LEBANON COUNTY, Pa. — Staff from Cocoa Kayaks of Hershey and members of the Swatara Watershed Association spent Thursday morning on the Swatara Creek in Lebanon County.
“It’s on its way up, it’s rising," said Mike Adams, owner of Cocoa Kayaks and vice president of the Swatara Watershed Association. “Part of the reason we’re here is we help maintain and monitor the Swatara Water Trail so we’re heading down through today to check for obstructions and anything like that.”
That’s important, as the creek has risen significantly over the last couple of days, with more rain headed its way Friday.
The remnants of Tropical Storm Debby are headed up the east coast. The system could dump several more inches of rain across south-central Pennsylvania.
“People don’t realize how many trees and stuff come down with any storm, or even without a storm, just wind that can block the channel so we try to get down through to make sure it’s safe for people to go through," said Bethany Canner, president of the Swatara Watershed Association.
The part of the Swatara Creek near Harper's Tavern in East Hanover Township is prone to flooding.
“It’s partially because its functioning flood plain is slightly inhibited with stormwater management and things like that and so when the creek can’t breathe with high capacities of water, at that point that’s when flooding happens," explained Adams.
The high waters will create dangerous conditions in the short term.
But once the storms pass, and the creek lowers back down a bit, those looking to take a ride down it should be golden.
“A lot of the stream is based on groundwater, the springs that feed the creek so when we don’t have a lot of rain there’s nothing feeding the creek," Canner explained. "So now that we have the groundwater back up, levels should be good for the rest of the season I would think.”
Canner says kayakers or others looking to go out on the water should always check the gauges along the creek. If the water level is over four feet, it's a good idea to stay away until it lowers a bit.