First land management specialist for Montour Preserve reflects on Agnes impact, other memorable moments

Richard Hess, of rural Exchange, has pursued wildlife photography ever since his retirement as Land Management Specialist at the Montour Preserve in 1995.

​​In the early 1970s, as word spread about PP&L building a powerplant in Montour County and a subsequent lake area to be used as a backup coolant for the plant, local landowner Richard Hess developed an idea to capitalize on the news.

“Our farm joins the preserve land where the pavilions are now. I had the idea of putting in a campground, because I understood that PPL wasn’t going to put a campground in and I figured that they’ll have the lake there for boating and fishing and trails to hike,” he said, taking a few days of vacation from his job with Sylvania, developing what would be the earliest electronic components for automobiles, to attend a conference at Penn State University on starting a campground.

“They introduced a man who worked for PPL if you had any electrical questions. I talked to him during the first break, and he told me that he was responsible for this particular piece of property around the lake,” Hess said. “He wanted to find someone in the area to work as a contractor, so I started mowing grass for him, took care of tables when they were delivered and worked for him about a year as the lake was finished up.”

Soon after, Hess was hired as the property’s full-time Land Management Specialist, holding the position from 1972 through his retirement in 1995 and overseeing the first 23 years of the preserve’s development and growth.

Flood of 1972
His first major challenge came immediately – as the historic flooding of Hurricane Agnes took its toll on the newly formed lake infrastructure.

“It was interesting because here was no plan developed on what to do if we did have a flood because the lake was brand new,” he said. “There is an emergency overflow on the east side of the lake where the Sunset Overlook stone wall is, and they dug a deep concrete wall there.”

The reservoir held back a lot of water that would have originally gone directly into the middle branch of the Chillisquaque Creek and eventually flowed into the town of Washingtonville.

“At first, the water started to subside a little bit, and the people in Washingtonville thought they were done, but we all didn’t realize at the time that the water was building more and more in the reservoir, it went over the emergency overflow and washed out a gulley more than six feet high – I know I remember that as I was later netting fish that were left behind in pools,” Hess said. “Residents of Washingtonville at first were very angry because they thought the company opened valves and let water out (of the lake), but they didn’t realize we were doing all we could to hold the water back.”

The incident led to better planning for future flood events.

“PPL stationed someone from the plant to make sure the dam was stable. They had a system set up to warn the people downstream – I think a fire company had a siren system,” Hess said. “Also, if a large amount of water was projected, the company would open valves prior to the storms to lower the level of the lake for more storage capacity. Of course, that caused more work for us, netting fish and repairing erosion. We wound up with some new species of fish in the creek that weren’t there before. It was all part of that first flood, which wound up being the worst one.”

Wildlife rehab 
Early in the life of the Montour Preserve, the maintenance area was located on an adjacent farm, and in a large chicken coop of that farm was Hess’ shop and a rehab room where they would help various birds – like hawks – rehab their flying strength before release back into the wild.

“There was this red-tail hawk that was in a cage like a large dog crate, and we had to move it over to the fly room. I had a winter coat on and a pair of gloves and I thought I would be fine,” remembered Hess. “I reached in for the hawk, but of course when you reach out, the jacket pulls away from your wrist and that is where this hawk latched on.

“It felt like a nail going down into the bone. I had another guy there and he tried to pull it out, but hawks use them (their talons) for killing. We had the idea to take it to the fly room and it released to face me. I was off to the doctor for a tetanus shot.”

Maple sugaring
The first program offered at the Montour Preserve shortly after it opened was on maple sugaring – a precursor to the popular program that continues today.

“We tapped just a few trees and had one class that first year. We boiled it down in an old butcher kettle outside the maintenance area and finished the sap on a Coleman stove in the kitchen,” he said. “By the time we got to our second year, we had built a little structure in the sugarbush area. When we put the pavilion down there, we were able to get involved with school districts.”

As it was with all programs and activities at the preserve, safety and liability mindfulness was high on Hess’ lists of responsibilities.

“When we had sugaring programs, I would hire a professional tree trimming program and basically write them a blank check to go down the trail through the sugarbush and take down any loose branches or anything else that may hurt someone if there was a high wind or other incident,” he said.

Evolution of the lake
Soon after Hess took on the full-time role with the Montour Preserve, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission was involved in stocking the lake.

“When the lake was first dug out, they didn’t leave any structure on the bottom that fish could use for cover,” said Hess. “So we got involved with Scout troops and other groups to develop structures out of old tires and Christmas trees. We mapped out where these were placed in the lake.”

Hess’ role at the preserve soon had the fish and boat commission knocking at his door for another responsibility.

“With me being there all the time, they wanted to have me work as a deputy for them overseeing things at the lake, going almost immediately through training programs that helped improve things from a safety standpoint,” he said.

“When it came to people fishing on the ice, we would never tell people it was safe. Signs told people they would go onto the ice at their own risk,” Hess said. “We did have several drownings at the lake. The first one I was involved with, the ice went from six inches to one inch in one step and the guy was by himself and he drowned.”

The lake was not only a drawing card for people, but for new species of wildlife.
“Fifty different species of waterfowl came in early on that hadn’t been there before, and that attracted a lot of people to check out the waterfowl and shore bird species,” he said. “The lake also provided an important fishing component that hadn’t been available before in the area.”

Reflecting on responsibilities
Among the many components of his job, Hess admitted that being involved with the development around the lake from the first day was one his most memorable contributions.

“Building the visitor center and renovating the farmhouse into offices that were closer to the lake and visitor center – I was able to get in to this great opportunity early on,” he said. “The state had an award for recreation areas that looked at cleanliness, safety and other factors. I really wanted to win that award, and we did. It still can be seen at the visitor center on the wall.”

It required lots of work and attention to detail, he added.

“Our goal from the first day was to keep the facility in such a condition that no matter who comes – even if it was the president of the United States – we would be proud of that facility as we showed them around,” he said. “I had to anticipate any sort of potential emergency and write down step-by-step instructions on how to respond to things like if there was an accident between two vehicles at the preserve or if there was a missing child.”

Hess was also involved in new innovations for the preserve, including a unique toilet system.

“Initially we had Job Johnnies, but we then went around to different state parks and looked at different toilets to design one for the preserve that put in all the good features of the ones we researched,” he said. “We wound up winning an award for the design. I went out to Kansas City to get the award.”

Preserve’s impact
The foresight of leadership within PP&L in the 1970s went a long way to creating what is at the preserve today, Hess said.

“PP&L could have easily early on put a fence and no trespassing signs around the lake, but instead they wanted to be a good neighbor (to the community),” he said. “They spent a lot of money and time to turn the preserve into something special early on. Most people don’t realize how much work it takes to keep things clean and keep things safe at a place like this.”

Gauging the impact of the preserve on the community was difficult at first, he admitted.

“In all the years I worked there, we did not get a lot of feedback from people on how they enjoyed using it and how important it was for them to have things open for hiking and fishing and other programs,” he said. “But when Talen bought the plant (in 2015) and talked about tearing down the buildings and closing the preserve, then all sorts of feedback came in on how important it was because there was nothing else like it in the area.”

Even with the river nearby for fishing, Hess pointed out that the Preserve provides so much more.

“Coming with your family for a picnic, or hiking a trail, or going to the fossil pit and finding a fossil or checking out the unique waterfowl – some people used a word that the preserve was a 'gem,'” Hess said. “It provides a lot of different activities to people in the area that wouldn’t be here without the preserve.”

For more information about the preserve, including a list of upcoming educational programs, visit www.montourpreserve.org

While still owned by Talen Energy, the Montour Preserve is managed by the Montour Area Recreation Commission. Learn more about this group and support their work by visiting www.montourrec.com

Listen to our interview with Richard Hess in the most recent episode of the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Podcast:

Check out our podcast page for the most up-to-date list of previous podcast episodes. Also, you can access them individually here:

• Susquehanna Greenway Partnership's Alana Jajko on the new outdoor expo planned for June 4.
• Aaron Eldred, watershed specialist with Columbia County Conservation District, on the importance of watershed groups and technology in the work he does.​
• Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's Ben Lorson on how road salt is increasing salinity in the state's waterways.
• Environmentalist Doug Fessler on his efforts to clean up litter along the river, and how others can do the same.
• Wildlife Leadership Academy executive director Michele Kittell Connolly on efforts to recruit new youth into this summer's programming.
• Artist Mickayla Poland on a mural project in Elk County that raises stormwater awareness.
• Roambler.com creator Katie Caputo on why it is so important to get people outdoors.
• Catawissa Creek Restoration Association President Ed Wytovich on the threats that keep the Catawissa from reaching its potential and how people can get involved.
• Retired PA Game Commission Wildife Diversity Supervisor Dan Brauning on the lessons learned from bald eagle and osprey restoration.
• DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn on parks, waterway buffers and connecting people to the outdoors.
• DEP's Tom Mears and Randy Farmerie on petroleum spills on our waterways.
• Author Colin Jerolmack on his new book looking at fracking impacts within our watershed.
• Penn State educator Pete Allison on the power of connecting people to our natural resources.
• Wild Trout Man Dr. Joseph Simons III on his video series showcasing wild trout fly fishing and the conservation needed to clean up our waterways and protect our natural resources.
• Eric Skrivseth and Eric Rosengrant, of the Moshannon Creek Watershed Association, talk about their efforts to clean up the waterway over the past year.
• Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition of Abandoned Mine Reclamation's Bobby Hughes on the widespread issue of Abandoned Mine Drainage.
• Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association intern Danielle Tryon on her background and plans for the future.
• ​Susquehanna University researcher and stream restoration expert Matt Wilson on a variety of local projects.
• Hiawatha Paddleboat captain Mike Strunk on the history of the vessel heading into its 40th season, cool things he gets to see on the river so often and the importance of our Floating Classroom series.
• PSU graduate student and musician William Ryan on his inspirational Songs of the Susquehanna submission and the importance of making changes for the river.
• Susquehanna University intern Morgan Thomas on being one of two summer interns for the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association.
• Watershed management extension specialist for the Penn State Extension Tyler Groh chats about agricultural and urban stormwater issues.
• PSU graduate research assistant Kathryn Hayden on endocrine disruptors in our waterways.
• DEP aquatic biologist supervisor Douglas Orr on the Black Fly Suppression Program.
• Outdoor educator Lou Ann Gasperine on why young people need outdoor education.
• Master naturalist Jon Beam talks about the importance of vernal pools and how we can better protect them.
• Hellbender researcher Peter Petokas on trends in hellbender populations and how we can protect the species.
• Columbia County Conservtion District water specialist Brittney Hartzell on waterway issues within the county and the importance of stepping up to make a difference.
• PennEnvironment researcher Faran Savitz on a recent study that shows a microplastic proliferation in waterways across the state.
• Susquehanna Greenway Partnership's Corey Ellison on how her organization connects the region's land and water trails.
• Pennsylvania Master Naturalist director Michele Richards on the program and the impact of naturalists with our environmental resources.
• Bass pro and high school educator Casey Magaragle on his fishing exploits, Sneaky Hollow Bait Company and the thrill of coaching students to state and national fishing titles.
• Brenda Sieglitz on the Keystone10 Million Trees Partnership, how trees help clean up our waterways and the need for 1,300 new landowners to come forward for free trees from the program in the next year.
• Former state representative and senator Franklin Kury on his efforts to spark the Clean Water Act and Environmental Rights Amendment, the 50th anniversary of the movement and his new book due out soon. 
• Veterinarian Kathleen Mullen on her study involving sick foals and potential ties to fracking.
• Andrew Dehoff, of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, on the group's 50th anniversary.
• Don Shappelle, musician, on creating river songs with young people and the Songs of the Susquehanna project.
• John Levitsky, water specialist for the Luzerne County Conservation District, on abandoned mine drainage at the Plainsville Borehole Discharge.
• Cain Chamberlin, of the Endless Mountains Heritage Region, on the Tunkhannock Creek's nomination for River of the Year.
• R. John Dawes, the creator of the Water Report app that allows anglers and others to share their catches and help us track health trends in our fish species.
• Kathleen Lavelle, of Trout Unlimited, on a unique fish relocation project she helped oversee, trout-based trends in the region and the importance of volunteering
• John Dawes, of the Foundation for PA Watersheds, on assisting smaller watershed groups, acid mine drainage and other waterway threats.
• ProtectNorthernPA.org founder Diana Dakey on her concerns about the production and transportation of liquified natural gas.
• Teen kayaker and angler Lila Oast on how kayaking has opened doors for her.
• Outdoor educator Jon Beam and Audubon member Gary Metzger with an overview of duck species and the threats they face in our watershed.
• Renee Carey of the Northcentral Pa. Conservancy on the importance of preservation and public access.
• Benjamin Hayes, director of Bucknell University's Watershed Sciences and Engineering Program on health of the river.
• Salmon angler Steve Kurian on benefits of clean water and fresh fish.
• Educator Van Wagner on his unique Eels in the Classroom program and the importance of eels.
• Waterkeeper Alliance Executive Director Marc Yaggi on growing up in the Middle Susquehanna watershed and his quest in the fight for clean water.
• Outdoor educator Jolene Connelly on the importance of getting youth and women on our waterways
• Diving instructor Rich Best on trends, treasures and threats under the Susquehanna
• Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers spokesperson Tali MacArthur on the importance of assisting a watershed group
• Falconer Mike Dupuy on raptors of our river and the threats they face
• Fish and Boat Commission spokesman Mike Parker on the agency's efforts during COVID and the historic unexpected start to trout season
• Wesley Forest Camp director Emily Sliski with stories of getting young people engaged with nature at camp and on the Penns Creek
• Professional angler and YouTuber John Oast on how he got his start, what he has learned along the way and observations of the river
• Biologist David Lieb on the concerning trend of exotic crayfish eradicating native species in our watershed and how it is impacting the ecosystem