Rep. RoseMarie Swanger
102nd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(717) 277-2101

(717) 787-2686

Contact: Scott B. Little

slittle@pahousegop.com

(717) 260-6137

Member Site: RepSwanger.com

Caucus Site: PAHouseGOP.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 27, 2008

Swanger Legislation Supports Swatara Creek Name Change

HARRISBURG - A House resolution urging the United States Geological Survey to change the name of the Swatara Creek to Swatara "River" has been authored by state Rep. RoseMarie Swanger (R-Lebanon). The Swatara Creek Watershed Association originally applied for the name change.

"I am in favor of the switch, as the 'Swatty' easily falls under the definition of a river," said Swanger. "Changing the name would give this integral part of the Lebanon Valley the statewide recognition it deserves.

"More importantly, had the change taken place, the Swatara might have been named 'River of the Year' in Pennsylvania and been eligible for funding for conservation measures."

A river is defined as a body of water that is fed by tributaries and empties into a larger body of water. The Swatara Creek is fed by a number of other creeks and empties into the Susquehanna River and eventually the Chesapeake Bay.

"The Swatara Creek is 71 miles long, flowing through 46 municipalities and a number of House members' districts," Swanger added. "Size doesn't matter, as there are bodies of water such as the Conestoga River, formerly the Conestoga Creek, that are smaller than the Swatara and are designated as rivers."

The Swatara Creek is heavily relied upon by water companies in Berks, Dauphin, Lebanon and Schuylkill counties to service their communities. It covers 570 square miles and also determines certain political boundaries.

# # #