Pennsylvania’s Endangered Rivers

On the May 12th, 2023 Pennsylvania Legacies podcast, Josh Raulerson of Pennsylvania Environmental Council spoke with Heather Taylor-Miesle of American Rivers, and Donna Kohut, a Lehigh Valley resident, and Delaware River Basin Campaign manager for PennFuture.

The topic was the American Rivers list of the 10 most endangered waterways, TWO of which are in Pennsylvania, the Ohio River and the Lehigh River.

America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2023

Listen to the conversation or read the entire transcript HERE.

“In 2023, Pennsylvania has the dubious distinction of being the only state that’s home to not one, but two of the top 10 most endangered rivers, and is the only northeastern state to appear on the list. In the number-two spot is the Ohio River, which begins in Pittsburgh at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers. The Ohio forms the backbone of a major industrial corridor and a watershed with a population in the millions. That includes the town of East Palestine, Ohio, where a Norfolk Southern train loaded with toxic chemicals infamously derailed in February, spilling some of its contents into local waterways. On the other end of Pennsylvania is the Lehigh River, which also played an important role in the state’s industrial history, although it’s better known these days for its trout streams, mountain views, and whitewater rapids. The Lehigh’s number seven ranking reflects massive upstream development across northeast PA, where sprawling distribution and warehousing facilities have sprung up in recent years, bringing thousands of acres of impermeable surface to the watershed.”