River up to challenge

By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.comStaff Writer

WILKES-BARRE – With opening ceremonies just days away, the River Common is poised to become a main gathering spot for thousands of people during the summer months. An impressive array of trees, shrubbery, fountains, sandstone, walkways, brick and steel will greet visitors from miles around.

And at the center of the celebration will be the Susquehanna River – a river that in 1972 overflowed its banks and stretched a mile across as it rampaged into the homes and businesses of thousands. Now this same river will feature boats and canoes and kayaks and it will quietly flow past as events are held on its banks.

Even though it’s usually benign and even picturesque, many people hold a misguided negative opinion of the river that splits the Wyoming Valley on its way to the Chesapeake Bay.

Jim Brozena, the mastermind of the River Common park and executive director of the Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority, says the river is not the “filthy cesspool” that many people perceive it to be. He said this branch of the Susquehanna has water quality similar to that in Sunbury and other areas where the river is looked upon as a valuable resource.

“People have the wrong impression of the river,” Brozena said. “It is our hope that this project will help dispel those misperceptions. The water quality of the Susquehanna here in Luzerne County has been improving every year.”

Dale Bruns, dean of the college of science and engineering at Wilkes University, said quality tests of river water support Brozena’s claims. Bruns said Wilkes has conducted four or five federally funded research projects during the last 14 years on the river and the results have been surprisingly good.

“We have seen the river with higher values for biodiversity in the food chain,” Bruns said. “What it means is for an urban river, the Susquehanna is alive; I would rate on the positive side environmentally.”

Bruns said the river has good recreational value – for fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking and paddling. He said swimming is not an option for a number of reasons and the foul smell that sometimes occurs is attributed to storm water runoff after heavy rains. It’s not uncommon for urban rivers to receive fecal coliforms after rain storms, but Bruns said recovery is quick.

“I’m pleasantly surprised by what I’ve seen in our studies,” Bruns said. “The Susquehanna scores above average for an urban river. Under normal conditions, it’s a great river.”

During a recent river rescue, emergency personnel had to cope with the risk of swallowing water heavily laden with bacteria. Several rescuers said raw sewage was abundant in the river because heavy rains had overloaded sewage treatment plants in communities that have combined stormwater and sewage lines.

Bruns said the concerns are valid but should not detract from using the river for other activities.

Brian Mangan, director of the environmental program at King’s College, said he has been one of the river’s “biggest cheerleaders” for nearly 30 years.

“We have very convincing data in hand that shows the Susquehanna’s water quality has improved greatly,” Mangan said. “One example of its health is the massive mayfly hatches we have been seeing.”

In fact, Mangan recalled, the Market Street Bridge had to be closed once because there were so many mayflies on it the road actually became slippery to vehicular traffic.

“When you get past the disgust factor of that, we say yahoo!” Mangan said. “That has been a great discovery as far as the river is concerned; it sure means more food for the fish in the river.”

Mangan said there are many trophy type fish – especially smallmouth bass – swimming in the river; fish he says that would make a fisherman proud to hang on his wall.

“Having said all this doesn’t mean there still aren’t threats to water quality,” he said. “There are concerns about chemicals entering the river and even passing through treatment plants.”

Mangan said pharmaceuticals and personal care products are getting in the river, causing serious problems for fish. He said the presence of these chemicals can hurt fish and even alter their reproductive systems. He advised people to minimize what they put down the drain.

The color of the river – a brown muddy appearance – leads to the negative perception, Mangan said.

“The Susquehanna is naturally a muddy colored river,” he said. “But when people see the brownish color they think pollution. But that is the natural color of the river.”

The Susquehanna is 444 miles long – running from Cooperstown, N.Y., to the Chesapeake Bay. It is the longest river on the American East Coast and the 16th longest in the United States.

The Susquehanna is an extremely ancient stream; far older than the mountain ridges through which it turns.

Mangan said the public view of the river is difficult to change. He created the Susquehanna River Institute to do research and to educate people on how important the river is as a recreational resource.

“We’re starting to open people’s eyes about the river,” Mangan said.

OPENING SCHEDULE

The River Common will be dedicated at 4 p.m. Friday. The ceremony will be followed by music performances, and kayak and fishing demonstrations. The Third Friday Arts Walk in downtown Wilkes-Barre also takes place that evening.

Wyoming Valley Riverfest will take place 12:30-9 p.m. Saturday at River Common and Nesbitt Park. There will be children’s field games, a bicycle safety program, fly-tying demonstration, nature walks and other activities and music starting at noon.

For info, visit www.rivercommon.org or www.wvwc.org.

Bill O’Boyle, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7218.