Wildlife in Hot Water: Central PA Edition

This is the second in a multi-part series localizing the National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) recent report, Wildlife in Hot Water: America’s

Waterways and Climate Change.

Our nation boasts majestic river systems like the Colorado, Mississippi, and - here in central Pennsylvania - the Susquehanna, but climate change threatens them all. The Susquehanna River Basin Commission studies the 27,510 square-mile watershed and its impact on roughly 4.1 million people within its focus area. According to the organization's latest "State of the Susquehanna" report, the basin is both "one of the most flood-prone areas in the entire nation" while experiencing declared emergency droughts 17 times in a 21 year period. 

Full Report: http://bit.ly/1iePwds 

Unfortunately, climate change compounds existing stress of pollution, dammed rivers, invasive species, disease, and destruction of forests and wetlands on our waterways. Some 147 freshwater fish species and populations are federally listed as threatened or endangered. An estimated 37 percent of all freshwater animals - from fish to crayfish to mussels - are considered at risk. The rate of aquatic species extinctions is five times higher than in terrestrial habitats, and climate change will place additional strain on the already highly-stressed freshwater aquatic life.

For many of us who spend time outdoors, we already know what climate change is doing to our waterways and wildlife. Here is a personal account from Pennsylvania resident Ed Perry on bass fishing in the Susquehanna from the NWF report:

"Up until 2005, then the hottest year on record, my family had been floating the middle Susquehanna for more than 25 years, camping on the islands, and wake fishing for smallmouth bass. But climate change has altered temperature and rainfall patterns, causing repeat kills of smallmouth bass in 100 miles of the middle Susquehanna River. The fishery has been devastated to the point that many guides gave quit taking anglers there and my family no longer takes these fishing trips that were such an important part of our outdoor experience." 

In an amendment to the Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan, written by Pennsylvania's Game Commission and the Fish and Boat Commission, it stated climate change could trigger substantial changes to fish and wildlife populations of the commonwealth, including, but not limited to:

• Migration of flora and fauna northward or to higher elevations in order to escape warming conditions;
• Decreased populations of freshwater and anadromous fish, like salmon and trout, due to reduced snowpack and increase temperatures in streams;
• Altered flooding patterns, which affect spawning and rearing habitat for many aquatic species;
• Increased spread of wildlife diseases and parasites.

Our nation and region's waterways are undoubtedly experiencing the negative impacts of climate change, but we all have the opportunity to lessen the risks posed to our waterways, wildlife, and their habitat. 

What you can do:
Support the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean Power Plan. The EPA is taking a step in the right direction by finalizing the Clean Power Plan. With the new standards, we expect immediate actions can and should be taken to help safeguard our communities and wildlife from the impacts of climate change.

Support the EPA's Clean Water Rule. Without these protections, at least 60% of our nation's streams and 20 million acres of wetlands are vulnerable to pollution.

Jen Quinn is central Pennsylvania outreach coordinator for PennFuture and is based in Harrisburg. She tweets @QuinnJen1.

Rallying along the Lackawanna River for climate action

Rep. Matt Cartwright and NWF's Ed Perry

More than 50 citizens, conservation groups, and outdoor enthusiasts came out in force along Scranton's Lackawanna River on August 12 to support taking action on climate change as it impacts our waterways and wildlife across the country. The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and PennFuture, with state and local partners, gathered at a press event for the release of Wildlife in Hot Water: Climate Change and America’s Waterways. This new NWF report highlighted how dramatic climate changes are putting our waterways at risk and what we must do to protect them. Rivers like the Lackawanna, seventeen miles of which is a Class A Wild Trout stream, are key economic and recreation drivers as well as natural treasures, as many of the speakers pointed out.


Speakers included U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, 17th Congressional District; Natalie Gelb, executive director of Lackawanna Heritage Valley National and State Heritage Area; Bernie McGurl, executive director of the Lackawanna River Corridor Association; Dan Alters, Lycoming Audubon Society; Ed Perry, Pennsylvania outreach coordinator, National Wildlife Federation; and PennFuture Policy Director Matt Stepp.

Sen. Bob Casey's district director, Kristin Magnotta, was in attendance and supporters had the opportunity to thank the Senator for his recent statement on climate change. Representatives of other area groups included Lackawanna Trout Unlimited, SEEDS of Honesdale, Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, North Pocono CARE, members of conservation and faith communities, and citizens from around northeast Pennsylvania.

What can you do? Our U.S. senators will be critical in determining the fate of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean Power Plan to address climate change. Please call on Sens. Casey and Toomey to publicly support the final rule. Make your voice heard today!

It was a great day along the Lackawanna River Trail for clean air and water -- and special thanks to the Lackawanna Heritage Valley staff for all their assistance on the trail location!

Kate Gibbons is Northeastern Pennsylvania outreach coordinator and is based in Wilkes-Barre.

It's a wrap: Sold-out Delaware River Watershed event concluded

PennFuture staff spent Tuesday and Wednesday of this week with more than 240 people from up and down the Delaware River Watershed in PA, NJ, DE and NY. The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed (CDRW) conference that we've been talking up on this blog was the second time advocates and aficionados of clean water in the watershed have gathered. Here are some highlights of what you missed at the fabulous Historic Hotel Bethlehem. But fear not -- there's plenty you can do to get involved.

• Collin O'Mara, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, gave a luncheon address and reiterated how important the Delaware River Watershed is to the nation and beyond. "It's globally significant, and we need to think of it as such," said O'Mara. He further noted that this region of abundant wildlife and natural resources, and its concurrent economic benefits, faces the threat of over one million acres of wetlands at risk. Our own CEO, Cindy Dunn, introduced Collin and noted PennFuture's representation of NWF in Pennsylvania since 2009.
• Hands-on time: Attendees chose from five field trips, and I had the chance to visit a great spot in nearby Easton: The Nurture Nature Center. This organization was originally founded to address and educate about flooding, a reality the Lehigh Valley has endured numerous times just in the last decade. Among their excellent offerings in a restored building that housed a 1914 theater is the Science on a Sphere exhibit. You really must experience this interactive NOAA- and National Weather Service-designed feature in person, though you can catch a preview in the adjacent photo.
  
• Our colleague, staff attorney Mike Helbing, was among the presenters in the conference sessions. He addressed different ways of addressing cumulative impacts under Pennsylvania law, framing it thusly: "You can think of environmental damage from cumulative impacts as the proverbial 'death by a thousand paper cuts.'" The presenters offered in-depth looks at these impacts and solutions in combined urban-suburban waterside areas which characterize parts of the watershed.

It's a good feeling to be part of a growing and enthusiastic collaborative, and we anticipate much more progress to come. We salute the efforts of CDRW director Kim Beidler in organizing a great conference along with the coalition steering committee that includes our colleague, PennFuture Federal Policy Director Joy Bergey. 

PennFuture's commitment to this watershed --- and waterways across Pennsylvania --- will continue, and you can look for more news and actions here on what's next. That's a wrap from Bethlehem!

Kate Gibbons is northeastern Pennsylvania outreach coordinator for PennFuture and is based in Wilkes-Barre.

Join us November 13 for "Eat, drink, and chat: A conversation on climate change"

As PennFuture’s new Central Pennsylvania outreach coordinator, my efforts will be focused mainly on water quality issues. For one, I will be working to improve the health of Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams as part of our work with the Choose Clean Water Coalition. Another aspect of my job is meeting people and planning events, which in my opinion, is pretty awesome -- and since meeting and getting to know PennFuture’s members and supporters is high on my list, I’d like to invite everyone to Eat, drink, and chat: A conversation on climate change. 

This free (yes, that's right -- free), informal gathering will be an opportunity for you to socialize while learning what’s happening with climate change (and what you can do about it), and will allow me to introduce myself to you. We’ll be joined by PennFuture’s federal policy director, Joy Bergey, and Ed Perry of the National Wildlife Federation. As well, we'll have a very special guest -- PennFuture's new president and CEO, Cindy Dunn. Cindy is delighted to be at the helm and eager to meet our members and supporters, so come on out and join us!

We’ll provide snacks and beverages, but feel free to bring something to share.  Special thanks to the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg for hosting our event.

When- Wednesday, November 13
             6:30-8:30 p.m.

Where- Unitarian Church of Harrisburg
               1280 Clover Lane
               Harrisburg, Pa. 17113

RSVP - by November 11 to quinn at pennfuture dot org

Hello, world. I'm diving in!

Hello, readers! My name is Jen Quinn and I'm PennFuture’s new Outreach Coordinator in central Pennsylvania. I will be focusing on water and Chesapeake Bay issues including the Pennsylvania work of the Choose Clean Water Coalition of the National Wildlife Federation. And, as you may have guessed, I will be blogging regularly about water and other environmental issues.

On September 28, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay hosted its 8^th annual Chesapeake Watershed Forum. Over 400 people were in attendance, representing state and federal agencies, universities, and various NGOs from the six states that make up the Chesapeake Bay watershed (Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia) and the District of Columbia.  Presenters discussed multiple topics including science and conservation, land use planning and regulation, and advocacy and citizen engagement.

In a time when divisiveness and political polarization is the norm, it was inspiring to see hundreds of people working toward a shared goal: The protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. This is no pie-in-the-sky goal -- it's absolutely achievable in our lifetimes.

Over the past 30 years, federal, state, and local governments throughout the watershed, as well as NGOs and academics, have been working to reduce the amounts of nutrients and sediment making their way to the Bay. Thankfully, these efforts have had a positive impact on the health of the Bay. However, much more needs to be done.

The Bay’s water quality remains degraded because of too much pollution. Current oyster populations are less than 1 percent of historic levels and the Bay’s habitats are so degraded they cannot support thriving populations of aquatic life. Increased development, insufficient management of polluted stormwater by our towns and cities, and polluted runoff from agricultural operations continue to harm the Bay ecosystem.

Even so, there's reason for optimism. Thanks to the new “pollution diet” for the Bay issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, we can truly address these problems. This pollution diet, technically referred to as a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), limits the amount of nitrogen, phosphorous, and sediment that can enter the Bay. Implementing the pollution diet isn’t going to be easy but through continued cooperation between the state and federal governments, and local action by homeowners, farmers, NGOs, and municipalities, we can all enjoy cleaner water and a healthier and more productive Chesapeake Bay.