s main body near Northumberland, Northumberland County. “The Susquehanna’s West Branch is a cornerstone of our Pennsylvania Wilds initiative, drawing more nature-based tourism to the north central section of the state,” said Secretary DiBerardinis. “It also has a rich, historical link to the employment and lifestyles celebrated in DCNR’s Lumber Heritage Region, and is a foundation of the Susquehanna Greenway partnership linking natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources along the 500-mile corridor of the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania.” With the one-year designation, the West Branch will be the subject of a June Rivers Month poster, and an annual River Sojourn will be sponsored by DCNR and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. Other events on or along the West Branch are being promoted in partnership with the Pennsylvania Tourism Office and the Pa WILDS, Inc. www.visitpa.com/visitpa/river.do or www.pawilds.com). Also, June Rivers Month activities again will draw attention to the importance of river resources across the state. The West Branch Sojourn, set for June 2-6, will travel from Renovo, Clinton County, to Williamsport, Lycoming County. Last year’s featured river was the North Branch of the Susquehanna. A map and guide for the “Susquehanna River Water Trail – West Branch” recently has been completed by the Lumber Heritage Region of Pennsylvania, with funding assistance from the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network and DCNR Heritage Parks Program. The water trail is part of the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network, a partnership system of over 20 water trails and 120 parks, refuges, maritime museums and historic sites in the Chesapeake watershed. For details, visit mwennin@lumberheritage.org or www.baygateways.net. For more information on DCNR’s rivers program and the River of the Year Sojourn, visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/rivers/activities.aspx. |
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