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Thursday, February 6, 1986, p. 7.

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Damascus participation in COUP discussed

By TOM RUE


DAMASCUS - The importance of representation for Damascus Township on the Conference of Upper Delaware Township (COUP) was a major topic of discussion at the February 3rd meeting of the township supervisors.

Chuck Heyn of Abramsville, a member of the town planning board, told the supervisors that he had come to express his personal views, "I would just like to know if there's any plans for better attendance at COUP meetings."

Heyn said he felt very strongly that the township's vote should be counted in the formulation of river policy, "whether for [the current Draft River Management Plan], or against it, but we need to be represented.

Noting that the last scheduled meeting of COUP was not held due to lack of a quorum, he stated, "It's getting to the point where the towns should say one way or the other whether they support [the plan] or whether they don't. I mean, if there's problems, they should be hashed out. It seems to me like it's going to be a heavy issue in the area for now and the time to come that deserves participation."

"I was under the impression that they're going out to adopt [the management plan] whether we like it or not; I mean the Department of Interior," responded supervisor Tom Griffith.

He expressed concern about responses by political opponents to the presence of the National Park Service (NPS) in the river valley. Said Griffith, "I can not criticize COUP for what they've done. But when you get harassed..." His voice trailed off, but then he added, "I said to myself, 'I'm not signing for any plan.'"

Supervisor Buddy Newport appeared to agree with Griffith's sentiments and waxed philosophical: "The river will run whether they're there or not. It has for a good many years. I think it'll keep right on a'goin."

Heyn replied that he was as concerned about developments along-side the river as about the flow itself.

Griffith said he would rather se NPS money that is spent administering the Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River used to feed the hungry, or given to some other such worthy cause. "You can't eat beauty," Newport agreed.

Objecting to unnecessary federal expenditures, Griffith added, "It seems to me that there's a lot of money spent foolishly. You go down there to the Park Service. I happen to know what the parking lot there cost! I mean, our forefathers were here for a long time, and we never saw nothing like that before the Park Service came along."

Chuck Heyn said that one reason the Park Service is needed is to uniformly moderate the amount of development in the valley, and to help maintain the pristine beauty of the region.

"That's what township ordinances are for," replied Griffith. "The only ones I can see that are benefitting from it are the canoe liveries. Local people aren't benefitting."

Supervisor Bob Deihl agreed with Griffith's statement, commenting: "If the government would just leave the farmers alone, they'd be a darn sight better off."

Township secretary Charles Rutledge reflected that some people in metropolitan New York view the Upper Delaware as their own personal watershed. "Looks to me like someday, somewhere up here there's going to be some more dams," he said, making specific mention of Milanville as a prospective location.

Heyn responded to Rutledge's concern with the belief that "that's something the Park Service could prevent."

Rutledge said he would be interested to see what comes from the upcoming public meetings. Griffith added that the township's position on the management plan would be determined by the voice of the people rather than by board vote.

When pressed for an answer to Heyn's original question about whether Damascus Township will be officially represented at public COUP meetings, Rutledge deferred to Griffith for a reply.

Griffith said, "There' ll be someone there from the township, if the meeting is held in the township. But now don't put that in the paper or next thing you know somebody'll come down with the flu."

The possibility of electing an alternative delegate to COUP, to serve when COUP delegate George Hocker is unavailable, was discussed but not acted upon.

Rutledge announced that COUP will meet with township residents on February 18 at 8:00 p.m. in the Damascus School. Said Rutledge, "It's primarily an informational meeting. If anybody has questions, they can present them. They should and probably will have a lot of questions about the Management Plan.

Related external links

Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River


Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection


New York State Department of Environmental Conservation