The Susquehana is Cleaner

The most recent report out of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) shows that there are less nutrients in the Susquehanna River than there has been in the past.  The SRBC is a multi-state organization that monitors the river at 6 original locations (Towanda, Danville, Lewisburg, Newport, Marietta, and Conestoga, PA) and 17 additional locations that cover not only Pennsylvania, but New York and one site in Maryland.  This most recent report compares 2008 loads to 1985 loads.  At all of the 6 original locations the trends for total nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment are all decreasing meaning that the Susquehanna is cleaner than it was in 1985.  None of the trends for any of the other nitrogen or phosphorus forms have increased at any of the 6 sites.  As in the past, this report shows that winter and early spring are the worst times of the year for nutrient loading into the Susquehanna.  Although the two sites in Lancaster County are trending lower for nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment loading these sites still have the highest loading of any of the sites monitored.  

For as much as we hear about how bad things are and point fingers at each other I think this is a nice bit of good news that we are doing something right and things are getting better.  We still have a ways to go to acheive our goals, but we are moving in the right direction.