Environmental retrospective: 2007

Cleaning up, greening up; losses, gains and threats

By SANDY LONG

UPPER DELAWARE REGION — The River Reporter increased its award-winning environmental coverage of the Upper Delaware Region throughout 2007. Environmentally speaking, it’s been a busy year. While invasive species moved in, other native species dwindled. As dairy farms declined, regional populations climbed. Litterbugs plied their ugly practices, and those on the other side of the coin continued caretaking our roadways and waterways with cleanups. But for all the environmental harms we’ve managed to accumulate, our kids are already working to save the day in a variety of ways. Read on for highlights of the year’s regional environmental events and issues.

• Notable enviro-news: The bald eagle was removed from the Endangered Species List; honeybees began to mysteriously disappear; the Delaware River was placed on the nation’s 10 Most Endangered Rivers list due to the threat of power lines; river-flow management plans and reservoir-storage strategies were hotly debated by agencies, organizations and individuals; reconnecting children with nature became a top priority, with local, statewide and national initiatives.

• New green initiatives: The River Reporter commenced a new column on sustainability by Marcia Nehemiah; the first regional chapter of Green Drinks, which focuses on green-centered social networking, was formed; the first annual Lackawaxen Energy Fair kicked off with enviro-activities, entertainment and information about alternative energy options; Lacawac Sanctuary scheduled its first Pocono Nature Fest; the Delaware Highlands Conservancy (DHC) premiered the public television documentary, “Nature’s Keepers,” focused on Pike County’s conservation legacy; the Sullivan County legislature passed 15 initiatives promoting environmentally sustainable practices.

• Enviro-assessments: The presence—or absence—of American eels, bridle shiners, aquatic insects and aquatic plant life was evaluated and a survey of all mammal species living in the region was conducted by the National Park Service (NPS) and other agencies; the Delaware River Basin Commission and the NPS conducted river monitoring programs to assess physical and chemical parameters to ensure the future health of the river.

• Threats: Awareness was raised through various campaigns regarding threats to water quality, such as antibacterials, aquatic invasives, exotic plants, animals and prescription drugs; the invasive algae, Didymo was discovered in the Delaware River; beetles were released to combat the beautiful but destructive purple loosestrife.

• What we’re losing: Open space continued to be lost to development; dairy and other farms ceased operations; 178 bird species were identified as declining or threatened; NPS superintendent of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River (UDSRR) Dave Forney retired; Pennsylvania Power and Light diminished the scenic beauty of Pike County roadways as it pruned trees to improve power delivery; barns and other agricultural buildings continued to decline or were removed.

• What we’re gaining: The DHC reached its goal of conserving 10,000 acres by year’s end; solar street lamps made their appearance in Sullivan County; Vidal Martinez was hired as the new NPS superintendent of the UDSRR; the New York Department of Environmental Conservation selected Pete Grannis as its new commissioner; there was increased multi-municipal planning in PA.

• Cleanups: Roadways and waterways received attention this year during NY’s Litter Pluck 2007, the Great Pennsylvania Cleanup, Earth Day and the annual Delaware River Cleanup.

• Kids efforts: Sullivan West elementary students tackled the problem of plastic bags by designing reusable bags and educational brochures, developing Powerpoint presentations and sending letters to politicians; Lakeside Elementary School raised $1,000 for the Delaware Valley Raptor Center by selling a publication they created featuring their artwork and poems; regional elementary students raised brook trout from eggs for release into area waterways.

• Calls for Action: A national call for action on climate change saw local expression at various “Step It Up” events held in the region; Pennsylvania Governor Rendell called for reconnecting PA residents with the outdoors and scheduled statewide sessions to identify means for doing so; New York Governor Eliot Spitzer put forth an environmental agenda focused on expanding the bottle bill, creating emission caps for energy companies and expanding the state’s climate change office; Wayne County began documenting its remaining barns in the Save Our Barns project and plans to capture the human stories associated with these structures.

• On the horizon: A Wayne County ethanol plant; gas well leasing on private property; windmills; New York Regional Interconnect power lines.