Lackawaxen River Sojourn set to launch

By SANDY LONG

WAYNE AND PIKE COUNTIES, PA — Pennsylvania’s “River of the Year” will be the setting for the first Lackawaxen River Sojourn scheduled for June 12 through 14. Canoe, raft and kayak enthusiasts can still register for the three-day overnight event, which will explore nearly 20 miles of the middle and lower river.

“The Lackawaxen is a popular river and access is limited,” said Richard Rhodes of The Lackawaxen River Conservancy (TLRC), lead organization sponsoring the event. “Beginning boaters to serious paddlers should take advantage of this unique opportunity.”

The sojourn will combine guided paddling, camping, recreation and a collection of educational, environmental and historical programs. Plans may change due to weather or extreme river conditions.

In addition to experiencing the environmental and recreational aspects of the sojourn, participants will learn about the history of the region, in particular the Delaware and Hudson Canal and the region’s reputation as a glassmaking center.

“At our lunch stop in White Mills on Sunday, we will visit a small canal museum in a lock house, then trek up the Dorflinger Museum’s new heritage trail, with markers describing the remains of the glass works and glass-making process, and on to one of the 19th century glass worker’s houses, which has been restored as a museum,” said Win Olsen, president of TLRC. Docents will be available to answer questions.

Olsen has enjoyed a lifelong relationship with the river, and is committed to working on its behalf. “I am encouraged that its high value waters continue to attract eagles, ducks, the occasional heron, as well as anglers, canoers and kayakers,” she said. “I support the conservancy’s efforts to raise public awareness along the entire length of the river so that its value as a beautiful, pristine resource will be maintained long into the future.

“The proposed gas drilling in the area—due to the possible withdrawal of vast quantities of water from the river and its tributaries, and contamination from waste water spillage during storage and transport to an appropriate treatment facility—is the most urgent potential threat to the Lackawaxen,” she added. “Development along the upper stretch of the river without due consideration to measures protecting it from run-off is another concern. I would like, for example, to see more pervious pavement used in construction, and greater attention given to the importance of healthy riparian buffers.”

Registration for the three-day event is $160 for adults and $120 for children 15 and under. To attend part of the sojourn, the cost for adults is $90 per day and for youths is $70 per day. There is a one-time insurance fee of $5 per person for insurance sponsored by the American Canoe Association (ACA). Full registration fees cover the two-day river trip, canoe or raft rental, shuttle transportation, educational programs, all meals, a souvenir T-shirt and overnight camping for two nights. Online registration is available at www.riveroftheyear.com . For questions, email Dejay Branch at info@lackwaxenriver.org or call 646/205-2724 or 570/685-8875.

Two more TLRC events to check out:

River Party—Dinner, Entertainment, Silent Auction—July 31, 4:00 to 9:00 p.m., The Cocoon, Route 6 Hawley, PA. An evening of fun beginning with a reception at the Looking Glass Gallery in downtown Hawley, followed by dinner, entertainment and a silent auction at the historic Cocoon eatery. Funds raised will help defray the costs of the conservancy’s River of the Year activities and support its plans to launch a major clean-up effort of the river in parts of Wayne County. Email info@lackawaxenriver.org for details.

Tour of dams in the Lackawaxen River watershed—August 21. Over the centuries dams have been built along the Lackawaxen and its tributaries for various purposes: water retention, water diversion, water-powered mills, industrial water supply and flood control. The dam tour will highlight the major dams and their purposes and provide insight to the increasing trend toward removing old and non-functional dams. Part of the program will discuss the health of dams in the watershed. Visit www.lackawaxenriver.org for more information.