Scarred by human progress, her history is inextricably tied to the degradation of the Chesapeake Bay. She provides the bay with half its freshwater. But misuse in the 19th and early 20th centuries severely compromised her bounty; two years ago, the nonprofit environmental organization American Rivers named her the nation's most endangered river.

That verdict, however, is not shared by all who have made her acquaintance. Paul O. Swartz, executive director of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), challenged the designation in the June 2005 issue of Bay Journal, a publication of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.

"The facts tell us that, while the Susquehanna River admittedly has its share of serious water quality problems, it is by no means the most endangered," Swartz said.

"Yes, there are localized and some regional water quality problems, but by and large, the water quality of the Susquehanna River is in good condition and continuing to improve."

Swartz pointed to several indicators of the river system's health. "The Susquehanna enjoys the reputation as a world-renowned smallmouth bass fishery. It's also host to recreational outfitters like Endless Mountain Outfitters, Blue Mountain Outfitters and Shank's Mare," he said.

And for Susquehanna University and five other higher education institutions situated along its banks or nearby, the river is a laboratory for study and a repository for hope.

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Over the last two centuries, the Susquehanna has been plagued by a variety of man-made problems, including abandoned mine drainage (AMD) and nutrient runoff. Although not as misused as the Cuyahoga River, which decades ago became the poster child for environmental blight when it literally caught fire, the Susquehanna has had its share of issues.

AMD, which is sometimes called acid mine drainage because of its high acidity level, is the most common form of water pollution in Pennsylvania and other states where large-scale mining operations took place. AMD's high acidity and excessive sulfate levels, combined with sediment build-up and high metal concentrations, make a toxic brew for fish and aquatic insects. A stream affected by AMD typically has a characteristic rust color from its exposure to pyrite in the coal.

Nutrient runoff is a form of nonpoint source pollution, meaning its origins cannot be pinpointed. It is the result of such actions as land development, agricultural operations and wastewater treatment. These human activities become harmful to watersheds when rainwater carries nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment from streets, lawns and tilled fields into neighboring streams.

The economic implications of this neglect are huge. Based on estimates from 2000, Swartz said the cost of undoing only the effects of abandoned mine drainage in Pennsylvania will be more than $2.8 billion. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) cost estimate to restore the bay is $27 billion in capital expenditures with an additional $2.7 billion annually, he said.

Nevertheless, Swartz and others are somewhat sanguine about the river's future, based on progress already made. And instead of "most endangered," Swartz has proposed a different designation for the river - "a crown jewel under stress." It is a description he borrowed from Cathy Curran Myers, Pennsylvania's alternative SRBC commissioner. With less than 15 percent of the watershed included on the EPA's dirty-water list, Myers concluded that "the Susquehanna sends the cleanest water of any tributary to the Chesapeake Bay, but it is not clean enough."

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) says Pennsylvania could generate $70 million in annual revenues just from sport fishing if its waterways, including the Susquehanna, are restored to their optimum health. Capitalizing on the rich heritages of communities along the river could produce even more revenue.

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