28 AUG 2010: Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper speaks out against Inhofe-Cardin-Specter Chesapeake Bill. After the amendments to the Cardin Chesapeake Bill by Global Warming disbeliever Sen. Inhofe, and PA's own Sen. Specter, we cannot support the passage of this bill that will weaken the Clean Water Act. The new bill includes a shield that blocks the EPA from enforcing ag and stormwater runoff reductions if the states fail to do so. It allows "small" point source polluters to pollute without an individual NPDES permit. It makes the states' WIP (Watershed Implementation Plans) voluntary! And includes a mandatory pollution trading program where trades will be verified by Agribusiness! I wish I could support this because I do respect Senator Cardin, but this bill has gotten away from it's original intent. [Download Clean Water Act vs. Cardin PDF]

See our Op-Ed in the Baltimore Sun [http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-pollution-credits-20100824,0,1489072.story]

Proponents of pollution trading point to the Air Pollution trading program that has reduced acid rain. But SO2 comes from pipes with constantly measurable discharges. Trading SO2 is apples and apples. Nutrient and sediment trading go between point and non-point sources. Non-point sources and the bmp's are subject to many changes due to weather patterns (drought and storm events), vegetation growth and removal, channelization of runoff ditches. It has been suggested that the broker, in our case Red Barn Ag [http://www.redbarnag.com], would verify the credits (sound like a housing market you may have experienced?).  And who will verify the bundling of ten farms throughout VA who are trading to allow a point source in PA to continue operating without making best available technology (BAT) upgrades.  Finally, nutrient and sediment issues are localized into waterways, not ambient.  The Chesapeake may not care if one tributary remains polluted because Waste Water Treatment Plants can buy credits, but we do. The reason for the CWA's National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permits is that every 5 years new technology (BAT) is applied to reduce the discharge. According to the CWA, this should eliminate discharges. If we codify trading we are giving up on elimination, and we are giving up on the goal of the CWA, to have EVERY waterway fishable, swimmable, and drinkable.

09 AUG 2010: We've got some great activities coming up, a great new communication tool, some important issue updates, and a brief request for your support. Read the full Riverkeeper® update here.

30 JUL 2010: The Annual Codorus Cleanup will be held in Downtown York, August 13th and 14th. Check out the flyer, download it and invite your friends and neighbors. [Download the flyer here or click on the image below.]

27 JUL 2010: Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper and Assateague Coastkeeper featured in MD Public TV's "Runoff Dilemma", playing on WMPT now. Look for me around minute 23. Look for Kathy Phillips, Assateague Coastkeeper, around minute 48.

29 JUN 2010: In this video, York High students work with Stewards of the Lower Susquehanna and York Audubon volunteers to improve the Willis Run Living Classroom in downtown York, PA. This stretch of stream just above the Kiwanis Lake Important Bird Area provides additional habitat and feeding opportunities for the Night Herons and Great Egrets, while creating an educational area for students and the citizens of York. Check out the video produced by SOLS and posted by the EPA's Chesapeake Bay Program.

12 JUN 2010: Waterkeeper Conference 2010

03 JUN 2010: The Harless' beautiful back yard habitat and stream buffer were featured by the EPA's Chesapeake Bay Program in a video. Now only 9 months later, the Harless family's treasured backyard habitat is suffering due to a neighbor that insists on dumping nearly an acre's worth of grass clippings into the stream "so they can decay". The Harless' have explained and pleaded for the neighbor to just dump it in their yard, but he remains insistent. Read the full story & watch the video here.

03 JUN 2010: Chesapeake Bay Program Highlights LSR's "Local Action"

23 APR 2010: Attorney General Gansler of Maryland speaks out about the lack of resources for Maryland's enforcement agencies.

01 APR 2010: Riverkeeper® Comments on Farm Bureau Lobbying Against Evironment

20 MAR 2010: Rural Pennsylvania Township Wins First Round of Sludge Fight Against Attorney General

09 MAR 2010: Protesters Rally Against Sewage Sludge

20 JAN 2010: Read the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper's letter to President Obama regarding Executive Order 13508 Draft Strategy for Protecting and Restoring the Chesapeake Bay.

02 JAN 2010: Lancaster Dairy Present to the Chesapeake. Got Manure? Read the full story & watch the video here.

15 DEC 2009: Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Joins in Filing Petition for Dedelegation of MD NPDES Program

07 DEC 2009: Federal crackdown urged in clean-water laws. State failing to enforce laws, Riverkeepers say.

13 SEP 2009: LSR in the News: "MUCKRAKER"