This page is an assessment of four major watershed management plans located within the Susquehanna River basin. This assessment is based off of the associations’ priorities and how they compare to one another. The goal is to summarize the findings, compare the plans, and to build off these existing plans to form an ideal plan for the future, that would involve preparing for the removal of dams that significantly reduce the connectivity between the oceans and our freshwater ways. The three organizations that were reviewed are as follows:
- Susquehanna River Basin Committee (SRBC) is aimed to work with and coordinate the water resources efforts of the federal government, Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania.
- Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) aims to assist conservation districts in their efforts to conserve their natural resources for the future.
- Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) focuses on conserving and enhancing the state’s aquatic resources and providing recreational opportunities.
Management Plans
Susquehanna River Basin Committee (SRBC)
The SRBC-Comprehensive Plan was published in 2013. It is a very extensive and complete report reaching the headwaters of New York to the saline waters of the Chesapeake Bay. The SRBC focuses on six priority areas to manage water resources: sustainable water development, water quality, flooding, ecosystems, Chesapeake Bay, and the coordination, cooperation, & public information (Table 1). The report also goes as far as to point out areas where additional actions are needed within the priority management areas [7].
There are 12 areas of special interest that aren’t listed as priorities but are recognized by the SRBC and have relationships with their main priorities: mine drainage, climate change, consumptive use mitigation, drought coordination, public values, emerging contaminants, energy, flood forecast and warning, invasive species, fisheries, water stressed areas, and wastewater infrastructure [7].
Susquehanna River Basin Committee (SRBC)
The SRBC-Comprehensive Plan was published in 2013. It is a very extensive and complete report reaching the headwaters of New York to the saline waters of the Chesapeake Bay. The SRBC focuses on six priority areas to manage water resources: sustainable water development, water quality, flooding, ecosystems, Chesapeake Bay, and the coordination, cooperation, & public information (Table 1). The report also goes as far as to point out areas where additional actions are needed within the priority management areas [7].
There are 12 areas of special interest that aren’t listed as priorities but are recognized by the SRBC and have relationships with their main priorities: mine drainage, climate change, consumptive use mitigation, drought coordination, public values, emerging contaminants, energy, flood forecast and warning, invasive species, fisheries, water stressed areas, and wastewater infrastructure [7].
Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD)-Upper/Middle Basin
The PACD watershed report for the upper and middle Susquehanna River is comprised of six brief goals listed in Table 2. The report doesn’t go into much detail about how they are tending to these priorities but it provides case studies throughout to show successful improvements made to the watershed. A majority of the report focuses on characteristics of the watershed (climate, land cover, population, water use, etc.) and components that influence water resources (agriculture, wastewater, dams, forest cover, recreation, etc.).
The PACD watershed report for the upper and middle Susquehanna River is comprised of six brief goals listed in Table 2. The report doesn’t go into much detail about how they are tending to these priorities but it provides case studies throughout to show successful improvements made to the watershed. A majority of the report focuses on characteristics of the watershed (climate, land cover, population, water use, etc.) and components that influence water resources (agriculture, wastewater, dams, forest cover, recreation, etc.).
Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD)-Lower Basin
The PACD report for the lower Susquehanna River basin is overall, very similar to that of the PACD report of the upper and middle basin. Table 3 lists the five different priority management areas for the lower river basin.
The PACD report for the lower Susquehanna River basin is overall, very similar to that of the PACD report of the upper and middle basin. Table 3 lists the five different priority management areas for the lower river basin.
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) Susquehanna River Management Plan
The PFBC Susquehanna River Management was published in 2011 and is thorough plan that focuses primarily on the biota within the river. Table 4 provides top seven priorities designated by the PFBC. There are also mentioned secondary and tertiary priorities that will be implemented 2-3 years and 4-5 years of the management plan [5].
Secondary priorities consist of: assessing the effects of catch-release on smallmouth bass populations, effects of tournament angling, evaluation of natural walleye reproduction, current status of the white fly (Ephoron leukon, is a species of mayflies) within the river, determining the impacts of the invasive rusty crayfish, studying the role of gastropods with parasites, working with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) to designate high quality warm-water fisheries, and develop and use small scale angler use and harvest surveys to create management plans [5].
Tertiary priorities are as follows: determine the status of the eastern hellbender and redbelly turtle, identification of habitat preferences for the eastern hellbender, Chesapeake logperch, yellow, and rayed lampmussel; and to learn more about the largemouth bass virus (LMBv) and it potential to effect other centrarchid species [5].
The PFBC Susquehanna River Management was published in 2011 and is thorough plan that focuses primarily on the biota within the river. Table 4 provides top seven priorities designated by the PFBC. There are also mentioned secondary and tertiary priorities that will be implemented 2-3 years and 4-5 years of the management plan [5].
Secondary priorities consist of: assessing the effects of catch-release on smallmouth bass populations, effects of tournament angling, evaluation of natural walleye reproduction, current status of the white fly (Ephoron leukon, is a species of mayflies) within the river, determining the impacts of the invasive rusty crayfish, studying the role of gastropods with parasites, working with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) to designate high quality warm-water fisheries, and develop and use small scale angler use and harvest surveys to create management plans [5].
Tertiary priorities are as follows: determine the status of the eastern hellbender and redbelly turtle, identification of habitat preferences for the eastern hellbender, Chesapeake logperch, yellow, and rayed lampmussel; and to learn more about the largemouth bass virus (LMBv) and it potential to effect other centrarchid species [5].
Discussion
With the exception of the PFBC river management plan, the other plans covered the water and sub-watersheds of the Susquehanna River. The SRBC Comprehensive plan was the most detailed and covered the entirety of the basin including the Chesapeake Bay. It is a great model plan to build from. Both PACD reports lacked the details that the SRBC laid out.
The PFBC Susquehanna River Management Plan provided plenty of detail but mainly focused on issues relating to sport fisheries. It closely resembles the range of information laid out by the SRBC Comprehensive Plan, but goes into much more detail in regards to riverine biota.
The SRBC Comprehensive Plan provides a strong foundation to improve on the current water resource practices within the watershed and would also be an organization helpful with promoting and implementing new initiatives to improve the watershed for the future. The Comprehensive Plan incorporates the Chesapeake Bay, climate change, education, public outreach, and sustainable development more than the PFBC and PACD plans do, making to SRBC the ideal candidate to help enhance the water resources.
With the exception of the PFBC river management plan, the other plans covered the water and sub-watersheds of the Susquehanna River. The SRBC Comprehensive plan was the most detailed and covered the entirety of the basin including the Chesapeake Bay. It is a great model plan to build from. Both PACD reports lacked the details that the SRBC laid out.
The PFBC Susquehanna River Management Plan provided plenty of detail but mainly focused on issues relating to sport fisheries. It closely resembles the range of information laid out by the SRBC Comprehensive Plan, but goes into much more detail in regards to riverine biota.
The SRBC Comprehensive Plan provides a strong foundation to improve on the current water resource practices within the watershed and would also be an organization helpful with promoting and implementing new initiatives to improve the watershed for the future. The Comprehensive Plan incorporates the Chesapeake Bay, climate change, education, public outreach, and sustainable development more than the PFBC and PACD plans do, making to SRBC the ideal candidate to help enhance the water resources.
Future Watershed
A healthy future for the Susquehanna River watershed relies on many of the current processes that have been in place for many decades but also need to be accompanied with alterations and new improvements. In time an ideal circumstance would be to have some of the major dams within the lower basin removed or significantly altered to restore connectivity to the ocean. Before that circumstance an overall improvement to water resource quality of the Susquehanna River watershed must be established.
The land cover of the Susquehanna River watershed is comprised of 70 percent forested land [2]. Even though forested land makes up almost three quarters of the watershed, we still find issues affecting the quality of the river and the Chesapeake Bay. In Pennsylvania, (which is 43 percent of the total watershed), the goals for improving the bay water quality by 2017 are not on track to be met. Both nitrogen and sedimentation are more than 10 percent off the target goal, while phosphorus appears to be on track [1]. My areas of focus and added priorities to the watershed are as follows:
Vegetation
In the fall of 2015 New York State received 1 million dollars in federal money to improve water quality by planting trees and shrubs [8]. The goal is to try to intercept sediments, fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste that usually get washed in during rain events. Trees turn these nutrients and pollutants into less harmful forms. The money for this has been made available to large land owners and farmers who live near the tributaries. This initiative is crucial to the health of the watershed. Riparian vegetation can provide food and habitat for wildlife, and also shade the river and reduce the temperature of the water. The amount and quality of water reaching public wells increases with the increase in trees.
Encouraging land owners to apply for grants from local Farm Service Agency offices and the U.S. Agriculture Department’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) [8], is a step in the right direction to provide land owners funding that they may not be able to provide themselves. People who want to increase the vegetation on their land to reduce their watershed impacts should also work with their local conservation groups to improve their properties. Besides the money, educating both private and public land owners on their use and treatment of their water resources is a key part of improving the watershed.
Urban and developed land is lacks adequate vegetation that can reduce impacts of storm water runoff, a major contributor of pollutants and sediments to the Susquehanna River. It is estimated that one tree has the ability to reduce storm water runoff up to 13,000 gallons annually [8]. The areas of developed land should increase the amount of street trees to aid in their storm water issues but also sequester carbon emissions and improve the air quality.
Green Infrastructure
Although about only 10 percent of the Susquehanna River watershed is comprised of urban and developed lands [2], these lands contribute a lot of non-point pollution, sediments, and displacement of waters. An organization located north of the Susquehanna River watershed has been awarded the 2013 United States Water Prize. Save the Rain is organization developed to improve the watershed located around the city of Syracuse and they have done so by planting hundreds of urban street trees and promoting green infrastructure. Adding infrastructure to urban and suburban lands needs to increase and be promoted more [6].
Green infrastructures can provide multiple amenities: improvement to air quality, it is aesthetically appealing, increases habitat and biodiversity, there are recreational opportunities, property values can increase, and they provide community health and vitality [6]. Examples of some alternative infrastructure that could be implemented are:
Rain gardens: a sunken garden used to soak up the runoff from impervious surfaces. These require little maintenance and no pesticides or fertilizers. Can reduce erosion, water pollution, flooding, and replenish groundwater sources [6].
Green roofs: reduce effects of storm water, release water back into the atmosphere, and reduce urban temperatures, absorbs pollutants from the water, and provides habitat for local biota [6].
A healthy future for the Susquehanna River watershed relies on many of the current processes that have been in place for many decades but also need to be accompanied with alterations and new improvements. In time an ideal circumstance would be to have some of the major dams within the lower basin removed or significantly altered to restore connectivity to the ocean. Before that circumstance an overall improvement to water resource quality of the Susquehanna River watershed must be established.
The land cover of the Susquehanna River watershed is comprised of 70 percent forested land [2]. Even though forested land makes up almost three quarters of the watershed, we still find issues affecting the quality of the river and the Chesapeake Bay. In Pennsylvania, (which is 43 percent of the total watershed), the goals for improving the bay water quality by 2017 are not on track to be met. Both nitrogen and sedimentation are more than 10 percent off the target goal, while phosphorus appears to be on track [1]. My areas of focus and added priorities to the watershed are as follows:
Vegetation
In the fall of 2015 New York State received 1 million dollars in federal money to improve water quality by planting trees and shrubs [8]. The goal is to try to intercept sediments, fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste that usually get washed in during rain events. Trees turn these nutrients and pollutants into less harmful forms. The money for this has been made available to large land owners and farmers who live near the tributaries. This initiative is crucial to the health of the watershed. Riparian vegetation can provide food and habitat for wildlife, and also shade the river and reduce the temperature of the water. The amount and quality of water reaching public wells increases with the increase in trees.
Encouraging land owners to apply for grants from local Farm Service Agency offices and the U.S. Agriculture Department’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) [8], is a step in the right direction to provide land owners funding that they may not be able to provide themselves. People who want to increase the vegetation on their land to reduce their watershed impacts should also work with their local conservation groups to improve their properties. Besides the money, educating both private and public land owners on their use and treatment of their water resources is a key part of improving the watershed.
Urban and developed land is lacks adequate vegetation that can reduce impacts of storm water runoff, a major contributor of pollutants and sediments to the Susquehanna River. It is estimated that one tree has the ability to reduce storm water runoff up to 13,000 gallons annually [8]. The areas of developed land should increase the amount of street trees to aid in their storm water issues but also sequester carbon emissions and improve the air quality.
Green Infrastructure
Although about only 10 percent of the Susquehanna River watershed is comprised of urban and developed lands [2], these lands contribute a lot of non-point pollution, sediments, and displacement of waters. An organization located north of the Susquehanna River watershed has been awarded the 2013 United States Water Prize. Save the Rain is organization developed to improve the watershed located around the city of Syracuse and they have done so by planting hundreds of urban street trees and promoting green infrastructure. Adding infrastructure to urban and suburban lands needs to increase and be promoted more [6].
Green infrastructures can provide multiple amenities: improvement to air quality, it is aesthetically appealing, increases habitat and biodiversity, there are recreational opportunities, property values can increase, and they provide community health and vitality [6]. Examples of some alternative infrastructure that could be implemented are:
Rain gardens: a sunken garden used to soak up the runoff from impervious surfaces. These require little maintenance and no pesticides or fertilizers. Can reduce erosion, water pollution, flooding, and replenish groundwater sources [6].
Green roofs: reduce effects of storm water, release water back into the atmosphere, and reduce urban temperatures, absorbs pollutants from the water, and provides habitat for local biota [6].
Figure 1. Green roof of an elephant barn at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo that prevents 114,000 gallons of water entering the sewer annually [6].
Bioswale: commonly found around parking lots, are wide, shallow channels filled with vegetation. These are used to reduce storm water velocity and increase the amount of time the water resides in the swale to remove pollutants [6].
Bioswale: commonly found around parking lots, are wide, shallow channels filled with vegetation. These are used to reduce storm water velocity and increase the amount of time the water resides in the swale to remove pollutants [6].
Permeable pavement: or porous pavement is made up of material that allows water to penetrate and enter the soil. Can be used for roads, parking lots, and walkways [6].
Rain barrels: are usually attached to gutter systems and allow for the collection of water, rather than the water flowing off roofs into the sewer systems. Barrels can be purchased or homemade, and they can be used to water lawns, clean cars, for agricultural needs, and for many other uses [6].
In 2005, American Rivers claimed Susquehanna to be the most endangered river in 2005 right after the EPA dropped its proposal to “blend” partially treated sewage into the river [4]. If the Save the Rain organization partnered with SRBC and helped educate and promote alternatives to the landscape, the watershed will be on its way to a cleaner future by reducing storm water, sewage, and more. The Susquehanna River Watershed is also one of the nation’s most flood prone regions and the use of these green alternatives can strongly help reduce the magnitude and frequency of flood events.
Conclusions
Watersheds are much bigger than state boundaries and geographic barriers. They need more protection than just that, especially the Susquehanna River, which happens to flow into the third largest estuary in the world. This watershed - the Conowingo - and the recipient Chesapeake Bay are vital to people’s health, recreation, economy, and provide sources of food for the nation. Although management plans are in place and being promoted, I am advocating that we increase the efforts and implement them further.
The SRBC has provided a large blanket of management plans for the watershed that covers all of the states and includes the federal government. One of the Commission’s priorities is to work with other organizations and to seek advice from non-governmental organizations. This is where the SRBC can help increase the quality of the watershed. By bringing in organizations like, Save the Rain, and working with researchers from outside the region, the SRBC can help lead a new stronger watershed management plan. Promoting more aquatic resource, climate change, and environmental education can help bring a better understanding of the work that needs to be done in the region. Planting vegetation to increase the amount of riparian buffers and reduce the impacts from agriculture and storm water runoff. Advocating for greener infrastructure in urban and suburban towns will greatly reduce pollutants from sewers and storm water. These are a few of the priorities that need to be tackled to help our future and prepare to reconnect the Susquehanna River back to the Chesapeake Bay.
Rain barrels: are usually attached to gutter systems and allow for the collection of water, rather than the water flowing off roofs into the sewer systems. Barrels can be purchased or homemade, and they can be used to water lawns, clean cars, for agricultural needs, and for many other uses [6].
In 2005, American Rivers claimed Susquehanna to be the most endangered river in 2005 right after the EPA dropped its proposal to “blend” partially treated sewage into the river [4]. If the Save the Rain organization partnered with SRBC and helped educate and promote alternatives to the landscape, the watershed will be on its way to a cleaner future by reducing storm water, sewage, and more. The Susquehanna River Watershed is also one of the nation’s most flood prone regions and the use of these green alternatives can strongly help reduce the magnitude and frequency of flood events.
Conclusions
Watersheds are much bigger than state boundaries and geographic barriers. They need more protection than just that, especially the Susquehanna River, which happens to flow into the third largest estuary in the world. This watershed - the Conowingo - and the recipient Chesapeake Bay are vital to people’s health, recreation, economy, and provide sources of food for the nation. Although management plans are in place and being promoted, I am advocating that we increase the efforts and implement them further.
The SRBC has provided a large blanket of management plans for the watershed that covers all of the states and includes the federal government. One of the Commission’s priorities is to work with other organizations and to seek advice from non-governmental organizations. This is where the SRBC can help increase the quality of the watershed. By bringing in organizations like, Save the Rain, and working with researchers from outside the region, the SRBC can help lead a new stronger watershed management plan. Promoting more aquatic resource, climate change, and environmental education can help bring a better understanding of the work that needs to be done in the region. Planting vegetation to increase the amount of riparian buffers and reduce the impacts from agriculture and storm water runoff. Advocating for greener infrastructure in urban and suburban towns will greatly reduce pollutants from sewers and storm water. These are a few of the priorities that need to be tackled to help our future and prepare to reconnect the Susquehanna River back to the Chesapeake Bay.