More than 250 enthusiastic movie-goers lined up outside the College Theatre in Lewisburg, just off the Bucknell campus, to see “Hope for Polluted Waters,” an inspiring documentary on the efforts of watershed groups to cleanup abandoned mine discharges in Pennsylvania.

The documentary is the third in a series of programs produced by WVIA-TV in Wilkes-Barre that focus on issues of concern in the middle and upper Susquehanna River. “Looking to the River” was produced in 2005 to give an introduction to the river and its watershed. “Expedition Susquehanna” follows 11 high school students and Future Farmers of America in 2006 as they traveled the length of the Susquehanna by canoe.

Producer Kelly Donaldson said "Hope for Polluted Waters" tells the personal stories of volunteers working throughout the coal-mining regions of Pennsylvania to clean up pollution from abandoned coal mines.

"Historic coal-mining practices have polluted over 4,600 miles of once pristine waterways, left over 200,000 acres of land scarred and barren, and have left communities with the burden," Donaldson said. "While the problem seems overwhelming, and might make most people accept defeat — that's not what's happening in Pennsylvania. People are turning this problem around, and in many cases, returning life to streams that have been dead for over 50 years."

Donaldson, who works for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, also produced the Watersheds.tv online video website for GreenTreks Network, Inc. which won the 2002 Governor’s Award for Watershed Stewardship for its weekly stories about people making a difference cleaning up their watersheds.

Featured in the production were examples of watershed restoration in both the anthracite and bituminious coal areas. They included:

· Shamokin Creek Restoration Alliance: Jim Koharski and Leanne Bjorkland from the Alliance and Albert Mabus, Eastern Industries;.

· Eastern Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation: Ed Wytovich;

· Avondale Mine Reclamation Project, Nanticoke, Luzerne County: Julie McMonagle, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, and Rep. John Yudichak;

· Blackleggs Creek Watershed: Art Grgurie and Ed Trexler of the Blackleggs Trout Nursery, Nick Pinizzotto, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy;

· Indian Creek Watershed: Beverly Braverman, Mountain Watershed Association, and Dean Brant, Stoy Excavation;

· West Branch of the Susquehanna: Carl Undercofler, co-organizer of the West Branch Triatholon, Susan Buda, Aquatic Biologist for the Susquehanna River Basin Commission;

· Babb Creek Watershed: the late Robert McCullough, founder of the Babb Creek Watershed Association, and Bill Beacom, current chairman; and

· Pennsylvania AML Campaign: John Dawes, Pennsylvania Watershed Program.

Also featured are Amy Wolfe, Trout Unlimited Abandoned Mine Program, Dan Koury, Department of Environmental Protection, Bob Hedin, Hedin Environmental, Dr. Carl Kirby, Bucknell University, and Dave Rothrock a professional flyfisherman.

“Hope for Polluted Water” was produced with funding from the Allegheny Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Chesapeake Bay Commission, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Degenstein Foundation, Geisinger Health Systems, Keith Campbell Foundation, The Clayton Foundation, Trout Unlimited and the Pennsylvania Watershed Program.

The Bucknell Environmental Center, Susquehanna River Heartland Coalition for Environmental Studies and Geisinger Center for Health Research were the co-sponsors for the premier and the second annual Susquehanna River Symposium the following day that attracted over 100 people.

This new documentary will premier on WVIA-TV on October 18 at 8 p.m. and will be made available to other public television stations in Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Video Blog: 2006 Susquehanna River Symposium

Links: Skip Wieder Receives Susquehanna River Basin Excellence Award

Heartland Coalition Works to Heal Middle/Upper Susquehanna Wateshed

Session Schedule

The Senate and House will return to session October 15.

PA Environment Digest Video Blog

· Prompted by the Quecreek Mine Rescue, Mine Families First Act Signed Into Law

On the Hill

· On the Senate/House Agenda/Bills Introduced

· Senate/House Bills Moving/Governor’s Desk

· Senate Special Session Committee on Energy, Website Tracks Energy Bills

· DEP Supports Ban on Electronics Waste Going to Landfills

Other News

· Schuylkill Conservation District Recognized for Audenreid Mine Water Project

· Coldwater Heritage Partnership Accepting Grant Applications

· PA Trout Unlimited Awards 13 Trout in the Classroom Grants

· Game Commission Board Approves Tioga County Mine Reclamation Project

· DEP Invites Public Comments on TMDLs in Butler, Clarion, Venango Counties

· Volunteers Needed to Help Plant Trees Along Plymouth Creek

· 2007 PA River Sojourn Season a Great Success

· DEP Expands Drought Watch to 53 Counties

· Interstate Agreement Improves Flood Protection, Public Water Supply

· Applications Available for 2008 Environmental Education Grants

· October EE Connections Newsletter Now Online, Enviro Question of the Week Starts

· Entires Invited to National Student Radon Power Contest

· Philadelphia Group Wins EPA Environmental Justice Grant

· More Than 1,100 Acres Aquired by Game Commission

· PUC Disappointed With Federal Ruling on Transmission Corridors

· Penn State, Chevron Launch Energy Alliance to Study Coal Technology

· Grants Available for Installation of Energy Efficient Traffic Signals

· New Deer Management Brochures Available on Game Commission Website

· Motorists to Watch for Deer When Driving This Fall

· Pennsylvania Soil Surveys Now Available on NRCS Website

· Speaker O’Brien Hosts Pennsylvania Geospatial Policy Symposium

· Black Bear Film Festival’s Free ENVIROFEST at Grey Towers Historic Site

· Help Wanted: Forest Entomologist, Green Building Intern, Watershed ED

Spotlight

· End of Summer Does Not Mean End of Drought, By Paul Swartz, Susquehanna River Basin Commission

Opinion

· Keep the Heat on and the Venom Out, by Rep. Camille "Bud" George

Go To: PA Environment Digest Calendar Page

10/5/2007