In April of 2017, the Chesapeake Conservancy released Envision the Susquehanna: A Vision for the Susquehanna Watershed, a vision for restoring the Susquehanna River and revitalizing its communities.
The vision is the result of a partnership comprising the National Park Service, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Susquehanna River Heartland Coalition for Environmental Studies, the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership, and the Wildlife Management Institute.
This “Vision Document” maps out the recommendations of the Envision the Susquehanna (ETS) initiative, a coalition among many partners across the watershed to identify local conservation and restoration priorities, and develop locally supported recommendations for future action
Envision the Susquehanna is an initiative born out of the spirit of community. Its mission is to improve the ecological and cultural integrity throughout the Susquehanna landscape and in so doing improve the quality of life for all citizens along the river.
The initiative seeks to add value to the on-going efforts of the many organizations working throughout the Susquehanna watershed – from its headwaters in Cooperstown, New York to the end of the upper reaches of the West Branch and its connection with the Chesapeake Bay in Havre de Grace, Maryland – by engaging all stakeholders, including the general public, to highlight the stories and places that make up the identity of the Susquehanna and develop community-based solutions to ensure these places are conserved for future generations.
The ultimate goal is for the initiative to result in an increased awareness of the natural, historic, and cultural resources that exist along the river, the creation of new opportunities to connect people to the Susquehanna, and the improvement of ecological and cultural integrity of the landscape. In so doing, Envision the Susquehanna will also contribute to the economic sustainability of those living along the river.
The core team and its advisory council will work towards this end by creating a community-driven, river-wide vision that identifies key challenges and collaborative strategies for implementing specific conservation, river access, and restoration components of the vision. Partners in the initiative will meet with communities and stakeholders throughout the watershed and use this interactive website to guide the development of this vision.
Envision the Susquehanna is a partnership driven initiative with a 25-plus member advisory council that includes environmental and historic nonprofits, American Indian interests, private enterprises, and state, federal, and local departments.
Feature photo credit: Susquehanna University