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River in peril
Kudos to The Daily Item and writer Ken Maurer for the front-page article bringing awareness to the chemical pollution and the decline in the smallmouth bass population affecting the Susquehanna River.
In 1983, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation launched its initiative (an interstate bay agreement) to clean up the bay, which continues to be damaged by nutrient and chemical run-off, the majority of which is contributed by the Susquehanna watershed. The state of Pennsylvania initially refused to cooperate and acknowledge the impaired condition of the Susquehanna River.
In 2005, the American Rivers Association declared the Susquehanna to be the most endangered river in the nation. Today, some species of fish have all but disappeared, and now the premier sport fish of the Susquehanna, the smallmouth bass, is also declining. New “emerging pollutants” are affecting the physiology of the fish, literally changing the sex of male fish and lowering immune function, making the fish unable to protect themselves from bacteria and fungi to which they are frequently exposed. Since the 1960s, many good things have come from the environmental movement. But the “silent spring” of chemical pollution in the Susquehanna River runs deep. This article points out the significant damage that is being done to our environment. What is it doing to us?
Federal and state governments have not taken the aggressive action required to stem this type of pollution. Agencies mandated with the responsibility to protect the environment and us either do not have the funding, do not posses the required legislation or the enforcement directive to implement the necessary restrictions.
We all need to educate ourselves about this “silent spring” that is damaging our Susquehanna watershed. We need to get involved with a group that is advocating for the cleanup of our river. And we need to personally lobby our legislators and state agencies to implement policies and regulatory practices that protect both the resource and us.
William L. Yingling, M.D.,
Freeburg
