Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Podcast

Andrew Bechdel is involved with numerous local outdoors programs, pulling from his degree in recreation management from LHU to provide environmental education and striving to connect people with our natural resources.

Peyton Curley, a rising junior at Susquehanna University studying environmental science, will serve as the MSRKA's summer intern for 2022. Get to know her and what drives her passion for our environmental resources.

Jeremy Hoffman, of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, answers questions about a reported water draw concern in the watershed, talking about thresholds for when water draws are an issue and when you should report one.

Susquehanna University Associate Professor of Chemistry Lou Ann Tom talks about pharmaceuticals, our waterways and efforts to better detect issues and reduce impacts via photodegradation research.

David Staebler, chairman for the Buffalo Creek Watershed Alliance, talks about the 20th anniversary event for the group, major issues they've addressed along the Buffalo Creek and how to get involved with upcoming stewardship needs.

Live stake coordinator for the Chesapeake Conservancy, Shannon Thomas talks about what a live stake is, the many ways live stakes can improve water quality and how to get involved in the live stake program.

Marking the 50th anniversary year of the Montour Preserve, we check in with the original land specialist on the flooding from Agnes, other historical and memorable moments and the significance of the preserve today and in the future.

Alana Jajko, the director of communications and outreach for the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership, talks about the group's big outdoor expo coming June 4, how people can get involved and other upcoming events.

A watershed specialist with the Columbia County Conservation District, Aaron Eldred talks about the vital importance of watershed associations, stream structure projects, drone footage and an incident that inspired his career.

Ben Lorson, the PA Fish and Boat Commission's Watershed Analysis Section Chief, talks about studies that show an increase in salinity in the state's waterways and the role rock salt spreading on roadways in the winter plays in that.

Kelly Caudle, the newest board member of the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, talks about what sparked her passion for our river-based resources, some of the threats she sees facing those resources and how you can help.

Doug Fessler talks about his experiences of cleaning up litter along the Susquehanna River near Sunbury, protecting resources like vernal pools and offers tips on how to make a difference in your own local community.

Wildlife Leadership Academy Executive Director Michele Kittell Connolly shares details about the program, how to nominate a teen for the extensive experience and why it is critical to connect young people to the outdoors.

Wildlife artist Mickayla Poland talks about the Upstream Art Project in Elk County, painting murals on storm drains to help raise awareness about how pollution can enter our waterways.

Katie Caputo, founder of Roambler.com, talks about the site's ability to connect people with suitable mentors for a wide variety of outdoor activities, hoping to spark a vested interest in our natural resources.

Catawissa Creek Restoration Association President Ed Wytovich discusses the unique aspects of his creek, the successes it has seen via two treatment facilities and the threats it still faces from abandoned mine drainage concerns.

Retired Pennsylvania Game Commission Supervisor of Wildlife Diversity Dan Brauning talks about the incredible recovery story of bald eagles, ospreys and peregrine falcons in our region and the value of our river's habitat.

DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn talks about her role with the agency, the importance of forest-based buffers along waterways, issues facing our watershed and important programs the DCNR is working on.

Randy Farmerie and Tom Mears, of the Department of Environmental Protection, discuss petroleum spills, when to report them &

Author of the newly published book "Up to Heaven and Down to Hell," Colin Jerolmack talks about his time in Williamsport researching the fracking industry and telling the stories of those who leased land and were directly impacted.

Pete Allison, an associate professor in Penn State University's Recreation, Park & Tourism Management Department, talks about the value of taking people onto the river and connecting them with natural resources.

Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association Board Vice President Dr. Joseph Simons III talks about his efforts as Wild Trout Man to educate others about the importance of conservation and fly fishing for wild trout.

Moshannon Creek Watershed Association President Eric Skrivseth and Vice President Eric Rosengrant on their association's efforts in the past year trying to offset the massive amounts of abandoned mine drainage that flows from the Moshannon Creek into the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.

Executive director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR), Bobby Hughes talks about the many issues involving mine drainage, how EPCAMR is addressing them and how to help.

Susquehanna University rising sophomore Danielle Tryon is working through the month of July as an intern for our association. Learn more about her, what sparked her passion for the environment and what she has in store.

William Ryan, a Marine Corps veteran and Penn State grad student in Environmental Resource Management, was one of 36 musicians to get involved in our Songs of the Susquehanna project. Listen to his song, his inspiration and his efforts to protect our waterway resources.

The first of two interns from Susquehanna to work with the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association this summer, Morgan Thomas talks about why she is so passionate about our resources and what she hopes to accomplish.

Taking over as a watershed management extension specialist for the Penn State Extension a year ago, Tyler Groh chats about agricultural and urban stormwater issues, sedimentation and ways that people get make a difference locally.

Kathryn Hayden, a graduate research assistant at Penn State University, chats about her current study of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds in our waterways, their impact on the ecosystem and how to gauge your EDC footprint.

DEP aquatic biologist Douglas Orr, who oversees the agency's Black Fly Suppression Program, talks about how the initiative got started, defines the black fly and discusses the compound sprayed into our waterways and its aquatic impact.

Lou Ann Gasperine is a retired educator who still offers programs via the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau's mobile ag unit and is active with conservation efforts along the Pine Creek watershed. She discusses the importance of outdoor education.

Jon Beam, the vice president of the Montour Area Recreation Commission and naturalist/educator at the Montour Preserve, talks about vernal pools, why they are important, which species frequent them and how we can protect them.

Peter Petokas, a renowned expert on the hellbender with 15 years experience, talks about the dwindling populations in our watershed, the importance of the amphibian, what can be done to improve the situation and other water quality issues.

Water specialist for the Columbia County Conservation District, Brittney Hartzell grew up in the region. She talks about the county's response to a Chesapeake Bay initiative and ways people can make a difference for our water resources.

A conservation associate for PennEnvironment, Faran Savitz was one of two people behind a recent study that indicated the massive proliferation of microplastics in waterways across the state. He talks about the study and what we should learn from it.

Corey Ellison, the executive director for the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership talks about the group's efforts to connect the land and water resources throughout the Susquehanna River basin.

Pennsylvania Master Naturalist Program President and Director Michele Richards talks about what it means to be a master naturalist, how the program was formed and some of the many ways the naturalist family is making a difference.

Bass Pro and Mifflinburg school educator Casey Magargle talks about coaching numerous students to big fishing tournament victories, his bait shop and important trends he has noticed in countless hours on the Susquehanna.

Brenda Sieglitz talks about the 10 Million Trees Partnership with a goal of cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay, how trees can drastically improve water quality and the major need of new land to plant trees on in the coming years.

Tim Schaeffer, the executive director of the Pa. Fish and Boat Commission, chats about the historic start to the 2020 trout season and what people can expect for this coming year in terms of the trout opener, stocking and opportunities.

Franklin Kury served three terms in the PA House of Representatives between 1966 and 1972, playing an instrumental part in the PA Clean Streams Act and Environmental Rights Amendment. He talks about all that and his new book arriving soon.

Kathleen Mullen, a veterinarian at Littleton Equine in Colorado, talks about a study she was a part of in our watershed that potentially links fracking chemicals to sick foals at a northern PA farm.

Andrew Dehoff, the executive director of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, chats about the SRBC's 50th anniversary, accomplishments from the first five decades, what is next and how people can keep on top of permits and other actions.

Don Shappelle, a musician from Luzerne County, shares a song he wrote with children aboard the Hiawatha during a Floating Classroom a few years ago and the therapeutic crossover between music, the river and the Songs of the Susquehanna project.

John Levitsky, watershed specialist for the Luzerne County Conservation District, talks about Abandoned Mine Drainage issues, including the Plainsville Borehole Discharge and what his plans are (and hurdles he's faced in tackling the issues at this site.

Cain Chamberlin, of the Endless Mountains Heritage Region, talks about nominating the Tunkhannock Creek for 2021 River of the Year, why people should vote for the waterway (by Jan. 22) and shares info about his group's efforts to protect resources.

R. John Dawes, executive director and co-founder of The Commons, helped develop the Water Reporter app, an "Instagram for anglers," as a tool to help catalog catches and watch for important water quality trends throughout the watershed.

Kathleen Lavelle, the field coordinator for Pennsylvania's Trout Unlimited cold water habitat program, talks about our native trout populations, various threats they face and a unique fish relocation situation she assisted with along a wet road.