 By Connie Lloyd
Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River
As part of the National Wild and Scenic
Rivers System, Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River (UPDE)
stretches 73.4 miles along the New York-Pennsylvania border. As one of the
longest and cleanest free-flowing (undammed) rivers in the
eastern United States, the Upper Delaware features riffles and class I
and II rapids. While most of  the land along
the river is privately owned, there is ample opportunity for canoeing,
kayaking, rafting, tubing, fishing and eagle watching. Upper Delaware's
cultural resources include the remnants of a once-busy canal, the
nations oldest existing wire cable suspension bridge and the home of
western author Zane Grey.
 The radio
station was founded in or around 1988 to offer visitors more information
when entering the river valley from the southern entrance. The main
intent was to enlighten visitors about the unique features in this area,
to remind them that most of the land is private and to let them know of
fishing and boating regulations.
To date, we have encountered no real difficulties on the project.
Reaching a larger audience has been our primary intent; and comments
from the public have all been positive.
We update messages on a seasonal basis. To alert inbound visitors to
tune in, we strategically placed large signs on major highways feeding
into the park. The stations themselves are located at the northern and
southern termini of park boundaries. We air messages regarding available
services and facility opening times. In the winter season, we broadcast
a message specifically directed at Upper Delaware's winter eagle
population. We are now in the process of establishing broadcasts for
parking area to tell listeners about UPDE cultural resources.
Other interpreters seeking effective ways to reach the public will find
information radio stations very useful for communicating to visitors
very specific information.
Our experiences of working with ISS have been VERY positive. Company
reps provided information and advice about signage and station
locations, along with complete setup and maintenance. Everyone in the
office has been helpful and available.
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