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Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky take a look at algae, cyanobacteria and what you should know about each condition.
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 Ten-year-old Blake Walls, of Middleburg (Snyder County), screamed as he quickly spun the reel of a heavily bent fishing rod.
“I got one!” he yelled – loud enough that people on the other side of the small Union County lake looked up, expecting a monster catch based on his reaction. Instead, he pulled from the water a wadded mass of green algae – more resembling something retrieved from a shower drain than a freshwater lake.  Catch-and-release trout fishing is a beautiful practice to preserve such a wonderful natural resource, especially when it comes to native and wild trout.
There are many factors that need to be taken into account so it is done properly and the fish can return back to its normal feeding position in the stream.  An old African proverb suggests that it takes a village to raise a child -- but what does it take to protect and promote a watershed, specifically the massive 11,000-square-mile network of tributaries and communities within more than 20 counties that feed into the North and West branches of the Susquehanna River?
Obviously more than one person or even one association -- it takes a team of dedicated individuals who value clean water and have a vested interest in our natural resources.  Slowly and methodically, a hub cap-sized snapping turtle inched its way across New Columbia Road, and I felt compelled to help.
My family and I just left our campground to grab a bite to eat, and this poor reptile — seemingly lethargic and docile — was oblivious to the dangers of crossing such a well-worn piece of asphalt.  “Life jackets?”
“They’re on the back seat,” I answered my friend who was taking out his dad’s small bass boat for the first time on the Susquehanna. With an equal mix of excitement -- and nervousness -- we went around the boat, making sure everything was in place. We had a pair of oars in case the old 20-horsepower motor failed. We had the anchor, we had our fishing gear and a cooler with lunch. Everything seemed to be in place. Join Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky and board member Caz Russell as they share some tips for boating safety. Before hitting the water, it is important to read through the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's Boating Handbook. Check it out by clicking here.
Picking up litter is a valuable way to clean up the watershed and a great way to connect your family with our natural resources -- as long as you make sure everyone is safe.
 The Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association hosted photo and poetry contests during the coronavirus quarantines as a way to encourage families to get outdoors and reconnect with nature while staying properly distanced.
 Of all the birds of prey found throughout Pennsylvania, the Northern Goshawk may be the most elusive — not a surprise for a bird nicknamed the “ghost of the forest.”
Which is why Mike Dupuy, executive director of the newly formed Goshawk Society, is offering incentives to turkey hunters and others who are outdoors this spring for their help. |
AuthorJohn Zaktansky is an award-winning journalist and avid promoter of the outdoors who loves camping, kayaking, fishing and hunting with the family. Archives
June 2020
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