126 Days, 10 hours and counting...

     

The Susquehanna River has been bubbling methane in Bradford County since early September 2010.

Bubbling Waters 2 - Susquehanna River from Don Williams on Vimeo.

I could start lobbing salvos at all responsible parties, but I'll save that for another time and place. The problem I have is that the Susquehanna is still bubbling methane, and nothing is being done about it. Outgoing DEP Secretary John Hanger is telling anyone willing to listen what a great job he's done. Incoming Governor Tom Corbett continues to talk out of both sides of his mouth. And the vast majority of my fellow Pennsylvanians are doing nothing. Zippo.

I had some folks from Harrisburg crawling all over this blog yesterday. I've heard from some fellow bloggers they had similar traffic. To those same "public servants": Instead of checking out what we have to say, why don't you get off your duffs and do something about the bubbling Susquehanna? Better yet: check with Team Tom-Tom and see what brilliant input they have to offer. Just don't hold your breath waiting for an intelligent response.

Several folks continue to quote my "This is gonna get ugly" statement from a few years back.

Newsflash: 

2011 will see this Marcellus Madness escalate to a whole 'nother level. On the path we must take, ugly is but a stepping stone.
              

Tom Corbett: Straight Arrow?

          

Incoming PA Governor Tom Corbett claims he's a "straight arrow."

Read more about what he has to say here.

I openly admit I have a problem with that statement. I don't believe him. He has loaded his transition team with advisors and lobbyists from the natural gas industry. He received close to $1M from the same industry in political contributions...and that's only what has been reported.

Does anyone believe he's going to turn his back on his biggest contributors once he takes office?

Methinks not.

Hey, everyone gets a chance to prove themselves, and I hope I'm wrong about the man. As the saying goes; "it'll all come out in the wash."  Since he's stacked the deck with NG folks prior to inauguration day, let's see who he appoints to the top positions at the DEP & DCNR. That should definitely bring his agenda into much clearer focus.

The term "broken arrow" has multiple meanings. Some good, some not so good. MMXI dawned bright and beautiful. Today, it's ugly and gray.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

  

"He hath enclosed my ways with hewn stone;

He hath made my path crooked."

       

Year of the Susquehannock

  

Happy New Year!!

Welcome to 2011 - MMXI

                                                                          Photo taken at 6:45 am on 1/1/11

I've got some "stuff" I need to address this morning, so I'm going to keep it brief.

As one of the longest running blogs ( since October 1999 ) on the planet focused on and dedicated to the ancient and majestic Susquehanna River, I've decided I have as much right as anyone to declare 2011 the "Year of the Susquehannock".

I've been working on quite a bit of "behind the scenes" projects over the past year, and would simply offer that 2011 has lots of surprises around the bend. Included in my plans is another paddling trip down the longest free-flowing stretch of water in the entire Susquehanna watershed; from just below the Goudy Power Station Dam near Binghamton NY to the inflatable dam near Sunbury PA. That's about 200 +/- miles of free-flowing river. We did it in four stages in 2004 from July through October. I hope to keep it to four stages this time as well, and if my plans work out, we'll be paddling the distance on four consecutive days. Details will be posted once we pick the dates. 

I hope everyone has had an enjoyable holiday season so far. It's been a good one for us.

I'll leave you with two of my "gifts" that I received from from my eldest daughter.

BTW - Plans for Gas Stock 2011 are underway.

Gasstock 2010 from Lauren Williams on Vimeo.

  

Best wishes for a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.