Pennsylvanians Choose Delaware as 2011 River of the Year

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The people have spoken: the Delaware River is Pennsylvania's River of the Year for 2011.

Chosen for the first time through a public vote, the Delaware bested five other candidates in an online contest that saw more than 10,000 ballots cast from across the state. The Delaware received 2,520 votes.

"The Delaware River is the longest un-dammed river east of the Mississippi and is steeped in history, diverse in resources, and is vital to protect," Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary John Quigley said. "Its waters serve the needs of more than 15 million people from four different states, including more than 5 million Pennsylvanians. It boasts the largest freshwater port in the world, as well as threatened and endangered species, and a thriving tourism industry.

"A goal of the River of the Year designation is to raise awareness of the river and its conservation needs. The public voting format used to nominate and select the River of the Year for the first time this year certainly generated local enthusiasm for conservation and recognition of the importance of our waterways," Quigley said.

The five other finalists were: Clarion River, Conewango Creek, Kiskiminetas River, Pine Creek, and the Stonycreek River.

DCNR and the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers, or POWR, administer the River of the Year program. Local organizations submit nominations.

"Although we could only have one winner, each of the waterways that were nominated is special and important in its own way," Quigley said. "Congratulations to all the local groups who nominated their rivers, and rallied support for them not only for this vote, but through all of their activities and advocacy."
POWR helps train and organize local watershed associations, as well as the groups who lead a dozen sojourns on rivers around the state each year.

"The Delaware River is simply an incredible resource – not just for Pennsylvania, but for the nation as a whole," said POWR Executive Director Jon Meade. "To honor it with the River of the Year award reflects the importance of preservation to those who live near it and experience it every day."

There are a number of organizations that work in partnership to support conservation and recreation activities along the Delaware, including: the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC); Delaware Canal State Park; National Canoe Safety Patrol; National Park Service; and Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition.

These groups will organize several events throughout the year, including the 17th annual Sojourn paddling trip, a symposium, photo contest and river legacy fundraiser. The eight-day sojourn will include educational programs, and give paddlers a chance to experience the Delaware River to encourage greater understanding of the river and stewardship needs.

"On behalf of the steering committee and all our partners, I would like to thank everyone who voted for the Delaware. Having the Delaware be Pennsylvania's 2011 River of the Year is truly an honor, especially since it is the people's choice and with this the DRBC's 50th Anniversary year," said Kate O'Hara, co-coordinator of the Delaware Sojourn Steering Committee. "This designation will not only showcase the Delaware and all it has to offer, but also highlight the numerous organizations, agencies, and individual volunteers who work together to protect and enhance the river for future generations."

The Delaware also will be celebrated with an annual Rivers Month poster issued in June.

Pennsylvania's River of the Year has been presented annually since 1983.

For more sojourn event information, visit POWR's website at www.pawatersheds.org or contact Jon Meade at info@pawatersheds.org.  

To learn more about DCNR's Rivers Program, visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/rivers.
Media contacts: Christina Novak or Terry Brady, 717-772-9101 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              717-772-9101      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

A Bit of a Mid Winter Update From the Upper Delaware River

It never ceases to amaze me how the New Year sneaks up on me.  The season begins in April chasing rainbows and browns on the Upper Delaware and with a few diversions for striped bass, false albacore, bluefish and steelhead, bang, it's time to shout "Happy New Year!"

January catches me off guard after a busy year of meeting many new fish.  The colder days the month brings make it the perfect time to take a short break and reflect back on the past year. It also allows time to look forward to the coming season with all the exciting new plans laid down.  Relaxing hours spent at the tying vise daydreaming of hungry fish with the completion of each new fly.

2010 was as interesting as any with some spectacular days on the water and other days that presented a host of challenges not all that different from other years.  The one common denominator on each and every day was the camaraderie and the good times we shared.

This coming season there are a few new things coming up.  First, not really new, but worth mentioning again is our trip to Patagonia this February.  We’ll be hosting several weeks at different locations in Chile. If you’re interested in coming along drop an email or call for more details.  There's only a couple of spots open.

This summer is a trip fishing for Atlantic salmon on the Gaspe peninsula in Quebec with my good friend, Glenn LeGrande at his Camp Bonaventure Lodge.  This is an excellent Atlantic salmon destination with access to some outstanding water, top notch guides and excellent food and lodging.  A trip not to be missed!  Drop me a note at crosscurrent@optonline.net if you want to learn more.

There's a new guide on our Delaware River line up.  Ryan Furtak is joining us this coming season.  Some of you know Ryan from Border Waters Fly Shop where he worked the last couple of seasons and from guiding on the Lake Erie tributaries also.  Check the guide page on our website where Ryan’s complete bio will be posted in the near future.  Ryan is a hard working, personable and knowledgeable guide whose training as an engineer at Penn State University has him paying attention to the details others often miss.

Some “reel” excitement comes with the unveiling of the Double Haul Club.  This has been a yearlong project that has finally come together. We’ll be sending out a separate announcement real soon, but briefly the Club will provide its members with many benefits including discounts on goods and services, savings on sporting travel, and private access on the Upper Delaware and other locations. All the information will be available at the two fly fishing shows we'll be at this winter or drop us a note at crosscurrent@optonline.net for more info.

We’ll be at the Somerset, NJ Fly Fishing Show January 21, 22, 23, 2011 and at the new Philadelphia Fly Fishing Show on March 5, 6, 2011. Stop by our booth for a visit and learn about the new programs we’re offering.

Capt. Joe Demalderis
2010 Orvis Endorsed Freshwater Guide of the Year
www.CrossCurrentGuideService.com

The Colorful World of Black & White

In the latest issue of Catch Magazine, Colin Archer shares his unique black & white photo essay on the Upper Delaware River System.

Go to: http://www.catchmagazine.net/ and click on the table of contents, then click on Colin's article/essay, In the Shadow of Civilization.  You could just browse your way through the magazine too; not a bad idea for some good reading and excellent photography.  But when you get to Colin's essay check out the second to last photograph. It's one of my favorites.

The Mercury's Rising

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued an updated advisory today about eating fish from waters in the commonwealth.  It's not all bad news as seven waterways had their warnings either lifted or eased. But it there is some bad news for the Upper Delarew River. 

The DEP has issued a new warning for smallmouth bass in Pike and Wayne Counties.  These two counties encompass the entire Upper Delaware River and include all the border water between Pennsylvania and New York.  In the case of Pike County part of the border is also shared with New Jersey. All total, this is somewhere around 100 mile of river.  What the DEP suggests is that no more than two meals per month be from smallmouth bass from this section of river due to mercury contamination.

Mercury from emissions is thought to be a major contributor. A 2008 study published by the New York State Department of  Environmental Conservation revealed a similar pattern on the New York side of the river in several lakes in the Delaware River Basin.

Other Pennsylvania waterways with new advisories are:

• One meal per month advisory for Largemouth Bass in Shohola Lake in Pike County;
• Two meals per month advisory for Largemouth Bass in Lackawanna Lake in Lackawanna County;
• Two meals per month advisory for Largemouth Bass in Stephen Foster Lake in Bradford County;
• One meal per month advisory for Smallmouth Bass in the Susquehanna River in Bradford and Wyoming counties;
• Two meals per month advisory for Smallmouth Bass in the Allegheny River in Warren, Forest, and Venango counties;
• One meal per month advisory for Northern Pike in Conneaut Lake in Crawford County; and
• One meal per month advisory for Largemouth Bass in Crystal Lake in Crawford County.

To read the entire press release, including waters with lifted or eased advisories check out this link:  DEP Issues Updated Fish Consumption Advisories for 2011

Trout Unlimited Supports Governor's Horizontal Fracking Moratorium in New York, But More Protection Needed

Arlington, Va. - "On December 11, Gov. David Paterson took a step in the right direction by executing an order placing a moratorium on the issuance of permits for horizontal, hydraulic fracturing until July 2011," said Katy Dunlap, Director of Trout Unlimited's Eastern Water Project.  "However, by excluding vertical wells from the moratorium, Gov. Paterson has carved out an dangerous exception and has ignored the will of the people - as expressed by the New York legislature - as well as his earlier statements that gas drilling won't be allowed in New York until we can be sure that it won't harm the environment," Dunlap said.
 
"The impacts of hydraulic fracturing have not yet been fully assessed by the state and all types of drilling using this technology should be suspended until the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has determined that is safe for the environment and humans. Trout Unlimited calls on Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo to expand the executive order when he enters into office to include vertical wells and to fully protect New York's natural resources from the impact of gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing," Dunlap said.

Trout Unlimited is the nation's largest coldwater conservation organization, with 140,000 members dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring North America's trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds.

The Delaware River Needs Your Vote

While the Lackawaxen River completes its tenure as Pennsylvania’s 2010 River of the Year, the Delaware River is poised to wrest the title/mantle for 2011. Nominated for this recognition by the Delaware River Sojourn Steering Committee and Delaware River Basin Commission, the longest un-dammed river east of the Mississippi is one of six finalists for the designation. 

As highlighted in the river’s nomination, ‘Its waters serve the needs of over 15 million people from four different states and hundreds of communities, as well as provide healthy ecological habitat to all forms of life.’

The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers administer the River of the Year program, which culminates in a year-round slate of activities and events celebrating the river, including a special extended paddling trip.

The honor is bestowed to raise public awareness about the resource and recognize important conservation needs and achievements. Earlier this year, the Delaware was selected as America’s Most Endangered River by the American Rivers organization for the threats posed to it by natural gas development.

Delaware River lovers can read statements for each of the rivers and cast a vote for their favorite at surveymonkey.com/s/9YM8TSK . Voting ends January 3, 2011 and the winner will be announced later in the month. Spread the word!

Japanese Knotweed

A group called The Sullivan Renaissance has awarded a grant to Upper Delaware Scenic Byway, Inc. for a public education project targeting Japanese Knotweed.  This $1,900 grant will go towards meeting the required matching funds required by The Federal Highway Administration National Scenic Byways Program grant that will kick in another $12,900 toward a knotweed education campaign.  A series of 4 seminars will be offered at no charge.  Participants in these seminars will receive information on mechanical and chemical control of Japanese Knotweed. Also eight information panels will be set up along the route 97 corridor; one for each municipality.

Japanese Knotweed , often called bamboo or monkeyweed is an invasive plant that the World Conservation Union calls one of the world's 100 worst invasive species.  That should give you an idea how nasty this stuff is.

Knotweed grows like crazy in dense colonies that choke everything else out.  It easily reaching heights of 8 to 12 feet.  Once it shows up it's very hard to control let alone eradicate, though there has been some success with herbicides and more recently biological controls like leaf spot fungus and Aphalara itadori which is a psyllid from Japan.  Psyllids are plant eating bugs that are usually host specific.

The Delaware River valley is loaded with knotweed.  The large colonies have taken over huge expanses of riparian ecosystems driving out native plants.  The roots of these plants can go as deep as nine feet and with a cold tolerance of 30 below zero F. One more illustration of how hard it can be to get rid of Japanese Knotweed.