Recently, staff from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy helped more than 150 canoeists enjoy the river on a two-day Allegheny River Sojourn.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy has a longstanding history of studying and conserving the Allegheny River that dates back to the 1960s and includes conservation of nearly 20,000 acres of its islands, shorelines and surrounding land.

A bald eagle created a wonderful start to the event by catching a fish on the river’s edge as the sojourners assembled. “Practically after launching, we bent down and picked up northern riffleshell mussels, a federally endangered species,” said Jason E. Farabaugh, who attended the sojourn with his family.

WPC's Freshwater Conservation Program has coordinated seven previous sojourns, all of which were along the Clarion River, but this year decided to explore the Allegheny.

"The Allegheny River has been called a paddler’s dream, offering sections of changing currents followed by quiet, still waters on the back channels of undisturbed islands," said WPC’s Senior Director of Freshwater Conservation Nick Pinizzotto. "The weather cooperated for the most part, and canoeists were able to experience the Allegheny River at its cleanest and most natural state.”

Participants passed through dramatic hardwood forest valleys and discovered undisturbed islands that are sanctuaries for wildlife. In 1984, Congress designated seven National Forest islands between Buckaloons and Tionesta as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. The sojourn passed one of these islands, Baker Island, and two other islands along the way.

Participants explored and learned about the Allegheny's underwater communities. The Allegheny River is one of Pennsylvania's richest waterways for freshwater mussels, with exceptional populations of the federally endangered clubshell and northern riffleshell mussels living there.

The sojourn began in Tidioute, Warren County, and traveled to Tionesta, Forest County. WPC provided a camping site as an option for those who wished to be outdoors as much as possible. The group continued on from Tionesta and paddled to President, Pa.

Together with its members and partners, WPC hopes to continue to conserve and restore the Allegheny River, so that present and future generations can enjoy this natural treasure.

7/18/2008