Cleaning the Banks of the Schuylkill River

Photos Courtesy of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

Bradley Maule, center, in green shirt, with some of the volunteers who helped him clean the banks of the Schuylkill River during last month's Schuylkill river sojourn.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

The Schuylkill Action Network has partnered with Bradley Maule of Philadelphia to pinpoint the Schuylkill River’s most littered banks.

This comes about three weeks after Maule’s 112-mile journey down the river, from Schuylkill Haven to Philadelphia.

Maule joined more than 200 paddlers for the Schuylkill River Sojourn on June 4-10.

During this time he served as the Schuylkill Action Network’s sojourn steward. This required him to document the river’s trash.

Bradley Maule along the banks of the Schuylkill River.

To do this he used the hashtag #SojournSteward on Facebook and Instagram. He also posted articles on PhillySkyline.com.

“As I expected, the most visible form of litter is always plastic,” said Maule. “Piles of plastic bottles accumulating from urban storm drains, sheets of plastic wrapped in tree branches and roots on banks — discarded plastic always presents a harsh contrast in the natural world.”

The SAN has worked to reduce litter washing into the river since 2011. That is when it expanded the Schuylkill Scrub, an annual campaign to clean up the Schuylkill Valley. This, in turn, keeps the Delaware Estuary clean.

“We’re looking to expand the Schuylkill Scrub, to prevent litter from occurring” said Virginia Vassalotti of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. She works to coordinate the SAN on behalf of its member-organizations. According to her, “Brad’s photo map will help us determine where litter is coming from and what types of litter are most prominent. This will help us develop strategies to prevent litter.”

Here's some video on the subject from Comcast Newsmamkers:





Few have studied this litter at its source. That is why the SAN turned to Maule. He spoke out on the issue in 2015 with his “One Man’s Trash” exhibit at the Fairmount Water Works. This consisted of all the trash he encountered during a year of weekly hikes in Wissahickon Valley Park.

“I felt a strong connection as we came to the confluence of the Wissahickon Creek at the Schuylkill River on the final day of the sojourn, and I was happy to find it pretty clean,” said Maule. “I’d actually give the overall course of the river a B+ — pretty clean, but there’s still work to do, especially in places with larger populations like Reading, Philadelphia, and even Pottsville.”

Visit SchuylkillWaters.org for info on the SAN and SchuylkillScrub.org to report litter near you.

Scrubbing the Schuylkill

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Schuylkill Action Network:

An estimated 1,500 people will participate in the two-month Schuylkill Scrub by picking up litter near the Schuylkill River, Pennsylvania’s River of Year.

Anyone hosting a cleanup before May 31 can register their event at SchuylkillScrub.org.

Those who do will be eligible to win a money-saving rain barrel. Events registered with Keep

No one benefits from having this junk in the river.

Pennsylvania Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup of PA will also have access to free gloves, trash bags, and safety vests at participating events. 

And they can benefit from free or reduced disposal fees at participating landfills during Pick It Up PA Days, from April 12 to May 5.

“Many people are aware of the Philly Spring Cleanup on April 5, but what happens if you’re busy during those five hours?” said Tom Davidock, an employee of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary who coordinates the Schuylkill Action Network. “That’s what’s so great about the Schuylkill Scrub; you’ve got a hundred events from which to choose.”

Eleven members of the Schuylkill Action Network have joined forces to improve on last year’s campaign, which attracted over 1,500 volunteers to almost 100 litter cleanups. 

These spanned almost 100 miles across Southeast Pennsylvania, from downtown Philadelphia to Pottsville in Schuylkill County.

Participating in the Schuylkill Scrub contributes to the success of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup of PA. 

Last year, this organization tracked over 50,000 people volunteering in each of the five counties bordering the Schuylkill River. Together they collected more than 900 tons of trash; enough to fill almost 400 extra-large commercial dumpsters.

The Green Valleys Association and the Hay Creek Watershed Association of greater Pottstown founded the Schuylkill Scrub in 2010. Since then, dozens of organizations have partnered to promote local cleanups as part of the Schuylkill Scrub. 

Perhaps the most active is the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy located in Schwenksville.

Approximately 2,000 square miles of land drain to the Schuylkill River. This makes it the largest influence on the tidal Delaware River and Bay, otherwise known as the Delaware Estuary. 

Cities along its 130-mile path include West Philadelphia, Norristown, Pottstown, Phoenixville, Royersford, Birdsboro, Reading, and Pottsville. 

 Over 2,400 Pennsylvanians selected the Schuylkill as their River of the Year in January.

Information and online registration is available at SchuylkillScrub.org. Volunteers can also call Tom Davidock of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary at (800) 445-4935, extension 109.

The Beauty in Our Own Backyard

A finalist in the "Wild and Scenic" category, Boyertown photographer "Martha," titled this shot "The Circle of Life..."

Paul from Phoenixville took this shot of Black Rock Sanctuary.
It is a finalist in the "Wild and Scenic" category.

So one thing I like about blogging is that it does allow me to be completely partisan at times.

This is one of those times.

This is the second year that the Schuylkill Action Network has conducted its "Schuylkill Shots" photo contest.

I'm afraid the notice of the contest slipped through the cracks here in the Digital Notebook's vast command center complex and its inherent bureaucracy, so I did not let our amateur (or professional) photographers out there know in time that they could submit entries.

Another entry from Paul, also in the
"Wild and Scenic" category is from the quarry
at St. Peter's Village.

Our apologies. Rest assured those responsible have been flogged and sacked.

But I can let you know, thank's to kind e-mail nudge from Shaun Bailey at the Delaware River Estuary group, about voting, particularly when so many of the top entries are from our own area.

"I just wanted to let you know that, so far, four of the top-10 pictures in this year’s Schuylkill Shots Photo Contest are from Pottstown. Online voting ends just three weeks from Sunday, or Dec. 15," he wrote.

To see the photos, simply visit Facebook.com/SchuylkillWaters, click on the “Fan Faves” box, which also says “Photo Contest,” and then click “Vote.”


Fully four of entries are from a Pottstown photographer who goes by "Carol."

(THIS JUST IN!: Our vast network of confidential sources informs us that "Carol" is actually Pottstown High School graduate Carol Brightbill. Good show!)

There are also entries from photographers from Phoenixville, Boyertown and Douglassville.

Carol from Pottstown, took this shot of French Creek. It too
is in the "Wild and Scenic" category.

Other finalists are from Philadelphia and New Ringgold, but they can get their own blogger to promote their photos.

Last year over 6,000 people from Philadelphia to Pottsville voted on the final selection of winning photos from over 150 submitted. Winning photographers will receive prizes of gift cards ranging from $100 to $250 to REI, Amazon.com, or Calumet Photographic.

The deadline for entries was Oct. 30. A panel of judges affiliated with the SAN selected 10 finalists per category by Nov. 15.

Titled "The Fisherman," this shot by Carol is a finalist in
the "Fun on the Schuylkill" category

The public now has until Dec. 15 to vote for their favorites to determine the winners. The judges will also vote for their favorite photos in each category to determine the “Judges’ Choice” Awards. Followers of the SAN on Facebook can also watch and comment on each entry as it is uploaded to the internet.

The Schuylkill River travels 130 miles through the cities of Pottsville, Reading, Pottstown, Norristown, and Philadelphia. In 1978, it was the first river included in the state’s Scenic Rivers Program. Today the Schuylkill is a source of drinking water for millions of people and a critical source of fresh water for the Delaware Estuary, where salt water from the ocean mixes with fresh water from the Delaware River.

This shot by Karen, from Douglassville, is also in
French Creek in St. Peter's Village. It is a finalist
in the "Fun on the Schuylkill" category.

The Schuylkill Action Network is a collaboration of agencies, companies, individuals, and nonprofit organizations founded to help clean up the Schuylkill River and the many waterways flowing into it. The SAN does this by collaborating on projects in Berks, Chester, Montgomery, Philadelphia, and Schuylkill counties, among others.

In this way, it helps to protect nearly 2 million Pennsylvanians, all of whom depend on these waterways for safe drinking water. 

Since 2003, the SAN has grown to include dozens of local, private, and public members, in addition to its five founders: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 3; Philadelphia Water Department; Delaware River Basin Commission; Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary.

Another offering by Pottstown's Carol in the "Wild and Scenic" category is titled "Valley Forge Park in summer time."

Carol, from Pottstown, named this finalist in the "Wild and Scenic" category "Mr. Blue Eyes."

Spring Cleaning ... A River

Show the Schuylkill a little love this month and sign up to help clean her banks.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided to us by Shaun Bailey, marketing and communications Coordinator for the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. 

Last year, participants in the Schuylkill Scrub organized over 2,000 volunteers at more than 90 sites across the Schuylkill Valley — a six-fold increase over 2011. This spring, leaders at the Schuylkill Action Network hope to increase participation even more.

Anyone hosting a riverside cleanup between April 1 and May 31 is invited to register their event at SchuylkillScrub.org. Those who do will be eligible to win a free rain barrel or $100 toward the purchase of plants that are native to the region. 

Reporter Frank Otto and I, left, watch in amazement as
irrepressible former Mercury reporter Brandie Kessler
tries to dig a buried tire out of the ground. Talk about
an immovable object meeting an irresistable force...

They can also receive free gloves, trash bags, and safety vests. And they can benefit from free disposal at participating landfills during Pick It Up PA Days on April 20 to May 6.

Individuals can also log on to SchuylkillScrub.org to find volunteer opportunities. These will take place in Berks, Chester, Montgomery, Philadelphia and Schuylkill counties, among others. 

(Last year, the editorial staff at The Mercury teamed up and helped to clean up Mother Earth on Mother's Day; more specifically, Ganshahawny Park -- that's Lenape for Tumbling Waters -- Park along Old Reading Pike in Douglass (Berks) Township.

You can read all about that adventure in Mercury Editor Nancy March's blog post on the subject.)

(Now that I've plugged her blog, I feel no guilt in pilfering some of her photos from last year!)

This is some of the stuff we pulled out of the park.

“What sets the Schuylkill Scrub apart is how it fits into anyone’s schedule,” said Tom Davidock, coordinator of the Schuylkill Action Network. “Instead of a single, one-day event, we have dozens spread across two months and more than five counties.”

Participating in the Schuylkill Scrub will help to provide clean drinking water for almost 2 million people, beautify local communities, and sustain healthy fish and wildlife. It will also help environmental leaders track the progress of anti-litter campaigns at the local, regional, and national levels. This is because all cleanups will automatically be registered with both Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful.

Boss lady Nancy March at work.

“Volunteers cleaned up over 600 miles of Pennsylvania’s shoreline and waterways last year — roughly a three-fold increase over 2011,” said Michelle Dunn, program coordinator for the Great American Cleanup of PA. “This would not be possible without campaigns like the Schuylkill Scrub and the volunteers they rally to our cause.”

The Schuylkill Scrub was founded in 2010 by the Green Valleys Association and the Hay Creek Watershed Association, both of greater Pottstown, Pennsylvania.

The Schuylkill River travels 130 miles through southeastern Pennsylvania. 

The land draining to this river spans approximately 2,000 square miles surrounding the riverside cities of Philadelphia, Norristown, Pottstown, Reading, Pottsville and more.

Information and online registration is available at SchuylkillScrub.org, or by calling Tom Davidock of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary at (800) 445-4935, extension 109.

River Votes

This winning photo was captioned: "Two Bucks."

Congratulations Carol, whoever you are.

The votes are in and this shot, submitted by "Carol" from Pottstown, was the First Place winner in the "Wild and Scenic" category of the "Schuylkill Shots Photo Contest," put on by the Schuylkill Action Network.

The winning photos can be viewed on the organization's web page, or here on Flickr, or here on their Facebook page.

Here are few others I like:

Now if you're sorry you missed a chance to vote on your favorite river photo, and you should be faithful readers given that I have you a heads up in this Nov. 24 post, now is your chance to cast your vote the entire river.

Thanks to the same folks at the Schuylkill Action Network, I'm able to alert you to an ongoing vote for Pennsylvania's River of the Year

You can vote by clicking here.

This is the description for the Schuylkill Ballot:

The 128-mile Schuylkill River touches countryside and urban life as it flows from Pennsylvania’s Coal Region into the City of Philadelphia.

From the American Revolution, to the Industrial Revolution and Environmental Revolution, the Schuylkill has always played a central role in Pennsylvania’s story, and in Philadelphia’s growth as a city. What was a dead river in the mid-1900s is now home to more than 40 species of fish and a wide variety of other wildlife thanks to improved water treatment systems, watershed education programs and other cleanup measures.

Since 1992, the Schuylkill River Development Corporation (SRDC) has worked in a public-private partnership, along with the City of Philadelphia, to coordinate, plan and implement economic, recreational, environmental and cultural improvements and tourism initiatives on the lower tidal Schuylkill River. Through the years, the City has acquired and reclaimed former industrial properties and brownfields along the Schuylkill, making it possible for SRDC to steadily transform this abandoned no-man’s land into a continuous greenway to be enjoyed by all.

The Schuylkill Banks greenway and connecting trails create a riparian buffer between the Schuylkill River and bordering sites, helping to manage stormwater runoff into the river and mitigate flooding during storms while providing an ideal spot for outdoor recreation.

If selected for River of the Year, SRDC will continue to offer basic and specialty kayak tours, including a half hour of training and an hour on the water. SRDC will also continue our annual outdoor movie series and other special events, including the Philly Fun Fishing Fest. SRDC is also working towards a new and improved educational “Secrets of the Schuylkill” riverboat tour series, as well as a riverboat tour to Bartram’s Garden—the country’s oldest botanic garden—within the coming year.

Our competition is paltry, laughable, inferior I say. Here's a look and edited versions of the state's descriptions.

The Kiskiminetas

The Kiskiminetas. What kind of name is that
for a self-respecting river?

The Kiskiminetas River is formed in Saltsburg by the confluence of the Conemaugh River and Loyalhanna Creek. It flows northwest in a meandering course past Avonmore, Apollo, and Leechburg to join the Allegheny River near Freeport

Eight boating access points have been installed to enable the public to use the rivers, and three liveries rent canoes and kayaks to thousands of people each year.

If selected for River of the Year, the StrongLand Chamber Foundation will do some of the “tried and true” programs as in the past, working with municipalities, historic societies and points-of-interest organizations. In addition the StrongLand Chamber will organize an environmental laboratory project to check and document the river’s clean-up. They also would plan to add river signage and produce an interpretive guide for the river to
help people from outside the region appreciate local history and points of interest, so that they will want to return to this great resource.

The Swartara 

The Swatara Creek flows for 72 miles through Schuylkill, Lebanon, and Dauphin Counties.

This one is practically a Schuylkill tributary, the key

word being "tribute."

Remnants of the 1791 Union Canal stretch 77 miles from Reading to Middletown along the Swatara, linking the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays through the Schuylkill and Susquehanna Rivers. The north portal of the canal has been restored, preserving the oldest hand dug tunnel in the US for future visitors. 

With 25 years of experience, the Swatara Creek Watershed Association has a history of delivering on promises. The organization has a track record of successful river cleanups, river stakeholder convening, and public education events. The Swatara Creek Watershed Association has been instrumental in the creation and promotion of the Swatara Water Trail.

If selected for River of the Year, the Swatara Creek Watershed Association will organize a diverse series of events to highlight the creek. These include the annual sojourn, additional paddling opportunities, an art show highlighting the creek, and events associated with Lebanon County’s 200th anniversary and the role that the Swatara has played in history

The Juniata

The main stem of the Juniata River flows for 94 miles from the Borough of Huntingdon to the Susquehanna River near Amity Hall.

Sorry, this one just sounds boring.

While significant improvements have been made since baseline measurements in 2002, more work is still needed to meet pollution goals. The Juniata Clean Water Partnership (JCWP) has implemented projects such as installing streambank fencing, improving riparian buffers, and conducting education and outreach.

If selected for river of the year, the Juniata Clean Water Partnership and the Little Juniata River Association will plan a celebration of these rivers past and future recovery. In addition to the annual sojourn, these groups want to offer other opportunities for recreation on the water. Fields days with fly fishing instruction and biking excursions along a parallel rail-trail are in the works. A watershed summit will give groups and stakeholders an opportunity to hatch plans for future water quality improvements.

If selected for River of the Year, JCWP will host a 6 day sojourn on the river and plan festivals in the small towns along its banks. JCWP will partner with historical societies to promote the area’s history, especially the canal, railroad, and French and Indian War. Finally, JCWP will plan water related education to children of need to increase the awareness of the importance of clean water to the health of a community.

The Lackawana

The Lackawanna River is a 40.8-mile-long tributary of the Susquehanna River in northeastern Pennsylvania in the United States. It flows through a region of the northern Pocono Mountains that was once a center of anthracite coal mining in the United States.

For years, the Lackawanna has been a neglected river. However, with the conservation efforts of Lackawanna County and other organizations, water quality and wildlife have returned.

Personally, I find the Lackawanna lacking

in what it takes to be a River of the Year,

But hey, that's just me.

The Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority and the Rail Trail Council of Northeast PA (NEPA RTC) have worked to make the river a focal point of the communities it passes.

When complete the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail will connect with the Delaware & Hudson Rail-Trail to create a 70 mile long recreation trail along the Lackawanna River. Approximately 50 miles are open and more should be completed this spring.

If selected for River of the Year, Riverside Elementary WEST will partner with Lackawanna County, Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority, and the Lackawanna River Corridor Association to showcase the river through the Great Riverside Cleanup, a sojourn paddling trip, a bike tour, and through topical lectures.

The Monongahela

The Monongahela River flows gracefully through the hills of the Allegheny Plateau in southwestern Pennsylvania and northcentral West Virginia for 129 miles from the confluence of the West Fork and Tygart Valley Rivers in Fairmont, West Virginia to meet with the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh.

I consider this the river to beat. After all people,

it's in Pittsburgh! Where's our Philly pride? We can't

let them win. It would be like the Pirates beating the Phillies.

The years of coal mines and steel mills took their toll on the river; however, the Mon has achieved improvements in water quality in recent decades, as evidenced in its increased recreational use. With an extensive lock and dam system still in use, this river is an example of both industrial and recreational purposes coexisting side by side.

The Brownsville Area Revitalization Corporation (BARC) is working to revitalize this former coal mining community by connecting the people to the river. With the help of a coalition of partners, BARC is spearheading the design and implementation of the Mid Mon River water trail map to promote recreational use of the Mid Mon River, and fill the gap between the existing Three Rivers and Upper Mon maps.

If selected for River of the Year, BARC will work with the River Town Program to host walking/paddling tours of the towns along the river to share the local stories of the growth, decline, and lasting environmental impacts of the industrial era on the river. BARC will work to extend a new welcome and way finding sign program to better promote the river. Existing river-related events that occur in the six communities participating in the Mon River Town Program will be coordinated to celebrate the River of the Year.

Capturing the Scenic Schuylkill on Film

One of the finalists in the "Wild & Scenic" category is from Pottstown.
This photo is called "Two Bucks Hiding in the Woods."

Regular Digital Notebook readers may remember a July post in which photographers were invited to submit their favorite photos of the Schuylkill River.

Well people did just that and now it's time to judge the entries and you are the judge.

Sponsored by the Schuylkill Action Network, the entries can be viewed by clicking here.

You can vote more than once, but only once every 24 hours.

And one finalist, in the "Tip-Top-Tap" category
is from Phoenixville.

Winners will receive a $300 gift provided by one of three sponsors.

These include the Philadelphia Water Department, Calumet Photo, and REI.  

Other prizes include $100 gift cards for second place and $50 gift cards for honorable mention. 

The categories include Wild & Scenic, Fun on the Schuylkill, and Tip Top Tap.

“Many people only see the river from cars while driving over bridges or past refineries,” said Tom Davidock, Schuylkill Action Network coordinator at the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary.  

“What they don’t see are the forests, fun seekers, and wildlife; all of it made possible by water clean enough to quench the thirst of most Philadelphians.”

Help Find the Hidden River, Win Money While You're At It

The Strawberry Mansion Bridge over the Schuylkill

A river once described as "foul," "chemically poisonous" and, of all things, "unhappy," leads a much happier life today.

Our own Schuylkill River, however, still suffers from a bum rap.

The folks at the Schuylkill Action Network want to change all that. So they've issued a challenge.

In order to showcase the beauty, fun, and purity of the Schuylkill River they have launched the Schuylkill Shots Photography Contest.

To get everyone in the right frame of mind, I have borrowed a few from Google Images to give you a sense of the possibilities.

The Schuylkill outside Schuylkill Haven

Winners will receive a $300 gift provided by one of three sponsors.

These include the Philadelphia Water Department, Calumet Photo, and REI.  

Other prizes include $100 gift cards for second place and $50 gift cards for honorable mention.

Photographers of any age and skill level can submit up to nine pictures, or three per category.


These categories include Wild & Scenic, Fun on the Schuylkill, and Tip Top Tap.

“Many people only see the river from cars while driving over bridges or past refineries,” said Tom Davidock, Schuylkill Action Network coordinator at the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary.  

The river in Berks County.

“What they don’t see are the forests, fun seekers, and wildlife; all of it made possible by water clean enough to quench the thirst of most Philadelphians.”

The deadline for entries is Oct. 30.  This gives photographers four months and two seasons to capture what artists have tried to depict for centuries.  

During this time, those who follow the SAN on Facebook can watch and comment on each entry as it is uploaded to the Internet.

A panel of judges affiliated with the SAN will select 10 finalists per category by Nov. 15. 

Shooting the 'Chute'

The public will then have one month to vote for their favorites. It is those votes that will determine the winner.

The Schuylkill Action Network is a collaboration of agencies, companies, individuals, and nonprofit organizations founded in 2003 to help clean up the Schuylkill River and the many waterways flowing into it.  

The SAN does this by collaborating on projects in Berks, Chester, Montgomery, Philadelphia, and Schuylkill counties, among others.  In this way it helps to protect nearly 2 million Pennsylvanians, all of whom depend on these waterways for safe drinking water. 

Casting a line at Philly's Farmount Dam

 Since 2003, the SAN has grown to include dozens of local, private, and public members, in addition to its five founders: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 3; Philadelphia Water Department; Delaware River Basin Commission; Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary.

The Schuylkill River travels 130 miles through the cities of Pottsville, Reading, Pottstown, Norristown, and Philadelphia.   

The Saturday Evening Post once described it as “foul,” “chemically poisonous,” and “unhappy,” but much has changed since this 1949 article about coal mines.  

The Flat Rock Rapids

So much has changed that, in 1978, it was the first river included in the state’s Scenic Rivers Program.  

Today the Schuylkill is a source of drinking water for millions of people and a critical source of fresh water for the Delaware River and Bay.