Clean Water & Public Access to Waterways

Author: Erica Baugh

On May 3 & 4, 2019, Upstream Alliance co-hosted two paddles promoting clean water and public access to the Delaware River and its tributaries.

The Mayor’s Paddle

On May 3, 2019, Camden, New Jersey’s Mayor Frank Moran hosted the city’s leaders in government, business and civic community in “The Mayor’s Paddle.” Thirty-two people kayaked the Back Channel and the Cooper River and toured Petty’s Island.

Camden is a city of industry that now hopes to reclaim some of its bucolic past. Specifically, it dreams of an eight-mile greenway along its river and a water trail with public access.

Mayor Moran remarks “It was important that as an urban city we showcase our natural jewels,” Mayor Moran said. “We’re creating awareness of access, and more importantly involving folks enjoy the natural beauty of what Camden really is.”

Rep. Donald Norcross (D-1st District), who represents Camden in the U.S. Congress, was among the paddlers. He said creating access to the river provides an opportunity for his constituents to see their hometown in a new way.

“We only see things from the land side and it’s a great chance to see them from the water side.”  He added that on the outing “the wildlife that was running through—it was just wonderful.”

The Cooper River winds through several communities, but for the most part residents haven’t had access to it.

Camden County Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez noted, “We have all this amazing waterfront here, but we couldn’t use it. We really didn’t know it existed,” said Camden County Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez. “To bring it to life, to bring it to our children so they can enjoy the nature that is right there, just two blocks from where they live—it’s absolutely amazing.”

State Senator Nilsa-Cruz Perez echoed those sentiments.

“Hopefully, we can make this happen, so that people in the community can enjoy the beauty back here,” she said.

Paddling for Clean Water

On May 4, 2019, the William Penn Foundation hosted thirty-four paddlers in support of safe swimming and great fishing for the Delaware River and all 25,000 miles of tributary streams. The group kayaked the Delaware River from Pyne Poynt to Palmyra Cove with representatives of the government, public utilities, and environmental communities.

Camden and neighboring Philadelphia both have visions of Delaware River in which people can swim and fish without fear of contamination or ill health. In many places today, the Delaware is far from such a condition.

Nate Boon of the William Penn Foundation organizes kayak outings that get people on the water to see what’s happening first hand. In this one, participants observed “Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) areas,” where sewage flows directly into the river during heavy rainfall.

He notes, “We got to witness first-hand a legacy of unchecked pollution and an intensely industrialized waterfront,” he said. “But these barriers are dwarfed by the energy, expertise, and individual and institutional resources that each of us can bring to bear.”

For many, these outings are a way to connect with colleagues from different disciplines who are interested in the same issues. Julie Skierski of the School District of Philadelphia noted “it truly was a breath of fresh air to get out of the office and be reminded of the reasons why collaboration together is so important.”