Our Vision
To ensure drinkable, fishable, swimmable water on the Lower Susquehanna River and raise community awareness for current and future generations on the ecological and economic value of the Lower Susquehanna Watershed.
Our Mission
Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association is dedicated to improving the ecological health of the Lower Susquehanna River Watershed and the Chesapeake Bay. Current and future citizens of the Lower Susquehanna River Watershed deserve high water quality, wise and sustainable use of all aquatic resources, and preservation of aesthetic value of our waterways. Improvement will come about through education, research, advocacy, and insistence upon compliance with the law.
About Lower Susquehanna RIVERKEEPER®
The Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association (LSRA) was formed to create a network of support and partners for the work of the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper (LSR). The Riverkeeper was licensed by the Waterkeeper Alliance at the request of citizens, including some within government, that thought we needed a stronger advocate for the Susquehanna watershed, an advocate that would hold polluters and the government to task. LSRA is a member of Waterkeeper Alliance and is rooted in the movement for swimmable, drinkable, fishable water.
The Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association is dedicated to the improvement and preservation of the ecology and aesthetic qualities of the Lower Susquehanna and Juniata watersheds. Improvement in water quality will come about through education, research, advocacy, and insistence upon compliance with the law.
The Lower Susquehanna RIVERKEEPER® (LSR) works as an alliance builder, diplomat, and educator, but also, when the situation calls for it, an unrelenting defender and advocate of our right and the river’s right to be healthy and prosperous.
The LSR utilizes education, chemical and biological monitoring, pollution patrols, partnership building, public events, research and legal action to improve the health of the Susquehanna’s waterways. LSR assists the government by reporting non-compliance of the law, and follows through where environmental protection agencies are unable to do their job due to politics or funding issues.
The Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association serves all communities in the Lower Susquehanna and Juniata watersheds, as well as the Chesapeake Bay which includes roughly 4.5 million people.
LSRA relies on its members for support and to be the eyes and ears on the local waterways throughout our large patrol area. LSRA has engaged hundreds of citizens, or “Stewards” on the Susquehanna Rivers and its tributaries regarding issues including coal ash contamination, landfills, plastics and microplastics, CAFOs/slaughterhouses, public access, agricultural pollution, stormwater runoff, Combined Sewer Overflow and bacteria, the requirements of the Chesapeake Total Maximum Daily Load implementation, diseases which effect Smallmouth Bass, fish kills, and the relicensing of Conowingo Dam among other issues.
Our organization is dedicated not only to advocate against pollution but also serves to educate the public, legislators and agencies regarding our work to instill greater support of clean water. Without education and promotion of our work, we would lack the backing we need to make a greater impact on water quality and positive policy changes.
The Lower Susquehanna River, Juniata River and Chesapeake Bay are constantly subjected to further pollution and it’s critical that our organization upholds its duty to advocate, educate and keep polluters accountable in accordance with the law. Without our work, further degradation of our River and tributaries will continue. Our organization does not receive state or federal funding and is sustainable on donations, membership dues and few grants. Ted Evgeniadis serves as the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper and Executive Director for the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association.
Our Team
Ted Evgeniadis – Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper & Executive Director
Devin Winand – Deputy Director
Aaron Dixon – Program Coordinator
Stephanie Lower – Administrative Coordinator
Our Board
LSR has an active board of environmental professionals and enthusiasts dedicated to furthering our mission.
LSRA Annual Reports
Our Partnerships
We often partner to improve the health and quality of Susquehanna communities and waterways. Our partnerships range from local businesses, to nuclear activists, to national public interest law firms.
Get Involved
Volunteer at an event, join our email list, become a member, or report pollution.
Who We Are
Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper(r) Association
The Lower Susquehanna RIVERKEEPER® Association is a non-profit watershed association founded in 2005. SOLS supports the efforts of the Lower Susquehanna RIVERKEEPER®. Our Board of Directors provides guidance to our mission from a range of different perspectives and skill-sets including representatives from varying regions of the watershed.
Connection Between LSRA & Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper®
The Lower Susquehanna RIVERKEEPER® was licensed by the Waterkeeper® Alliance on September 15, 2005. Since that time Lower Susquehanna RIVERKEEPER Association (LSRA),has developed a grassroots supporting organization for the licensed RIVERKEEPER® . LSRA is a certified IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit that operates as a membership-based, mission-driven organization. We are dedicated to improving and protecting the ecological integrity of the Susquehanna Watershed and Chesapeake Bay.
The Lower Susquehanna RIVERKEEPER® program focuses on identifying sources of pollution and enforcing environmental laws. We actively educate the public on current issues, work with decision-makers to emphasize the economic and social benefits of protecting our watershed, and when necessary enforce laws protecting communities and natural resources of the Susquehanna Watershed.
The Lower Susquehanna RIVERKEEPER® program performs “pollution patrols,” random patrols that often turn up violations of law. Similarly, we partner with county conservation districts to address violations at construction, industrial, and agricultural sites.
The Lower Susquehanna RIVERKEEPER® program works on these and other polluting activities:
- wastewater treatment facilities;
- concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs);
- hydropower facility relicensing including sedimentation behind dams & fishery migration;
- Pennsylvania and Maryland’s obligations to cap pollution under the Chesapeake Bay TMDL rule;
- strategies combating pollution from shale gas hydraulic fracturing;
- stronger small farm and wetlands encroachment regulation, issues that account for much of the ecological impairment to the Lower Susquehanna Watershed.
Success is proven time and again by action in the form of fines, dropped permits, and Cease and Desist orders from regulating agencies. Our goal is to become the recognized name in water defense for our region. We hope to lead citizens to action in protecting their watershed, communities, and heritage.
