Lackawanna River Currents

A Newsletter for the Lackawanna River Watershed Community

prepared by the

Summer 2002:  Volume 9, Issue 2

 

LRCA Focuses on: 

Creation of North Pocono Watershed Coalition

LRCA has just completed a Lackawanna River Watershed Conservation Plan with a new emphasis on important watershed areas such as the North Pocono Watersheds.  LRCA is the recipient of a Growing Greener Grant to conduct watershed education activities in the North Pocono Watershed area and to facilitate the development of a North Pocono Watershed Coalition.   A majority (about 66%) of the North Pocono area of Lackawanna County is in the Lackawanna River Watershed, a part of the larger Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay Watershed.   The two largest tributary streams to the Lackawanna rise in the North Pocono Watershed - Roaring Brook and Spring Brook.   Together, with Stafford Meadow Brook they are a strategic water supply resource for the Scranton/ Wilkes Barre Metropolitan region.

 

Challenges Facing Our North Pocono Watersheds Opportunities to Meet Challenges

How to manage demand for new homes and services

 Inform and involve the public

Maintaining rural and village character  Create coalition of watershed  stakeholders
 Protect open space – subdivision of large watershed parcels           Identify mission and objectives for coalition
Protecting water quality Build on strengths of coalition partners
Commuter rail line impacts on our community Promote stronger intergovernmental cooperation
Encouraging the creation of walkable communities Promote public/private partnerships
  Develop long-term proactive programs
  Create or sponsor shorter term action projects

 

Prospective Coalition  Partners Potential Mission for Watershed Coalition
Local active citizens “movers and shakers” Develop understanding of water resource protection needs
Watershed property owners Assess groundwater and surface water protection
Local business interests and civic organizations Identify and promote watershed protection techniques
Local elected and appointed officials  Support acquisition and conservation of wetlands, springs,  stream corridors, forest stands, ridgelines, steep  slopes, and escarpments to create a viable open space  network
Local conservation organizations & sporting groups

Encourage greater intergovernmental cooperation and partnership among public and private interests

County, state and federal agency representatives  
Community, school and church groups  

      

Suggested Coalition Action Projects

·         Support for North Pocono Greenway Trail along old Erie & Wyoming Rail Corridor with North Pocono Rotary Club  

 ·     Conduct Environmental Tours of North Pocono Watershed as part of Moscow County Fair

·         Designate Coalition representatives to participate in Luzerne - Lackawanna Open Space Study Advisory Committee

·         Develop by-laws or consensus action statement, designate officers and directors, develop an organization and financial management program

·         Identify and support a watershed conservation project in every North Pocono municipality

·      Develop a Watershed Resource Inventory

 

Lackawanna RiverWorks II

The LRCA and Artists for Art (AFA) invite you to attend a RiverWorks II Art Exhibit Reception.  The event will take place on Friday, August 2nd  6pm-8pm.  Location: 514 Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton, PA.  Wine and cheese appetizers will be served.   You will have the opportunity to purchase an original work of art, painting, sculpture, or other work created by members of the Artists for Art collective.  The Lackawanna River or one of the many scenic locations in our watershed will be the featured theme of the artist’s works.   This is the second collaboration of AFA and LRCA.  The collection of art from the original RiverWorks project in 1992 was exhibited at several locations around Pennsylvania, including our state capital.   This years RiverWorks II exhibit opening at the AFA Gallery offers a great way to begin a summer weekend in the Lackawanna Watershed.   LRCA members are encouraged to bring wine and/or appetizers to the gallery.   If you are unable to attend the reception, the gallery will be showing this display August 1 through the 24th.  Go to www.artistsforart.com for more info.

Trail and Greenway News Briefs

Verrastro Family Donates Strategic Trail Link to Lackawanna Valley Conservancy

The Verrastro family, owners of our local Coors Distribuorship located at 7th and Lackawanna Avenues in Scranton have generously donated a strategic 800 foot link in the Central Railroad of New Jersey along the Lackawanna River between the Lackawanna Avenue Bridge and Bridge 60, the Steamtown Rail Bridge to the Lackawanna Valley Conservancy.  This property will allow the linkup of the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail through downtown Scranton.  We thank the Verrastro family for this wonderful gift to the future of the Lackawanna Valley.

Raise the Roof on the Central of New Jersey

The Central of New Jersey L.P. and the non-profit historical preservation group have begun restoration of the CNJ Freight Station at the Lackawanna Avenue Bridge with a beautiful new slate and copper roof.  The “slates” are recycled vehicle tires.  The CNJ partnership hopes to develop the 4-acre station site for a restaurant, business offices and apartments.   The CNJ partners are working with the LRCA and Heritage Authority to include a right-of-way for the Heritage Trail and a potential downtown Scranton Riverfront Greenway through the CNJ station property.

Congratulations CNJ Partners for the best new roof on the Lackawanna River Skyline!

LRCA and North Pocono Rotary to Partner On North Pocono Greenway Trail

The North Pocono Rotary Club has asked the LRCA and Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority to partner with the Rotary to develop a Greenway Trail on 12 miles of the Old Erie and Wyoming Valley Rail bed, which is owned by Lackawanna County along Roaring Brook, Elmhurst and White Oak Reservoirs.  The Rotary and LRCA will join forces to raise funds in the community, write grants and develop a plan to manage the trail with four townships, Roaring Brook, Elmhurst, Madison and Jefferson.  Check us out at the Moscow County Fair.

 Up Valley Acquisitions and a Downtown Scranton Greenway Project ...

are under consideration for Phase II and III of the Lackawanna Valley Heritage Trail.  The Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority has begun work to re-program several million dollars in transportation enhancement funds for the next phases of the Heritage Trail.  This follows recommendations from a River Trail Alternative Report completed by the LRCA in 2001.  These new trail projects will include routing sections of the trail over some parts of the new flood control levee in Scranton to eventually link up with trail sections in the Mid-Valley and Carbondale.