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American Heritage Rivers Updates
Volume 3 Number 1
January 2000
The year 2000 is now a reality, and for the American Heritage Rivers Initiative, the future is bright! The past year was exciting, as the initiative got up and running. This year will be even more so, as river communities and partners (governmental and private) work together on hundreds of projects to improve the lives and livelihoods of people and communities throughout the United States.
This update highlights several recent events that merit attention. For further updates on specific, designated rivers, click on:
BLACKSTONE-WOONASQUATUCKET,
CONNECTICUT, CUYAHOGA,
DETROIT, HANALEI,
HUDSON, MISSISSIPPI,
LOWER , MISSISSIPPI, UPPER,
NEW, POTOMAC,
RIO GRANDE, ST.
JOHNS, UPPER SUSQUEHANNA-LACKAWANNA,
WILLAMETTE.
In this update:
- AHR Roundtable in Hartford
- St. Johns River Signing Ceremony
- Interagency Committee Deputies Meet
***
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Getting to Know Each Other: AHR Roundtable in Hartford:
The American Heritage Rivers Initiative has provided several opportunities for river communities to meet together, share information and discuss issues of mutual concern. The first was a national symposium, held in Atlanta, GA in October 1998. In June 1999 a five-day training session was held in Washington DC. In September a workshop focused on ways to increase private participation and support for river projects.
Participants in AHR Hartford Roundtable, Nov. 1999
Most recently, about 50 AHR Community Partners, River Navigators and other colleagues met in Hartford, Conn. Nov. 18-20 for a New England-style "Roundtable," co-hosted by the Connecticut, Hudson and Blackstone-Woonasquatucket Rivers.
The subject was the future, and how to make the initiative more effective in meeting community needs. The Community Partners discussed a national non-profit organization, the American Heritage Rivers Alliance, that could aid all of the nominated or designated rivers. Their first collective project may be a Public Television documentary series on all the rivers. Meanwhile, River Navigators examined how to get more support for their projects from federal agencies and other sources.
Blackstone-Woonasquatucket River Navigator Johanna Hunter, facilitates a Roundtable discussion with, clockwise from front center, Patrick Woodie, New River; Willamette River Navigator Paul Jeske; video producer Tom Lowe of Eagle Productions; Bess Gillelan, NOAA, Washington DC; Leonard Carlin, Economic Development Council of North East Pennsylvania; Becky Champion, Chattahoochee River, GA; and Upper Susquehanna-Lackawanna River Navigator Alex Rogers.
Educational sessions featured representatives of federal and state agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Small Business Administration and Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office. Several nonprofit groups were represented, including River Network and Water Keepers Alliance. Other speakers included Connecticut Representatives John Larson and Sam Gejdenson. At a reception sponsored by the Fleet Bank, Connecticut Senators Joe Lieberman and Chris Dodd presented video statements expressing their support for the American Heritage Rivers Initiative.
Joe Marfuggi, (second from right), director
of Hartford's "Riverfront Recapture," led a tour showing how his group
has worked for over nearly two decades to improve public access to the
Connecticut River. Cut off in the 1960's and 1970's by urban renewal and
interstate highways, the river is being revived with new parks and greenways
along its banks. In foreground, from left, is Whitty Sanford and Peg McDonough,
Connecticut River Watershed Council; Steve Davis, Cuyahoga River Navigator,
Lucy Miller, HUD Cleveland, and far right, Becky Champion, Chattahoochee
River, GA.
- Pledging Support: St. Johns River Hosts Signing Ceremony
Although not a required part of the initiative, many river communities have developed partnership agreements with their federal agency partners. Several signing ceremonies were held last year to put such agreements into place. These included the Rio Grande, Willamette, Connecticut and Blackstone-Woonasquatucket Rivers.
The most recent ceremony was on December 15 along the banks of the St. Johns River. There, a crimson sunset, haunting blues music and a feast of wild game were among the special treats enjoyed by more than 100 people who came together to witness the signing of their agreement. Held at a State park near Deland, Fl, north of Orlando, the ceremony was presided over by Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney, chair of the St. Johns Steering Committee. Also attending was Loretta Neumann, director of the American Heritage Rivers Initiative from Washington DC. Henry Dean, Executive Director of the St. Johns River Water Management District, spoke and introduced local officials.
EPA Regional Administrator John Hankinson led the signing for the federal government, introducing representatives from 10 federal agencies who pledged their support for the AHR Initiative. Members of the steering committee, three basin advisory committees and general public joined in signing the agreement.
Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney holds light as National Park
Service Regional Director Jerry Belson signs St. Johns agreement
- Working Together: Interagency Committee Meets, Plans Support for Rivers
Executive Order 13061 established a 13 member Interagency Committee,
chaired by the chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality. The Committee
meets twice a year; its next meeting will be in March. Their principal
deputies meet every other month, and a working group of professionals
meets twice monthly. This helps assure efficiency and accountability and,
most important, that the needs of river communities are met.
The most recent meeting of the principal deputies was held on December
9, 1999. They heard from St. Johns River Navigator Barbara Elkus and New
River Community Partners Executive Director Patrick Woodie who presented
recommendations generated from the Hartford Roundtable. They also discussed
ways that agencies can give more support to the rivers.
Brian Castelli from the Department of Energy, second from left, speaks at AHR Principal Deputies Meeting Dec. 9. Other agencies included the Departments of Interior, Transportation, Education, Agriculture, and Commerce, NEA, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, GSA, and EPA. Special guests included John Bernal, International Boundary and Water Commissioner from ElPaso, TX,.
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