The Guardian Newsletter

Spring 2026

A Steady Current

Executive Director Message

Andrew D. Dehoff, P.E.

Every year when we assemble our annual report, I’m struck by the same thought: how much a small agency can accomplish when its people are deeply committed to the work.

With fewer than 65 staff, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission continues to take on complex, evolving challenges across the basin — and to do so thoughtfully, consistently, and with purpose. We've never been...

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Cool Collaboration

Penn State University (PSU) professor Dr. Daniel Allen, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, recently contacted us about a research project one of his PhD students is doing using eDNA (environmental DNA) metabarcoding techniques to develop a way to assess stream macroinvertebrate communities.

SRBC scientists have been leading the way in eDNA monitoring in the basin and were immediately excited to partner. The new collaboration with PSU will be spearheaded by SRBC Aquatic Biologist Luanne Steffy. The research project will incorporate our Continuous Instream Monitoring (CIM) network, which has 10-15 years of routine macroinvertebrate sample data to reference.

SRBC staff will continue to collect macroinvertebrate samples as part of our normal spring sampling, while both Commission and PSU staff collect eDNA samples. By the end of spring, the teams will have 50 paired traditional macroinvertebrate samples with triplicate eDNA samples from sites across the Susquehanna River Basin. This is an excellent opportunity to leverage our CIM network for novel research, while cultivating a strong partnership.

Learn more about our eDNA work related to aquatic invasive species by checking out the story map below.

Steffy wearing an eDNA backpack during sampling

eDNA Story Map

2025 Annual Report Released

We recently published our 2025 Annual Report, highlighting key work in water resource management, scientific monitoring, watershed restoration, drought coordination and so much more. The report can be viewed as an easy to click through slideshow or you may download a PDF version. We hope you'll find our report both informative and inspiring!

Go To Report

Final Salinization Report Published

Our scientists recently wrapped up Phase III of a study examining the effects of road salt and brine applications on freshwater streams. The study looked at chloride concentrations and land use at 10 sites in New York and Pennsylvania. This final stage focused on capturing winter storm samples and analyzing impacts to aquatic animal and plant life. The report, authored by Luanne Steffy and Johanna Hripto, is now available on our website.

Go To Report

Winter Sampling on Trout Run

Funding the Future

The Commission is a recent proud recipient of a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant that supports water quality improvement efforts in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The grant will help fill technical and capacity gaps for the Conowingo Watershed Implementation Plan (CWIP).

Funding will be used to hire a coordinator to oversee activity aimed at accelerating water quality improvements in the Susquehanna River Basin. Keep an eye on our website for a future request for assistance!

Creek Restoration Fun!

For the third year in a row, SRBC staff joined the Upper Susquehanna Coalition (USC) as they continue work restoring Butternut Creek in Morris, NY. The creek runs through Morris Central School property, and each year on Earth Day, high schoolers help us move the restoration forward. The students got to practice macroinvertebrate collecting and interpreting, while our scientists performed a water sampling demonstration and took field chemistry readings. Despite the cold weather, the students also helped USC staff plant trees and repair tree tubes that got damaged over the winter months.

Butternut Creek is an important and valued stream with an active watershed association in the upper Susquehanna. We're happy to play a small part in protecting it!

Students planting trees and collecting macroinvertebrates on Butternut Creek

Podcasts, Publications & Presentations

To celebrate Chesapeake Bay Week, Maryland Public Television produced the series "Lifeblood: Chesapeake River Stories" that examines the waterways that shape and sustain the Bay's landscapes and communities.

In one segment - What's Stopping These Eels from Reaching Our Rivers? - SRBC Fisheries Biologist Aaron Henning's eel restoration work, including our Eels in the Classroom program, is highlighted!

Watch Here

As proposed data centers continue to make headlines throughout the basin, the Commission remains committed to education of both their potential and actual water usage.

We've created a data centers & water use landing page where you can learn more about our involvement including our regulations.

Go To New Webpage

We also recently joined our partners at the Delaware River Basin Commission and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin to host an informational webinar. It explores how water factors into data center development, why it matters for our communities, and the role of interstate River Basin Commissions.

Watch Webinar

Flexing Our "Mussels"

In recent years, we’ve been flexing our “mussels” as the coordinator for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Freshwater Mussel Partnership. This initiative brings together regional stakeholders to advocate for the conservation and restoration of critical mussel populations throughout the basin. We host monthly steering committee meetings, provide technical support to restoration projects, tour mussel hatcheries, curate an online document library, and partake in outreach events.

Building on this leadership, SRBC staff collaborated with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) in late summer 2025 to launch the Commission's first dedicated freshwater mussel surveys. Using the Conodoguinet and Swatara Creek watersheds as pilot sites, our staff underwent specialized training in visual survey techniques - including snorkeling and view-scope assessments - and mussel identification under WPC’s expert guidance.

The pilot program yielded significant results. Mussels were identified at 13 of the 15 surveyed sites. Staff documented several species including the Rainbow, Eastern Floater, Creeper and the Eastern Elliptio, which was identified as the most prevalent species by a significant margin.

Another big headline recently came when, for the first time, freshwater mussel conservation targets were specifically called for in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. The partnership will play an integral role supporting the Chesapeake Bay Program work groups charged with tracking these targets.

We’ve also developed a comprehensive list of native freshwater mussels for the watershed. Of the 20 taxa in the region, 25% have global conservation status ranked as Critically Imperiled (2 species) or Imperiled (3 species).

Looking ahead, we are committed to expanding these efforts. By continuing to partner with local and regional organizations, the Commission aims to scale its monitoring programs and address data gaps for these vital, yet often under-documented, aquatic organisms.

Glochidia adapted to mimic prey

Researchers use dive masks, snorkels &

view scopes to find mussels

Unique Evolutionary Adaptation

Glochidia are the fertilized gametes of freshwater mussels that must undergo a period of parasitism, typically within a fish host, in order to complete life cycle development. The females of many freshwater mussel species have specialized tissue that mimics prey favored by their hosts. The host, attracted by the alluring mimic, attempts to eat the “prey” but instead receives a batch of tiny glochidia that infest its gill, fin or skin tissue. The host is seldom harmed by this parasitic relationship. The freshwater mussel then undergoes vital transformation and, after several weeks, is transported some distance from its mother where, if the environmental conditions in its new setting are suitable, a new or expanded community will result.