PRINTER'S NO. 3652
No. 725 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY SWANGER, GINGRICH, COX, SEIP, BEYER, CONKLIN,
DALEY, FRANKEL, GALLOWAY, GIBBONS, GILLESPIE, HENNESSEY,
HERSHEY, KORTZ, KULA, MILLARD, MURT, MUSTIO, PALLONE,
PHILLIPS, SAINATO, SAYLOR, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, THOMAS AND
YOUNGBLOOD, MAY 2, 2008
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MAY 2, 2008
A RESOLUTION
1 Urging the United States Geological Survey to support the
2 application of the Swatara Creek Watershed Association to
3 officially change the name of the Swatara Creek to the
4 Swatara River.
5 WHEREAS, The dictionary defines a river as a body of water
6 that is fed by tributaries and empties into a larger body of
7 water; and
8 WHEREAS, The Swatara Creek meets this definition of a river;
9 and
10 WHEREAS, The Swatara Creek flows through four counties in the
11 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Berks, Dauphin, Lebanon and
12 Schuylkill, and 46 municipalities, then empties into the
13 Susquehanna River and eventually into the Chesapeake Bay; and
14 WHEREAS, Seventy-one miles in length and covering more than
15 570 square miles of south-central Pennsylvania, the Swatara
16 Creek is fed by the Upper, Lower and Little Swatara Creeks as
17 well as the Quittapahilla, Manada, Boe and other creeks such as
1 Trout Run; and
2 WHEREAS, Previously, the 50-mile-long Conestoga Creek in the
3 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was named the Conestoga River; and
4 WHEREAS, Other rivers in this Commonwealth are smaller than
5 the Swatara Creek; and
6 WHEREAS, Those rivers are tributaries to the Delaware River
7 and include:
8 (1) the Lackawaxen River, which is approximately 25
9 miles long;
10 (2) the West Branch, which is approximately 15 miles
11 long; and
12 (3) the Christina River, which is approximately 35 miles
13 long;
14 and
15 WHEREAS, Since the 1700s, the Swatara Creek has been listed
16 as a navigable river on maps; and
17 WHEREAS, Still navigable by small craft, the Swatara Sojourn
18 is held annually on the Swatara Creek; and
19 WHEREAS, The Swatara Creek is a working river with several
20 water companies relying on withdrawal to service business,
21 industry and the citizens of the watershed; and
22 WHEREAS, The Swatara Creek is the lifeblood of many
23 communities and is integral to public health and safety; and
24 WHEREAS, Because of its name, the Swatara Creek may have been
25 overlooked on being named "River of the Year" for the
26 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and
27 WHEREAS, In several instances, the Swatara Creek determines
28 several political boundaries, including:
29 (1) between Jonestown Borough and Swatara and Union
30 Townships;
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1 (2) between East Hanover and North Annville and North
2 Londonderry Townships;
3 (3) between East Hanover and Derry Townships;
4 (4) between South Hanover and Swatara Townships and
5 Hummelstown Borough;
6 (5) between Lower Swatara and Londonderry Township; and
7 (6) between Middletown and Royalton Boroughs in Dauphin
8 County;
9 and
10 WHEREAS, As previously discussed at meetings, on January 17,
11 2008, an application was completed with the United States
12 Geological Survey to request a name change from the Swatara
13 Creek to the Swatara River; therefore be it
14 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
15 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the United States Geological
16 Survey to support the application of the Swatara Creek Watershed
17 Association to officially change the name of the Swatara Creek
18 to the Swatara River.
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