TRR photo by David Hulse New York Department of Environmental Conservation officials Fred Gerty, left, and Doug Shepherd, center, are pictured at the state line on the Roebling Aqueduct Bridge where they accepted the national paddle from Marian Hrubovcak of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. (Click for larger image)

By DAVID HULSE

LACKAWAXEN - It could have happened in Philadelphia, Erie, or Trenton or any number of larger places along the border, but state officials last week chose the Roebling Aqueduct Bridge as the site for a millennium national rivers observance.

This April, a wooden canoe paddle started out on a 50-state trip from Washington D.C. under the auspices of the River Management Society's "Rivers 2000" observance. The idea was that boaters nationwide would use American rivers to carry the paddle from place to place. The paddle, which has collected the signatures of those who have carried it along the way, literally would touch the waters of each state's great streams before being returned to Washington this fall for presentation to President Clinton.

New York became the 39th custodian of the paddle last Friday when Pennsylvania officials turned it over mid-stream on the historic crossing.

According to the Society, the paddle has become a recreation marketing tool as well as an instrument for recognizing the river resources and the people who are working for them. If the paddle's travel has been limited to ceremonial appearances, people have also been encouraged to bring water from their home streams to those ceremonies. Several persons did that last week.

Dave Lamereaux brought clean water from the once mine-polluted Lackawanna River, while Society representative Joe Hoffman brought water from the Schuylkill River. These and waters from two other streams were poured over the paddle at the shore of the Delaware, while about a dozen spectators and the media looked on.

Carol Collier, executive director of the Delaware River Basin Commission said the beauty of the upper river is apparent, but the river's cleanliness has improved markedly throughout, from Hancock to the Delaware Bay.

Upper Delaware National Park Service Superintendent Cal Hite said the ceremony was a fitting, local birthday celebration for the NPS, which coincidentally was celebrating its 84th anniversary on Friday.

New York representative Doug Shepherd said his 26-year state career began on the Delaware and the condition of today's river has left him feeling he's played a part. Signing the paddle, he remarked that one day he'll be able to visit the Smithsonian Institution with his grandchildren and point out achievements by his place on the paddle.

Shepherd had parked his car in Pennsylvania for the ceremony, but walked backed to the New York end of the bridge after receiving the paddle. It was a little more than ceremonial. "I'm superstitious, I didn't want to take it back after getting it," he admitted.

The paddle will travel several remaining east coast states before its planned October 7 presentation to the President at the White House.