Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Podcast

Jan. 6, 2026 -- Founder and longtime president of the Chillisquaque/Limestone Watershed Association, Tom Benfer talks about the significance of the tributary, the numerous projects tackled to improve water quality (from trash pickups that hauled hundreds of thousands of pounds of litter and thousands of tires away from Chillisquaque Creek to macroinvertebrate studies and streambank restoration efforts) and also discusses the dwindling number of volunteers available for projects as members passed away and the struggle to get new people involved.

Join Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky as he checks out a segment of each of the 30 songs that made it on our special 2-disc 2025 Greatest Hits Songs of the Susquehanna album this year. The CD is now available for purchase and we are accepting submissions for 2026.

Susquehanna River Basin Commission Executive Director Andrew Dehoff and the commission's Surface Water Supervisor Mike College talk about the spike in data center interest in the greater watershed and what that could mean for the greater watershed. The discussion includes what data centers are, why they use so much water and what alternatives can be for cooling.

Williamsport Municipal Water Authority Environmental Manager Cheryl Terpak, Lycoming College's Dr. Leslie Rieck and former student and current water authority worker Ben Fry discuss a unique collaborative effort to map 360 city stormwater outfalls and what we should learn from that work.

A geologist with the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, Graham Marcowicz is highly interested in hydrology and working on new tools such as GIS mapping to look at groundwater recharge. He shares about that and other important aspects of his work.

A rising senior at West Virginia University and resident of the Montoursville area of our watershed, Maggie Yonkin is a huge advocate of environmental education. She shares her back story, tips for making a difference and the therapy she appreciates from our natural resources.

Hoping to inspire curiosity and self-worth among young people she works with, Abbie Mack is serving as one of our interns this summer. She shares the inspiration behind her fascination with nature and especially bugs, how she chose Susquehanna University and the importance of pursuing your passion.

A resident of the Gaza Strip along the Mediterranean Sea, Ibrahim Alqassass is currently majoring in computer science at Susquehanna University and serving as an intern this summer. He shares details about his past, desires to combine environmental work and tech and suggests how young people can make a difference.

Rising Susquehanna University junior Caley Treat, from the Bloomsburg area, will be an intern with the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association this summer. She shares details about how she first fell in love with nature, decided to attend Susquehanna University and tips for making a difference at home.

Program Coordinator for the Susquehanna County Conservation District, Don Hibbard has a longstanding experience in providing a wide variety of services to protect and improve our natural resources. He chats about his background, the importance of environmental education and how people can make a difference.

The Northcentral Region Education Coordinator for the PA Fish and Boat Commission, Amidea Daniel strives to connect people to our natural resources. She does this in creative ways, including overseeing the Trout in the Classroom initiative and leading a statewide women in the outdoors effort. Interview by Emily Shosh.

An avid outdoorsman since little, growing up in Schuylkill County and seeing environmental impacts of mining and other pollutants first-hand, Andrew Mickey serves the State Conservation Commission and works on roadway-waterway interactions via PA's dirt and gravel program.

March 13, 2025 -- New Forest Conservation Coordinator Aaron Lewis chats about his role, the importance of forests when it comes to filtering waterways and the habitat it provides our state bird, the ruffed grouse. An advocate of the grouse, Lewis also discusses restoration of the species thanks to improving habitat. Interview by Northern Tier Regional Director Emily Shosh.

Susquehanna River Basin Commission Project Review Manager Todd Eaby looks back at his 15 years so far with the commission and discusses how water withdrawal permits work for a wide variety of industrial needs across the watershed.

Founder and director of the Forest School Teacher Institute, Dr. Jean Lomino, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, talks about what forest schooling is, her journey as an educator to better understanding the importance of outdoor learning and what people can expect at a mid-April certification training she is offering in PA.

A lifelong angler, Jamie SanFilippo has turned her passion into a fly-fishing guide career in Centre County. She talks with West Branch Regional Director Andrew Bechdel about her work and how development is impacting trout habitat and what groups like Trout Unlimited are doing about it.

Physicians assistant Alyssa Maddalena shares the story of how she started writing a children's book about her daughter and their adventures along the Susquehanna River called "Good Morning, Susquehanna" which released in late November.

December 3, 2024 -- DCNR Botanist chats with Northern Tier Regional Director Emily Shosh about her love of plants, the importance of protecting wetlands as a way to saving rare plant species and how we all can be more aware of our impacts to the environment around us.

November 25, 2024 -- We celebrate our 100th episode of the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper podcast by looking back at some of the most popular moments from more than 29 hours of interviews from people who all share a passion for our river, its tributaries and the creatures that depend on those aquatic resources.

Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife diversity biologist Richard Fritsky chats about his work and specifically about bats and their important relationship with our aquatic ecosystem, the insects they help control and the impacts of white nose syndrome on their populations.

Penn State Forest Extension Educator Cat Pugh talks about the importance of riparian buffers, agroforestry and creative plantings of things such as willow that can lead to opportunities such as artistic programs and needs such as basket weaving. Interview by Regional Director Andrew Bechdel.

Stream Restoration Specialist Phil Thomas, of Trout Unlimited, chats about the use of Large Wood Addition (LWA) projects which include felling large trees intentionally into streams to intentionally mimic natural conditions and increase habitat. Interview by Regional Director Emily Shosh.

The newest Director of Lycoming College's Clean Water Institute, Matt Kaunert has a long history of Eastern hellbender research in western PA. He shares some of that and his nest box work, what he's seen in studying hellbender reproduction and trends across the state.

We check back in with Dr. Peter Petokas and his work on the Eastern hellbender in the Susquehanna River watershed to see what the species' status current status is, what work is being done and how we can act now to preserve the hellbender before it is too late.

Mike Toolan, the Musser Gap Conservation Director, talks about the 355-acre Musser Gap Greenway. The venue, created via a partnership with Penn State University and the Clearwater Conservancy, is dedicated to connecting people to nature while water quality and habitat in Centre County. Interview by West Branch Regional Director Andrew Bechdel

Susquehanna University graduate Danielle Tryon shares details about her study on sculpin done at the Freshwater Research Institute's stream channels that look at how the species reacts to thermal changes in a waterway, some interesting discoveries and what we should learn from this work.

Susquehanna University student Jay Schofield discusses the interconnectedness of our ecosystems and how we can have a positive impact, enjoyment of restoration projects like an analog beaver dam effort at the university and the importance of volunteering.

Susquehanna University student Sarah Joy talks about what brought her from Florida to central Pennsylvania, what sparked her love of nature and why environmental education and advocacy is so important for her and others.

Dickinson College student and Bloomsburg native Theadora Duane shares about her journey to study environmental work starting as early as the third grade, lessons she has learned from beekeeping at college and why it is so important for people to get outdoors and into nature.

Tom Clark, the Abandoned Mine Program Project Development Manager for Kleinfelder Engineering, has a long history of working with Abandoned Mine Drainage issues in the state. He talks about those experiences as well as recent opportunities for treatment via funding, including $68 million for a project on the Tioga River. Interview by Northern Tier Regional Director Emily Shosh.

Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association President Michael Kinney discusses the preparation before his 200-plus-mile adventure paddling the West Branch of the Susquehanna River which begins May 1. He talks about what inspired the trip, what has gone into planning and what he hopes to achieve while on the river.

Joshua Caldwell, director of the film "Mending the Line" which has been trending on Netflix and other online platforms, talks about the therapy of fly fishing, the importance of protecting our clean water resources, details behind the success of the film and what he hopes people take away from it.

A furbearer biologist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Tom Keller is at the forefront of the agency's American Marten reintroduction project. He speaks about that head of the agency's April plan decision as well as trends in other mammals, including the muskrat.

Professor of Biology at Penn State Altoona, Dr. Edward Levri has studied the invasive New Zealand mud snail extensively both abroad and locally. He shares details on why it is so dangerous to our aquatic ecosystem and some ways we can all help slow its spread.

New part-time West Branch Regional Director for the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, Bechdel has a long history of environmental education and talks about the value of connecting with our natural resources and how he wants to best represent the needs of the western portion of the watershed.

Recently hired as the part-time Northern Tier Regional Director for the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, Shosh also serves as Communications and Outreach Advisor for the Potter County Conservation District. She talks about her background, the region and ways people can make a difference.

Associate professor of earth and environmental sciences at Susquehanna University Dr. Jennifer Elick and student researcher Olivia Weaver, of Sunbury, talk about their study of a legacy island, formed of coal waste, in our river and what we should learn from it in terms of our legacy of impacting the environment.

Advocational archeologist Kim Mattern, curator for the Snyder County Historical Museum, talks about Native American artifacts found along rivers and creeks and the lessons they can teach us about ancestors who lived in these areas.

Check out our special episode where we share with you the 20 songs that will be on our Songs of the Susquehanna Volume 3 playlist. We chat with some of the musicians and get the story behind their work.

Andrew Eppig, better known as Rockhound, talks about the geology of the Susquehanna River, its historical connection, some unique (AMD) impacts today and how people can best explore the rocks of our river region.

Dr. Brian Mangan, Professor of Environmental and Ecological Sciences and Biology at Kings College, talks about mercury research in macro species such as crayfish and hellgrammites, as well as overall river health and trends he's noticed.

Travis Wingard, the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward Coordinator for the PA Wilds region, talks about the program's evolution in the PA Wilds region, recent expansion into new counties and why people should get involved.

Research student Sydney Stark, Assistant Professor of Biology at Penn State-Hazleton Megan Schall and PA Fish and Boat Commission biologist Geoffrey Smith wrap up their discussion on invasive flathead catfish with findings from recent dietary studies and the importance of community involvement.

Vicki Blazer, a research fishery biologist of the US Geological Survey, shares details about PFAS, what they are, where they come from and trends in the emerging contaminant in fish species in our watershed.

Independent filmmaker Scott Morris talks about his new documentary, "American River," ahead of a special screening of the film scheduled as part of a Clean Water Celebration in Lewisburg on Oct. 15, 2022.

Leslie Rieck, of Lycoming College, talks about the Clean Water Institute, current research efforts, storm water concerns in the Williamsport area and ways people can make a difference at home and via citizen science work.

PA Fish and Boat Commission biologist Geoffrey Smith, research student Sydney Stark and Assistant Professor of Biology at Penn State-Hazleton Megan Schall continue the discussion about flatheads by looking at other waterways where flatheads have invaded and what red flags are being seen in the Susquehanna.

Columbia County Conservation District watershed specialist and environmental educator Abby Sieg talks about the upcoming Susquehanna Valley Watershed Festival, the importance of watershed groups and environmental education.

Assistant Professor of Biology at Penn State-Hazelton Megan Schall, PA Fish and Boat Commission biologist Geoffrey Smith and research student Sydney Stark talk about aquatic invasive species with a focus on the flathead catfish. ** This is the first of what will be a three-part series on the flathead and its impacts regionally.

In this special episode of our podcast, Bucknell University's Andrew Stuhl discusses the numerous long-ranging ripple effects that the historic Agnes flooding had on our watershed 50 years ago this month. He talks about impacts including ecological, economic, emotional, social, agricultural and numerous others, and the important lessons learned from this flood as we try to protect ourselves from similar future events.