​Recently proposed changes to the national Endangered Species Act could have devastating consequences to some of the most vulnerable species by weighing their value – and that of their habitat – against “economic impacts,” “national security” and other ambiguous and hard-to-scientifically quantify variables, according to various local environmental experts.

The Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced on Nov. 19, 2025, four specific rules that would alter how the Endangered Species Act is implemented in an effort “to strengthen American energy independence, improve regulatory predictability and ensure federal actions align with the best reading of the law” according to a press release from the federal agency.

Public comment is encouraged on these proposed changes through Dec. 22, 2025, by going to each of the following four links:

• Endangered and Threatened Species: Listing Endangered and Threatened Species and Designating Critical Habitat
  
• Endangered and Threatened Species: Interagency Cooperation
  
• Endangered and Threatened Species: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants
  
• Endangered and Threatened Species: Critical Habitat​

“The proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act could have devastating consequences for listed species by weakening federal protections,” said Amber Wiewel, of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and Pennsylvania’s Bird Atlas Coordinator. “These changes will create loopholes that industry groups would use to their advantage to prioritize development and other economic factors at the expense of some of our most vulnerable plants and animals.”

Montour County solicitor Mike Dennehy responded via email on Nov. 24, 2025, to the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association's letter submitted at the Nov. 18, 2025, Montour County Commissioner meeting, concerning details for a rezoning hearing for Talen Energy, which requested parcels of land currently zoned agricultural and semi-public be rezoned industrial.

The hearing "is a legislative hearing, not a quasi-judicial hearing," he shared. An agenda will be shared on the county's website well in advance of the hearing, which was scheduled for Dec. 17, 2025, but will now be postponed until late January 2026 after county commissioners unanimously voted on Nov. 25, 2025, to move it after a request earlier that morning from Talen Energy's attorney, Erich Shock. A reason for postponing the hearing was not provided.
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According to Dennehy, when the hearing does happen, there will be a record made of it, and the comments and recommendations received from the Anthony Township Supervisors and the Montour County Planning Commission will be placed into the record at the hearing.

The Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association submitted a public request for better clarification on the definition for the Dec. 17 public hearing/meeting of Talen Energy and the Montour County commissioners in relation to a rezoning request impacting upwards of 1,300 acres from agricultural to industrial use.

​The request came via a letter handed to each of the commissioners during their monthly meeting on Nov. 18, 2025, with a short verbal explanation of what was in the letter, that it would be asking for a true definition of whether this would be a public meeting, a quasi-judicial hearing or some other sort of gathering and how that was defined under the state's Municipalities Planning Code (MPC).

That definition would then, per the MPC, dictate how people can participate in the meeting so that their voices are heard and properly added to the record. It was explained that in the letter, additional concern was shared about the concept of pre-submitted written comments and questions and that the MPC doesn't define these under things like quasi-judicial hearings and there was concern those voices would not be included. 

​Eureka Resources started removing wastewater from its Second Street, Williamsport, site on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, according to Dustan Karschner, Environmental Protection Specialist with the Department of Environmental Protection.

According to his inspection report, Karschner had stopped in for a follow-up inspection of the site to find out that three truck loads of fracking waste water were departing that morning for disposal with a total of up to six truckloads per day planned to be removed moving forward, transporting the wastewater to Kleese Disposal in Ohio, which is a permitted disposal site.

Nearly 50 people participated in the final Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association Floating Classroom of the 2025 season on Oct. 14, 2025, aboard the Hiawatha Paddleboat. 

The program, Trees and Trout, featured a presentation by arborist and Rider Park manager Sara Street on trees that can be found along waterways in our river basin. The other floor explored how those trees directly impact trout via macroinvertebrates through presenter Eric Belfanti of Susquehanna University. 

"It is always sad to see another full season of Floating Classroom programs come to an end," said Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky. "This year, we had so many unique new programs and presenters and are excited about what will come in 2026. We'd love everyone's feedback as we map out the options and start connecting with potential presenters."

The 2025 Songs of the Susquehanna two-disc Greatest Hits album is finally ready for purchase, just in time for the holidays and packed with 30 original songs inspired by our river, its tributaries and the creatures that depend on it all. 

The album comes in a hard plastic case with two CDs packed each with 15 songs representing a wide variety of different musicians, genres and themes. Some songs have been out for a while, a few are from musicians who have since passed away, others are from current veterans in the region's music industry and there are songs from teenagers and other first-time musicians. 

Riverkeeper note: The following is an overview of a fish rescue/research project along the passageway near the fabridam by Sunbury. It is the third time for this project. Check out the pool work done on Dec. 19, 2024, in this post and Nov. 27, 2024, in this post. Consider getting involved in this or other areas of our work via a membership.

​More than 350 fish – including 33 eels – were caught, identified, measured, recorded and released into the Susquehanna River out of three small pools within the fish passageway around the Shamokin Dam side of the fabridam on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, as part of a three-way partnership between the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, Susquehanna University and DCNR.

“To me, the biggest story is the 33 eels,” said Matt Wilson, director of Susquehanna University’s Freshwater Research Institute. “However, it is also unfortunate that these pools also seem to be a habitat for juvenile flathead catfish, of which 11 were found.”

The passageway was built two years ago as a way for fish to navigate around the inflatable dam structure when bags were filled during the boating season, from before Memorial Day weekend until sometime after Labor Day. This year, the dam was deflated last week after Columbus Day, according to Ben Bender, the new manager of the Shikellamy State Park.