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Local News

July 9, 2012

Susquehanna River trail gets historic status

The Susquehanna River was one of four water trails designated as new historic connecting components of the existing Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, the state Department of Environmental Conservation recently announced. The historic connecting trail designation will facilitate future access improvements and expand tourism opportunities on the river.

This designation recognizes the significance of the four rivers to the history, cultural heritage and natural resources of the 3,000-mile-long national historic trail in the Chesapeake Bay.

"Designating the Susquehanna River as a connecting trail to the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail will offer enhanced outdoor recreation and tourism opportunities for residents and New York visitors," DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said in a media release. "As a headwater state of the Chesapeake Bay, the DEC is pleased that this designation will support conservation, stewardship, recreation and tourism within the state and the larger bay watershed."

The designation of trail components enables the National Park Service to work closely with state and local agencies and other partners, including conservation organizations, to provide technical and financial assistance, resource management, facility enhancement, interpretive trail route marking and promotion along the connecting trails, the release said.

The other newly designated water trails are the Chester, Upper Nanticoke and Upper James rivers in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware.

Designation of New York's portion of the connecting trail was initiated by the Upper Susquehanna Coalition, which is a local partner made up of Soil and Water Conservation districts in the Southern Tier and northern Pennsylvania, the DEC and the Office of General Services. The DEC's support was led by members of its Chesapeake Bay Watershed Program.

The Susquehanna River connecting trail is a 552-mile system of water trails along the Susquehanna River in New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland, which begins at the headwaters of the Susquehanna River in Cooperstown. The southern end of the trail links directly with the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail at Conowingo, Md.

Congress authorized the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail in 2006 as a series of water routes extending approximately 3,000 miles along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

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