Title
Reflection on the 2004 Rivers Conservation Plan for the Lower West Branch of the Susquehanna River —The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Start Date
12-11-2014 3:15 PM
End Date
12-11-2014 4:00 PM
Description
Draining nearly 7,000 square miles, the West Branch of the Susquehanna River is the largest of the Susquehanna River sub-basins. Between 1996 and 2004 the West Branch of the Susquehanna was divided into upper, middle, and lower sections for the purpose of development of River conservation Plans through a program developed by PA DCNR. Lycoming College Clean Water Institute (CWI) was one of several partners when the North Central Pennsylvania Conservancy (NPC) led a multi-year effort to develop a Rivers Conservation Plan for the lower 75 mile portion of the West Branch Susquehanna River. Beginning at Farrandsville (Clinton County) and ending in Northumberland (Northumberland County) at the confluence between the West Branch Susquehanna River and the North Branch, this report attempted to pull together the “state” of water, wildlife, landscape and development for this section of the watershed. Using this decade old report as a benchmark I will attempt to summarize the many changes to the river that have occurred during this busy 10 years while focusing specifically on the overall water quality observed during the river monitoring projects completed by CWI. CWI has been actively monitoring 12 sites along this section focusing on water chemistry, macroinvertebrates and issues such as the impact of sewage treatment plant upgrades.
Type
Presentation
Session
Conservation, Planning, and River Towns, moderator Ben Marsh
Language
eng
Reflection on the 2004 Rivers Conservation Plan for the Lower West Branch of the Susquehanna River —The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Elaine Langone Center, Terrace Room
Draining nearly 7,000 square miles, the West Branch of the Susquehanna River is the largest of the Susquehanna River sub-basins. Between 1996 and 2004 the West Branch of the Susquehanna was divided into upper, middle, and lower sections for the purpose of development of River conservation Plans through a program developed by PA DCNR. Lycoming College Clean Water Institute (CWI) was one of several partners when the North Central Pennsylvania Conservancy (NPC) led a multi-year effort to develop a Rivers Conservation Plan for the lower 75 mile portion of the West Branch Susquehanna River. Beginning at Farrandsville (Clinton County) and ending in Northumberland (Northumberland County) at the confluence between the West Branch Susquehanna River and the North Branch, this report attempted to pull together the “state” of water, wildlife, landscape and development for this section of the watershed. Using this decade old report as a benchmark I will attempt to summarize the many changes to the river that have occurred during this busy 10 years while focusing specifically on the overall water quality observed during the river monitoring projects completed by CWI. CWI has been actively monitoring 12 sites along this section focusing on water chemistry, macroinvertebrates and issues such as the impact of sewage treatment plant upgrades.