Susquehanna State: A Closer Look at Our River | News, Sports, Work

Susquehanna River. If you live anywhere in central Pennsylvania, you have a connection, perhaps more than one, to the river. It stretches 444 miles from Cooperstown, New York to the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.

Much of the river flows right through the heart of Pennsylvania, draining the state’s largest watershed, providing fresh water, electricity and recreational opportunities to tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians.

The first European to explore the Susquehanna River, named after the Susquehannock people who inhabited its lower reaches, was Etienne Bruhl in 1615. Since then, the river has played an important role in Pennsylvania’s history and growth, first as a colony and then as a Commonwealth. It provided colonial militias with strategic means of transportation, merchants access to their markets, and was even used to transport coal southward.

Settlements eventually turned into cities, and industry lined the coast, using it as a source of water to make everything from steel to dog food.

Unfortunately, not everything was sunny and rosy.

As more and more people depended on the Susquehanna, it was increasingly used and often abused. Dams restricted the flow and passage of fish. The same industries that relied on it as a source of water also used it to dispose of hazardous waste. Until the 1970s, many local residents viewed the river as a lifeless wasteland unsuitable for recreation.

The early 1980s were a turning point for the Commonwealth, especially for the Susquehanna River. The Fish and Boat Commission, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, along with many local partners, pushed for changes to pollution regulations and increased efforts to restore the health of the river.

It soon became a fishing ground for smallmouth bass, and species such as walleye and muskie were caught in large numbers. In 1997, the Susquehanna was designated an American Heritage River, allowing the federal government to further assist state and local officials in protecting the watershed.

As the new century approached, high hopes were placed on Susquehanna. Recreational fishing and boating have returned to many sections. Many of the old dams were removed, and those that remained needed to be fitted with fish gates.

The previous recession even had positive effects: many large industrial enterprises, the source of much of the pollution, closed their doors. But, as it often happens, a new threat will arise.

In 2005, the Susquehanna River was named “America’s Most Endangered River.” Despite all the successes in returning it to its former glory, the river still suffered from excessive pollution.

The main sources of this pollution were runoff from agriculture, rainwater, and insufficiently treated urban waste. Smallmouth bass began to decline, yearlings began to contract a previously unknown disease, and in 2015, a rare cancerous tumor was found in a fish caught north of Harrisburg. Despite that and heavy pressure from Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director John Arway, the DEP argued there was not enough data to declare the Susquehanna impaired — a designation supporters say was necessary to combat the latest threats.

So where does Susquehanna stand today?

Despite the challenges faced less than 10 years ago, the Susquehanna has seen a recovery. In a recent conversation with Jeff Smith, the Fish and Boat Commission biologist assigned to monitor the Susquehanna River basin, he had the following to say.

“It’s easy to put the Susquehanna in a positive light because the fishing is so good right now.” he said.

Smith went on to explain that major rivers have a number of challenges that must be continually addressed, but that efforts on the Susquehanna have shown good results. Work on the river and its tributaries has improved water quality, increased fish migration and provided a positive outlook for the river.

When asked what anglers can expect from the river next year, Smith was very optimistic. Recent studies indicate a significant presence of channel catfish throughout the river, especially in the lower reaches. 2022 was a good year for walleye stocking and surveys have shown good survival and growth since then, so anglers should expect to see more catchable walleye when this fish reaches adulthood.

Musky stocking resumed two years ago, and the fish will soon reach catchable size. Of course, you can only talk about fishing on the Susquehanna River when you think of smallmouth bass. Smith reminds anglers that three of the past four years the classes have been higher than normal, meaning plenty of small fish are available.

Although anglers in some areas may need help pulling a lure or bait for a smaller fish, the larger bass remain. If the river continues to improve, these young fish could provide excellent fishing opportunities for seasons to come.