Once More: Susquehanna Impaired (?)

First; we've said it multiple times before:

 

 

And now, thanks to the recent CBF press release and report, seems like more folks are getting the message and joining in:

 

 

 

 

Hey, however we get there, we need the Susquehanna to be protected. Restoration is, in my opinion, something I will not see in my lifetime...but we have to start somewhere.

 

Let's begin by designating the Susquehanna as impaired.

 

 

Susquehanna @ Pittston, PA downstream from Butler Mine Tunnel

AMD oozing from stream banks 24/7 near Pittston, PA

 

Post-flood debris near Wyalusing, PA

  

UFO ( Unidentified Floating Object ) in the Susquehanna

 

Site of Knox Mine Disaster on Susquehanna River

 

Scene from RiverFest 2011

 

Susquehanna at Risk: Commentary

    
My Google alert for the Susquehanna brought this article to my attention bright and early this morning.

A wave of the paddle to Mr. John Watson for writing it and the Times-Leader for publishing it. Additionally, a sincere thanks to everyone who took action in response to yesterday's post and email. Trust me, we are not letting anyone off the hook too easily.

My wife and I went out last night to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary a few days early. There's a great little BYOB less than 5 minutes from our home, and we had a relaxing dinner on the deck with a bottle of 2009 Hugel Reisling ( I was not allowed to bring any ice-cold PBR's ) to toast our time together and talk about what the future may hold for us, our children, and our aging parents. 

Believe it or not, if just for a few hours, the Susquehanna never crossed my mind.

Back to reality...

@ Cape Cod...a few years back.

     

A Letter, Some Pics, and a Plea for the River

    
I received the email below yesterday:

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Dear Mr. Williams -

I have followed your website for a year or so and since you mentioned my name I thought I should introduce myself and ask for your help. I am a 66 y.o. retired medical physician living in Freeburg, PA. I fish the Susquehanna, it's tribs and local lakes 3-4 days a week most seasons of the year. I find your humor, common sense and honesty refreshing and like you, I love the Susquehanna.

In my opinion, the failure of smallmouth spawns, the intersexing of male bass, their infections and death from opportunistic infections and now the appearance of black spots that look all too much like the skin cancer melanoma is all being caused by chemical endocrine disruptors and the chemical pollution of the watershed. The area where I am catching the most involved fish is just downstream from a power plant that for years was dumping frackwater into the Susquehanna. Far too little science has been done by any Pennsylvania agency to address the chemical pollution that is damaging this river and deal with the human public health catastrophe that is likely to come.

I have attached pictures of exotic fish used in melanoma research as well as the smallmouth I have been catching. The similar appearance of the lesions is striking to me as a physician. We clearly need to know what is causing these lesions but if they are melanomas then the public might see a link between their health and the health of the river. UV-B light and chemicals that sensitize the skin cells appear to be the 2 of the causes of melanoma in both the fish and humans. If this is cancer in the fish it may help drive public opinion about what is happening in the watershed.

I have written the attached letter to members of the PFBC, the director of the DEP and the governors office. I am trying to get fishermen on a number of fishing websites which I frequent to do the same. Knowing if the black lesions are melanomas could help move people to demanding an explanation of their appearance and their cause.

Thanks for any assistance that you or other "bloggers" that you know can give in getting people to demand an investigation of this problem.

William L. Yingling M.D.

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There were three attachments that accompanied the e-mail;  the "spotted" bass photo at the top of this blog, the pic below, and the following letter.

Folks, I've been paddling and fishing in the Susquehanna's watershed for over 40 years. I've read countless journals written by men as they travelled along the Susquehanna over two centuries ago.

Through their words, I know what this river once was. Today, it is a vanishing shadow of the river first seen by Etienne Brule almost 400 years ago. And the best our bought-and-paid-for government can do is provide CYA lip service.

To that end I simply ask:

Are you a witness...or a warrior?

Above:  Before admission to Carlisle Indian Industrial School

Below:  After...

What do you see staring back at you in the mirror?

+  +  +

  

Thanks, Dr. Yingling. If you ever want to catch a day trip on the north branch on a weekend...the front seat of my kayak will be open. I know some great spots that may hold a lunker or two.

To all who love the Susquehanna...let's crank it up a notch or two.

     Have a great weekend.

  

                                  

Susquehanna River Shortchanged

  
Last week, the EPA had a hearing in Philadelphia about potential hydrofracking in the Delaware watershed. That's a great start...but what about the Susquehanna, where it's happening right now? 

PA Watersheds

As you can see, the Susquehanna is the largest watershed in Pennsylvania. It's over three times larger than the Delaware's watershed. Yet for some reason, it's being relegated to the corner. The back seat. The bench.

From this river advocate's perspective, considering the fact that the Susquehanna contributes half of the fresh water to the Chesapeake Bay and is one of the best smallmouth rivers on the planet, we are nothing short of numero UNO!

Tomorrow, we will join others who have started an e-mail campaign to get EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to hold a hearing on PA's largest and most threatened river - the mighty, majestic Susquehanna.

I hope you'll join us. 

  

    

Susquehanna Methane Bubbling

     
These three words have been "Googled" thousands of times over the past week. And from all over the world, they've landed on this blog. Many are coming back daily.

First, thanks for visiting.  In the days and weeks ahead, as this story and struggle continues to unfold, I hope you'll not only return...but I ask that you please spread the word to others. We need the world to be aware of what's happening here in the northeastern United States of America. More than that, if you have gas shales in your part of the world, we need you to understand what will happen when you hear the word "hydrofracturing". And if it's used in the same sentence with the word "safe", you'll know someone is lying.

To that end, I'd ask you to take a few minutes to view a .ppt presentation put together by a resident of Bradford County, PA. Their home is not too far from where the Susquehanna started to belch methane just about a week ago, and their lives have been forever altered for the worse. They have begun to take action, and with their permission, please witness their story.

Note: If you cannot view the link, you will need a Google account to view this document stored on Google docs. Gmail is the quickest, easiest route.

By the way, the 'spokesfolks' for the Natural Gas Industry - the Marcellus Shale Coalition - have been very, very quiet since the Susquehanna became contaminated with bubbling methane. I wonder why?

To all: This is happening - right now - in homes throughout the Marcellus Shale region, and we need to stop it...and we can. Election Day is right around the corner. Vote 'em all out.

Mitakuye Oyasin.
    

Chesapeake opens Pandora's Box

            
I'm sure a few visitors to this blog have noticed the countdown gadget off to the left just below Moratorium Now. I began it back in May when it was announced that the DCNR has leased land under the Susquehanna River to Chesapeake Energy for natural gas "hydrofracturing". With so much drilling taking place less than a mile from the river, I knew then that it was only a matter of time before something like the methane bubbling on the north branch would occur. I know it's real easy and convenient for me to say that now, but for those who have been following this and my previous blog for more than a year or so, you know I nailed this from the start.

Well, it happened a lot faster than I anticipated, so I will be removing that SDW countdown and replacing it with another. I haven't decided on all the details, but I'm pretty sure it'll have something to do with next predictable event in this unfolding environmental tragedy being facilitated by our inept and clueless leaders. 

BTW, I'm sure everyone is truly comforted by DEP Secretary John Hanger's assurances that no environmental damage has been caused by this latest incident less than a week old.

In the meantime, methane is now bubbling into the Susquehanna River 24/7 in Bradford County, PA, USA.

And for any elected leaders reading this...this happened on YOUR watch.
  

Chesapeake's Ocmulgee

    
Folks, the amount of website traffic I've seen over the last few days has been incredible. Hundreds of Google searches for "Susquehanna bubbling" and similar queries have caused me to buy even more storage capacity from my hitmeter. This thing is going global. It's also decimating my lunch money fund.

Oh, and lest ye forget...back in May of this year, our very own DCNR - for a mere $6.15 million - sold the rights to drill under the Susquehanna to Chesapeake Energy. Read about it here.

Now for our international visitors not familiar with our Susquehanna River, the "bubbling waters" can be found between Towanda and the Wyoming County line.

Think there's any connection? Cause and effect coming into play?

Of course not!

Why do I say that? Simply because Chesapeake says it's not a problem:

Matt Sheppard, a Chesapeake spokesman, said that his company had extensive experience drilling in densely populated Fort Worth, Texas, and that wells beneath the Susquehanna posed no unusual challenges.

  
Well Mr. Sheppard, I beg to differ with you.



Bubbling Waters from Don Williams on Vimeo.


The Hitchiti ( Lower Creek ) called it Ocmulgee ( oak-mull-ghee ).

I call it unacceptable. 

If anyone is interested in seeing the bubbling waters up close and personal this weekend, get in touch with me directly at djw444@gmail.com
    
  

Gas Bubbling from the Susquehanna River

    
At this point, I'll just pass along this latest tidbit of news.

I'll comment on it at a later date, more than likely in a live news feed from the office of the company with the drillpad closest to this location.

This may be the tipping point for this river advocate. More as this sad story develops.