The Swatara Creek Sojourn
By Producer, Kelly Meinhart
 he Swatara
Creek, or "The Swattie" as the locals so lovingly
call it, has commanded a well-deserved place in the hearts
of those who have experienced it. Although I have walked along
its banks in the past, I had never actually been on the water.
I can now say that the Swattie has secured a place in my own
heart, for on Sunday, May 5th, I set out for my first sojourn
of the year - a journey on the Swattie.
 y
guide, and soon to become friend, Mike Pavelek, and I set
off for a day-long adventure to include a bit of social history,
natural history, wildlife sightings, urban investigations,
and most importantly - trash pick up! That's the whole point
of the Swattie sojourn. The trip was originally organized
some 14 years ago by Jo Ellen Litz, President of the Swatara
Creek Watershed Association, as a way to get people onto the
water to collect trash from the banks of the creek. And so,
what started out as a small gathering of dedicated people
has turned into an annual event with a mission. This mission
has extended beyond the core group of members, and this year
over 100 people participated in the sojourn.
 ach
year the group gathers as much trash as they can fit into
their canoes, tows it down stream - and properly disposes
of their collected items. As you can see in the photo gallery,
the group gathered quite a bit of trash, varying from old
tires, bottles and plastics to a metal drum - which took the
collective energies of a few men to pull ashore. Jo Ellen
tells me that surprisingly, they are seeing less and less
trash in the Swattie each year. That's a great thing to hear!
he
Swattie is located near Lebanon, and Hershey, PA, and is a
tributary to the Susquehanna River. It's a beautiful creek
with a dark history. Literally. Years ago, the creek was polluted
from coal refuse which washed downstream from the mines in
the north central region of the state. The entire creek was
too acidic from mine drainage for anyone to step foot in,
let alone go for a swim. In fact, the banks of the Swattie
were actually black from the coal refuse. You can still see
these old markings on the banks, and if you look very closely,
you may just find little bits of coal in certain areas. Fish
populations and wildlife populations were nonexistent in and
on the banks of the Swattie, and it would seem that this creek
was in need of some serious help. That's where the Swatara
Creek Watershed Association came in. The group has been working
on improving the water quality in the Swattie for years, and
I think it's safe to say that they've been very successful!
hese
days the outlook for the Swattie seems very bright. Through
years of hard work, and most likely millions of volunteer
hours, the Swattie been returned to a viable waterway with
healthy fish populations and wildlife populations as well.
On our trek down creek, we saw several fishing expeditions
reporting that they were catching some large fish that day,
and were delighted to see a variety of bird life along the
shores. So the Swattie is making a comeback.
 nother thing
that makes this waterway unique is the environs through which
it passes; human environments that is. When we began our trip
- we gathered in Hershey, and as we traveled, we seemed to
be in the thick, lush, green countryside - tucked away from
other humans. As we traveled, we passed railroads, bridges
and other man-made structures that brought me back to reality.
And most surprisingly, was our end take out point. Our final
destinationbrought us to full view of the TMI nuclear plant
in Middletown, with 737's flying overhead from the Harrisburg
International Airport.
he Swattie
is a good example of the life of a waterway; used and
misused for years, rebirth and regeneration, loved by
a community with a new understanding of its importance,
and finally a viable home to wildlife and fish communities.
Yet, even after years of volunteer and educational efforts,
we still see continued misuse by humans who haven't
learned what sojourners have; love your waterway, it
is life.
hanks
to Jo Ellen, Mike, and the rest of the Swatara group
for a lovely day on one of Pa's most scenic waterways!
For more information on the Swatara Creek Watershed Association,
check out their website at: http://www.mbcomp.com/swatara/
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