All of us can help our river keep thriving

The communities of Schuylkill County can seem an awfully long way from Philadelphia and its suburbs — far greater even than the 100 miles or so shown on the map — as the anthracite region has a feel very much its own.

But what happens in that more sparsely populated part of the state matters greatly to the millions residing in Pennsylvania’s biggest metropolitan area.

The Schuylkill River is the common denominator linking Schuylkill, Berks, Montgomery and Chester counties along with Philadelphia.

What happens along the river in communities such as Auburn and Schuylkill Haven has a direct impact on the quality of life in larger towns downstream.

With all this mind, people throughout the region should take note of a recent meeting on the state of the river in Schuylkill County.

The roundtable discussion included state lawmakers from Schuylkill and Berks counties along with state and local environmental officials.

The consensus was that the river has come a long way from the days when people avoided what was known as a filthy waterway due to pollutants from coal mining and other industrial activities.

State Sen. David Argall, a Schuylkill County Republican, recalled that a half-century ago, much of the river ran black or orange.

Today, he noted, the waterway is much cleaner, and it attracts fishermen, kayakers and other outdoor enthusiasts.

“People said enough already,” he said of the pollution. “I’ve marveled at the improvements I’ve witnessed.”

There are similar stories to be told all along the river. Today the once disparaged waterway is at the center of efforts to turn Philadelphia’s western suburbs, the Reading area and beyond into a destination for outdoor enthusiasts. River trails for hikers and cyclists are popular and growing, and progress is being made to connect them.

But at the meeting it was acknowledged that mining activities have left some sections of the river in better shape than others, especially north of the Kernsville Dam near Hamburg.

In one section of the river in

Schuylkill County, there is still coal sediment piled so high along the banks that it’s visible in Google Earth images. Removing it is a costly, timeconsuming process.

Continued work to properly manage the river is critical, and not just so the waterway looks pretty and people can enjoy it. An even bigger issue is that about 2 million people rely on it for their drinking water. And a beautiful, healthy river makes communities throughout the region more attractive and enhances people’s pride in where they live. That alone can make a big difference in our quality of life.

Much of the work to further improve the river will fall to the government and to businesses responsible for some of the issues affecting water quality. That includes not only mining concerns but farms and factories. Flood control efforts also must continue.

We’re pleased to see state officials encouraging the establishment of more access points to the river for recreation. State grants are available for this purpose, and it’s well worth pursuing.

The rest of us have a role in enhancing the river’s beauty and popularity as well. First and foremost, that means disposing of trash properly. It’s not just litter left along the river that poses problems for the waterway. Garbage dumped in other areas can affect smaller waterways that feed the river.

Avoiding single-use plastic products and practicing recycling also will encourage healthier waters.

The Schuylkill River Greenways has played a vital role in the waterway’s improvement over the decades. Visit schuylkillriver.org to learn about cleanup opportunities and general tips on how to help care for this vital regional resource.

Let’s capitalize on all the positive momentum for revitalization of the river and the areas along its path and put what’s left of the river’s dark days behind us.