Riverkeeper reflections |
 Nearing the one-year anniversary of an Aug. 17, 2025, spill from its Second Street facility in which 16,000 gallons of fracking waste wound up in the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, Eureka Resources has sold its business operations at all three of its central Pennsylvania properties despite not having all remaining waste removed yet.
In response to a recent request from the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association to the Northcentral office of the Department of Environmental Protection, agency regional communications manager Megan Lehman reported that Eureka sold all its assets at its Second Street, Williamsport, and Standing Stone (Bradford County) facilities to Select Water, the owner of a mud plant in Ohio where waste fluid was being transported from the Second Street site for disposal. According to recent inspection reports, the properties at Standing Stone and Second Street are technically still physically owned by Ertel Associates, Inc. “DEP is in communication with Select Water regarding appropriate documentation and permitting for its future plans for these two facilities,” she said. “Select Water has stated that its operation will include the reuse of material from the natural gas industry, with no discharges from the sites.”
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 Riverkeeper's note: The following bibliography of studies related to plastics was collected by Commonwealth (Bloomsburg) University student Leigha Eby for her Masters requirements. There are 72 references for microplastic studies worldwide, each with an active link to more on the study.
Check out an overview story on the state of plastics in the Susquehanna River basin with information about additional studies done locally by clicking here. Agamuthu, P., Mehran, S. B., Norkhairah, A., and Norkhairyah, A. (2019). Marine debris: A review of impacts and global initiatives. Waste Management and Research, 37(10), 987-1002. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X19845041 Amato-Lourenco, L. F., Dantas, K. C., Junior, G. R., Paes, V. R., Ando, R. A., Freitas, R. d. O.,…Mauad, T. (2024). Microplastics in the olfactory bulb of the human brain. JAMA Network Open, 7(9). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.40018  A wide variety of plastics are seen on a small island just below Williamsport's Greevy Boat Launch. Photo by Michael Kinney A Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association poll of people who use our river in very different ways highlighted a very similar concern.
Plastics have infiltrated our aquatic ecosystem and become a major threat. The 16 people polled, including everyone from professional anglers to college professors and state agency researchers, responded with an average score of 7.375 out of 10 as far as their state of concern about plastics in our waterways – with 10 indicating “worst possible threat to our ecosystem.” “I have fished the river ever since I was a baby,” said 16-year-old Ty Magargle, of Danville, a three-time BASSMASTER state champion angler who has fished lakes and rivers all across the country. “Throughout my life, the river has gotten worse with plastics and trash along the shore and floating in the current.”  Riverkeeper's note: This is one of several new articles involving the massive surge of data center proposals across the greater watershed and what it may mean, how to get involved and what impacts there could be. They will be compiled into a special report once all components are complete.
When a 1,000-acre data center was proposed within a half-mile of Isabella Bevilacqua’s Covington Township (Lackawanna County) home, she felt a need to get involved – especially after officials pushed through the application despite opposition of 500 of her neighbors and friends who showed up to the hearing. “One of the biggest drivers for me is the lack of transparency, which is not acceptable when you're accountable to taxpayers,” she said. “Also, the deforestation, destruction to protected wetlands, lack of environmental/health impact studies and the threat of light, noise and air pollution is deeply concerning. Not to mention, of course, the water. We're on a well, we depend on the health of the aquifer for our water needs.” She didn’t realize getting involved would catapult her into a regional leader for data center opposition, but now she is regularly in contact with concerned citizen groups all across the state.  More than 40 people participated in the July 14, 2026, Floating Classroom aboard the Hiawatha Paddleboat.
They learned about plastics and the Susquehanna River. The cruise included a presentation by Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky on the lower level about plastics, why they are such a concern, what forms they come in and the issues with single-use plastics. The program included an opportunity to talk about potential realistic solutions . Nearly 50 people participate in July 7 Floating Classroom aboard Hiawatha on geology and history7/8/2026  Nearly 50 people joined the first Floating Classroom of the 2026 season aboard the Hiawatha Paddleboat near Williamsport.
The theme of the July 7 cruise, geological history of the Susquehanna River, included presentations by Central PA Rock and Mineral Club president Andrew Rockhound and club vice president Gunner Kuhn. HERYN 2026 column: Volunteers and sponsors are the key ingredients for powerful annual program6/30/2026  The only awkward thing about Jesse at the final day of the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association HERYN (Helping Engage our River’s Youth with Nature) kayaking and fishing camp didn’t involve him at all.
It was all my fault. When gathering registrations for our popular annual program, his stood out because of his diagnosis. His mother shared that he has Asperger’s Syndrome, wears headphones to minimize disruptions from loud noises and ear plugs when swimming/around water for the same reason. Knowing there is a wide spectrum of communication barriers for autistic young people, I was anxious to see how the 13-year-old from King of Prussia would fit in, comprehend instruction and be able to do all elements of our program, especially since he also was on medication for ADHD.  The Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association and its Vernal School Environmental Education Partnership will be hosting the second annual Pack the Preserve event on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at the Montour Preserve.
Below are more details on the various opportunities during the show. Our schedule for the day includes: 9am to 2pm - Car and Boat Show at Visitor Center parking lot 9am to 3pm - Wildlife Art Show in Environmental Center auditorium 9am to 2pm - Ticket auction open to purchase tickets and try to win prizes. Tickets will be drawn at 2pm. At the Environmental Education Center's auditorium (374 Preserve Road, Danville) 10am - Don Shappelle live music at tent outside Visitor Center 11am - The Servello Family live music at tent outside Visitor Center 12pm - Live Birds of Prey Show in the Visitor Center 1pm - Larry Lawson live music at tent outside Visitor Center 2pm - Author Brook Lenker to speak about his environmentally focused books in the Visitor Center * Guided hikes will be offered at the top of each hour from 10am to 1pm by the PA Master Naturalists * Andrew Rockhound of the PA Geology Club will lead fossil digs and a trilobite craft throughout the day at the preserve's fossil pit  Among the many lessons taught during a HERYN program day, students receive an Enviroscape presentation on watersheds and how pollution can get into a waterway.
"We have all this fun during the day kayaking and fishing, and we want to send each participant and his/her family home with the mental picture of what it takes to keep these waterways clean," said Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky. "The Enviroscape, which we empower our interns to teach from, is a great way to spark that conversation." From the Wednesday, June 24, 2026, HERYN program, which set a single-day record of 21 participants due to a rainout earlier in the week, students were quick to relay suggestions on how they could improve their streams and the bigger river from home.  A steady rain wiped out the Monday, June 22, 2026, HERYN program day, so participants were moved around and we bumped up the minimum total for students each of the last two days.
This included having 19 on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, but it didn't seem to impact the quality of the program. "It was perfection," shared 11-year-old Braeden Dometita, of Danville, on his exit survey, where he indicated that his favorite parts were "everything" and suggested areas of improvement were "nothing." |
AuthorsRiverkeeper John Zaktansky is an award-winning journalist and avid promoter of the outdoors who loves camping, kayaking, fishing and hunting with the family. Archives
October 2026
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