Susky Pollution

[Cznymph]

The Susquehanna's—and the Chesapeake Bay’s--pollutants fall into three broad categories: nutrients, sediments, and toxics. Nutrients include nitrogen and phosphorus which are applied to crops as fertilizer or manure on farm fields, parks and golf courses—and backyards. Farmers in the Susquehanna basin have historically applied a great deal of fertilizer to their crops.

StormwaterPA - Susquehanna River | How Healthy is Susquehanna River?

www.stormwaterpa.org

I’m aware of where the nutrients come from. I have a manure management plant that I must adhere to. I’m also subject to inspection to make sure I’m adhering to the distance set back requirements, as well as proper storage of the manure and that I’m following BMPs for application times.

Meanwhile, those living in suburbia can apply as much fertilizer as they like, without any oversight.

 

[springer1]

I’m aware of where the nutrients come from. I have a manure management plant that I must adhere to. I’m also subject to inspection to make sure I’m adhering to the distance set back requirements, as well as proper storage of the manure and that I’m following BMPs for application times.

Meanwhile, those living in suburbia can apply as much fertilizer as they like, without any oversight.

I hear ya. Here i SEPA, the reservoirs have become choked with algae and there are very few farms so it must be yard or similar runoff. 15 years ago, dams I fished could be described as a clearwater lakes ….. Now when the algae dies in September you can cast a light lure and not penetrate the surface scum in some areas depending on the wind and the scum stinks.

 

[TimMurphy]

I hear ya. Here i SEPA, the reservoirs have become choked with algae and there are very few farms so it must be yard or similar runoff. 15 years ago, dams I fished could be described as a clearwater lakes ….. Now when the algae dies in September you can cast a light lure and not penetrate the surface scum in some areas depending on the wind and the scum stinks.

Dear springer1,

Ban mono-culture lawns once and for all! Who is with me? They are a pox on the landscape!

Seriously, the idea of taking a perfectly good field, planting houses, and expecting nothing to change is literally the height of both American arrogance, and ignorance.

YMMV

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[afishinado]

I’m aware of where the nutrients come from. I have a manure management plant that I must adhere to. I’m also subject to inspection to make sure I’m adhering to the distance set back requirements, as well as proper storage of the manure and that I’m following BMPs for application times.

Meanwhile, those living in suburbia can apply as much fertilizer as they like, without any oversight.

I agree there should be some type of regulations to limit fertilizers and weed killers as well as other chemicals used in residential as well as commercial properties. Where I live nearly all my neighbor hire lawn services that load the lawns up with this stuff spring summer and fall. And in the winter rock salt is used for roads as well as the spray on brine and chemicals. It all washes down into the streams and rivers.

 

[brookieteeth]

The problem with CSOs isnt just sewage treatment plant capacity in most cases, it is a relic of our ancient sewage and stormwater collection infrastructure. Much of this infrastructure is well over 100years old, replacement to increase capacity and/ or separate stormwater from sewage is mega bucks. I am not saying we as society shouldnt do better, but I would guess to solve this issue in Pennsylvania you would be well into hundreds of billions of dollars, if it stops there.

expensive high technology might not be the answer. Natural tech would probably be a better answer, even in the suburbs. Bioremediation with plant species and fungi--mycelial networks--along culverts and stormwater outlets can help some of these problems a lot. Also ceding more of the riverbanks to wild vegetation. This would involve money for the initial initial investment and upkeep labor, of course. And also the public expense of compensating farmers in return for lowering the acreage presently cultivated that's too close to the streams to allow for sufficient buffering. But not hundreds of billions of dollars.

Education of the public would also be enormously beneficial, in terms of goals like getting suburban homeowners to step away from the mindless Endless Lawn up to the culvert/bankside status quo, in favor of allowing some room for less controlled wild natural processes to operate in the ecosystems where we all live. Education that should begin early on, beginning in elementary school. Because the basics really are elementary, and too many Americans don't even know the basics. Most schools continue to teach biology backwards--beginning with the mechanics of cell division in one-celled organisms and working up. Biology needs to be taught beginning with health education and nutrition for humans, and hands-on connection to the workings of nature, from the backyards to the headwaters. And then work downward into the more technical details.

 

[keirns4]

To go off track a little, whatever was found to be the reason for the fish kill on Doneagle Cr a few years back? Never heard anything. Was it swept under the rug by everyone?

 

[caddisflyer]

To go off track a little, whatever was found to be the reason for the fish kill on Doneagle Cr a few years back? Never heard anything. Was it swept under the rug by everyone?

If I recall it was traced to a certain farm. Nothing was done as far as prosecution that I heard. The Donegal has become almost not worth trying to save at this point.

 

[Jemoca75!]

To go off track a little, whatever was found to be the reason for the fish kill on Doneagle Cr a few years back? Never heard anything. Was it swept under the rug by everyone?

Excessive rain over flowed a local chicken farms poop pond

 

[brookieteeth]

he one time I was camping and had forgotten to pack the waders, I did have the boots and put on a pair of synthetic base layers - a kind of modern long johns which worked fine in the warm water.

That's what I prefer for both warmwater and trout stream wading, as long as the water temp is over 60 degrees and the air temperature is over 75 degrees. It's enough insulation to help retain body warmth while in the water. The modern thin layer long johns also dry quickly in the air, and they're like an extra layer of surface skin to protect against cuts. I don't wet wade with open cuts or abrasions on my skin. Keeping the legs covered also helps on land, to keep the ticks from latching on. Fewer mosquito and nosee'um bites, too. Also helps protect against poison ivy, up to a point. That itchy sap does rub off on the fabric.

I'm reluctantly forced to admit that boots with good gripping soles and ankle support are important. Clunky, but important. When I first started fly fishing again--on Penn's, in late April--I wet waded barefoot. Took me 20 minutes of playing Twister to cross that riffle with the island in the middle, up from the bend above Cherry Run. Ouch. Wading with sandals is at least as bad. It's more slippery than barefoot, I know that much.

 

[wildtrout2]

When I first started fly fishing again--on Penn's, in late April--I wet waded barefoot.

That is looking for trouble. Wouldn't even consider it.