In the nine months since taking over as the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper, many people have asked why I stepped away from a nearly 20-year career in community journalism and successful run as the features editor for The Daily Item newspaper to take over running a nonprofit focused on environmental issues along our river and its tributaries.

Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky talks about some of the initiatives and projects we've tackled over the past year, things we are planning soon and how you can get involved via the #GivingTuesday campaign.

​​As the chaos of current events continues to swirl, 15-year-old Lila Oast, of Bloomsburg, finds her escape in a kayak.

"It's like the real world disappears and all you're focused on is catching fish," she said.

Any remaining shreds of pre-kids camp canoe trip confidence immediately evaporated as Austin stepped from the anchored dock into the unsteady hull of the bright red Pelican canoe.

The vessel rocked violently as his legs wobbled while attempting to sit in the bow of the boat, knuckles white as his hands clamped tightly on the canoe's sides.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is currently accepting public feedback (through Dec. 7) on a 1240-megawatt natural gas-powered electric generation station proposed to be built on the western edge of the Clinton County borough of Renovo.

The following information was provided to the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association via a fact sheet about the project from the DEP.

​John Zangari-Ryan has kayaked across the United States, but feels we have the most diverse paddling experience right here on the Susquehanna. He chats about kayak routes he developed, kayak camps he provides for kids and the health of our watershed.

​The Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association announces the start of a new program, called the "Songs of the Susquehanna" -- a creative opportunity to engage people about the river, its benefits and the threats it faces throughout the 11,000-square-mile middle Susquehanna watershed defined by the North and West branches. 

Through Jan. 31, 2021, the association is encouraging musicians and those with a passion for the outdoors to submit their original songs inspired by the river and its tributaries.

​On Dec. 1, the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association is celebrating #GivingTuesday -- a national day of support for nonprofits -- with a special challenge for all those who want to help us protect and promote our river-based resources.

​​As we near Thanksgiving, many new signs point to a change in seasons.
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But according to longtime bird-watcher and member of the Lycoming Audubon Society Gary Metzger, there’s no better introduction to the early holiday slate than the wave of migratory birds moving through our region – including a variety of duck species.

“You know the passing of the season is marked by the coming and going of the birds. In the late fall, you have all of these exotic birds coming through, landing and overnighting on the water. You get this wave of birds in the fall, and then in the spring, you get the wave going the other way,” he said. “It’s like a wonderful seasonal clock that you can follow just by keeping your eyes open for the birds.”