Pa. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary John C. Oliver will meet with organizers of 12 Pennsylvania river sojourns and the Pennsylvania Organization of Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 30, on City Island in Harrisburg, to kick off two months of paddling on nearly 760 miles of the Commonwealth's rivers.
Secretary Oliver will present a $60,000 "Growing Greener" grant to POWR to oversee the river-awareness trips, which begin Saturday, May 5, and run through Tuesday, June 26. Trips are planned for the Juniata River, Pennsylvania Feature River of the Year 2001; Allegheny River; Chartiers Creek; Clarion River; Delaware River; French Creek; Kiskiminetas and Conemaugh rivers; Lehigh River; Schuylkill River; West Branch of the Susquehanna; Swatara Creek; and Youghiogheny River.
River sojourns are multi-day journeys along a river or stream to bring attention to its environmental, economic and recreational importance to Pennsylvanians. Kayakers, canoers, rafters -- even bicyclists riding along the water -- are encouraged to share in the festivities highlighting the environmental, historical and cultural aspects of the river and its surroundings.
CONTACT: Gretchen A. Leslie, Press Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 717-772-9101.
