On April 23, Gov. Tom Wolf was joined by state officials and clean water advocates for the signing of Senate Bill 9 (Yaw-R-Lycoming), designating the Eastern hellbender as Pennsylvania’s state amphibian.
Sponsored by Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, the bill was championed through the legislative process by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Student Leadership Council to generate greater awareness of the importance of clean waterways in the Commonwealth and Rep. Garth Everett (R-Lycoming) and Rep. Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland) in the House.
Peter Petokas, Ph.D., Amphibian Conservation Biologist at Lycoming College and faculty member of the College’s Clean Water Institute, and his research was also instrumental in making the Eastern Hellbender designation.
“Today’s ceremony is about more than a declaration of an official state amphibian. It’s about reaffirming our commitment to protecting our waters in Pennsylvania,” said Gov. Tom Wolf. “Clean water is critical for the hellbender and we need to continue to do our part to improve water quality in the commonwealth so that the state first amphibian can thrive.”
For more than two years, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s student leaders spearheaded efforts to recognize the Eastern hellbender and create greater awareness of the largest salamander in North America’s role in demonstrating the critical need to reduce pollution in Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams.
“I want to thank the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and also acknowledge the hard work of the Foundation’s Student Leadership Program,” said Gov. Wolf. “The voices of students can clearly make a difference here in Harrisburg.”
“As the governor indicated, this bill is more than just about naming a new symbol for our state,” Sen. Gene Yaw said. “It’s about fostering youth involvement in the legislative process, and championing an issue through that process. It’s about advocating for clean water in Pennsylvania and promoting conservation programs that improve water quality for all of our species.
“The uniqueness of the hellbender and its contribution to aquatic biological diversity are adequate justifications for this remarkable designation,” said Sen. Yaw. “I applaud Governor Wolf for recognizing the importance of the hellbender to our state, and also for affirming for our young citizens that they can make a difference if they get involved in the governmental process.”
The Eastern hellbender is a nocturnal salamander that can grow more than two feet long. They can be found in cold, clear, swift-running rivers and streams of the Susquehanna watershed. They prefer rocky streambeds with crevices, which they use for protection and for nesting sites.
But the loss of forested buffers along these waterways is resulting in warmer waters and silted streambeds, degrading their habitat and decimating their numbers in streams where they were plentiful as recently as 1990.
“As much as this effort has been about the hellbender and clean water, it’s also a story about the creativity and passion of these leaders,” said Harry Campbell, Executive Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA.
“It is my hope that other student leaders across the commonwealth may be inspired by our work. That they too will take action on behalf of the hellbender and clean water in the commonwealth. Making change is possible, no matter your age. All you need is dedication, support, and of course, a worthy cause,” said Emma Stone, President, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Pennsylvania Student Leadership Council.
“Today is a victory not only for hellbenders and clean water, but also for the power of student voices. It has been a remarkable experience to witness the growth and dedication of our student leaders as they tirelessly pursued this designation over the last few years. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation would like to thank Governor Wolf, Senator Yaw, and all the legislators who supported both the hellbender and our student leaders,” said Emily Thorpe, Pennsylvania Student Leadership Coordinator, Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
“I am proud to have introduced a companion bill to Sen. Yaw’s and am happy that this legislation has made its way to the governor’s desk,” said Rep. Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland). “Earlier this year students from Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School came to me to talk about officially making the Eastern Hellbender our state’s amphibian. I was impressed not only by these young people and their leadership, but also how the hellbender serves as an indicator of water quality. The hellbender is quite sensitive to poor water quality and pollution, so its presence in the state’s waterways helps us gauge how clean that water is.”
More information about the campaign for the Eastern Hellbender, go to CBF’s Hellbender webpage.
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