The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a webinar on August 1 starting at 10:00 a.m to discuss the findings of the draft 2016 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report and the most recent scientific research on Susquehanna River impairment.

DEP experts will discuss the latest scientific data and research on the Susquehanna River. Following the presentation there will be an opportunity for a short Q&A for accredited media.

Click Here to register or view the presentation.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the July 30 PA Bulletin it is making available a copy of the draft 2016 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report for public comment.

This latest report shows 4,267 more miles of streams and rivers are now impaired in Pennsylvania-- 20,149-- compared to the same report published in 2014-- 15,882.

Of the top 5 causes of impairment, the largest increase in water quality impairment was caused by agricultural runoff-- 712 miles.  This was followed closely by stormwater pollution-- 288, habitat modification- 282, acid mine drainage-- 23 and road runoff-- 9.

The report also does not proposed to list the Lower Susquehanna River as impaired because DEP feels they do not have enough information to make a judgement on impairment at this time.

In May, the Fish and Boat Commission again urged DEP to list the Lower Susquehanna River as impaired and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA has had an ongoing campaign to urge its listing.

NewsClips:

Susquehanna Ailing But Not Impaired, PA Says

Corps Of Engineers Chesapeake Bay Restoration Plan In Works

AP: Air Cleanup Boosts Chesapeake Bay Water Quality

Op-Ed: $4 Billion And Nothing To Show For It, By Ed Schafer, Bion

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Related Story:

4,267 More Miles Of Streams Listed As Impaired By DEP, Lower Susquehanna Not Listed

8/1/2016