Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Podcast

Jan. 6, 2026 -- Founder and longtime president of the Chillisquaque/Limestone Watershed Association, Tom Benfer talks about the significance of the tributary, the numerous projects tackled to improve water quality (from trash pickups that hauled hundreds of thousands of pounds of litter and thousands of tires away from Chillisquaque Creek to macroinvertebrate studies and streambank restoration efforts) and also discusses the dwindling number of volunteers available for projects as members passed away and the struggle to get new people involved.

Join Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky as he checks out a segment of each of the 30 songs that made it on our special 2-disc 2025 Greatest Hits Songs of the Susquehanna album this year. The CD is now available for purchase and we are accepting submissions for 2026.

Susquehanna River Basin Commission Executive Director Andrew Dehoff and the commission's Surface Water Supervisor Mike College talk about the spike in data center interest in the greater watershed and what that could mean for the greater watershed. The discussion includes what data centers are, why they use so much water and what alternatives can be for cooling.

Williamsport Municipal Water Authority Environmental Manager Cheryl Terpak, Lycoming College's Dr. Leslie Rieck and former student and current water authority worker Ben Fry discuss a unique collaborative effort to map 360 city stormwater outfalls and what we should learn from that work.

A geologist with the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, Graham Marcowicz is highly interested in hydrology and working on new tools such as GIS mapping to look at groundwater recharge. He shares about that and other important aspects of his work.

A rising senior at West Virginia University and resident of the Montoursville area of our watershed, Maggie Yonkin is a huge advocate of environmental education. She shares her back story, tips for making a difference and the therapy she appreciates from our natural resources.

Hoping to inspire curiosity and self-worth among young people she works with, Abbie Mack is serving as one of our interns this summer. She shares the inspiration behind her fascination with nature and especially bugs, how she chose Susquehanna University and the importance of pursuing your passion.

A resident of the Gaza Strip along the Mediterranean Sea, Ibrahim Alqassass is currently majoring in computer science at Susquehanna University and serving as an intern this summer. He shares details about his past, desires to combine environmental work and tech and suggests how young people can make a difference.

Rising Susquehanna University junior Caley Treat, from the Bloomsburg area, will be an intern with the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association this summer. She shares details about how she first fell in love with nature, decided to attend Susquehanna University and tips for making a difference at home.

Program Coordinator for the Susquehanna County Conservation District, Don Hibbard has a longstanding experience in providing a wide variety of services to protect and improve our natural resources. He chats about his background, the importance of environmental education and how people can make a difference.