The launch at Porter's Cove in Jackson Township was recently improved with new stone steps leading toward the Connoquenessing Creek. The Allegheny Aquatic Alliance will celebrate with a two-day, 16-mile canoe/kayak paddle on June 17 and 18. The launch was funded with a grant from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.

JACKSON TWP — A new canoe launch will be celebrated next month at Connoquenessing Creek.

The Freedom-based Allegheny Aquatic Alliance recently reconstructed the Porter's Cove launch and will celebrate with a two-day, 16-mile kayak/canoe paddle across Butler County on June 17 and 18.

“This event is to promote the public accesses on the creek,” said Christina Handley, Alliance president.

The trip also will serve to educate and encourage participants to learn more about the importance of waterway protection.

“It's a great opportunity,” Handley said. “We have been focusing on the Connoquenessing Creek since 2012 with our cleanup projects. We're hoping to get the attention back on this local waterway and help people realize we can't let these things go and throw our possessions into this creek.”

Paddlers will drop off their boats at the Renfrew Canoe Launch and then drive to Major Washington Canoe Launch in Evans City to set up their camping gear and park their vehicles. From there, a shuttle will take people back to the Renfrew launch, where their boats will be launched.

Participants will paddle about seven miles before stopping at the Major Washington Canoe Launch and camping overnight. The next day, paddlers will travel the rest of the way to the Porter's Cove launch.

“This is a great family event to explore the Connoquenessing Creek and our natural resources,” Handley said.

A rain date for the trip is set for July 8 and 9.

For more information, including costs, contact Handley at 724-371-0416 or by email at AlleghenyAquaticAlliance@hotmail.com.

The event includes shuttle service, overnight camping, dinner and breakfast, live entertainment, informative speakers, raffles, a silent auction and campfire snacks. All ages and skills are welcome.

The group also is developing another public canoe launch in July in Renfrew at the intersection of Eckstein and Reibold Roads.

Connoquenessing Creek was once considered the second most polluted waterway in the U.S., the first being the Mississippi River, according to the Public Research Group.

“That's not what we want to be known for,” Handley said. “Prevention and protection is key, and over the decades we have really neglected and abused the creek.”

The alliance for the past five years has done annual cleanups, pulling out more than 275,000 pounds of garbage from the creek, including about 2,600 tires.

Improvements to the Porter's Cove launch have been considered for about four years. The launch originally consisted of two large steps that made it difficult for people to get their boats to the creek. People would instead travel down a small hill by the steps.

“It was not ideal for a good launch,” Handley said.

The launch now has 10 stone steps measuring 4 feet by 3 feet in length and six inches in depth.

A $4,000 grant from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy was awarded to the alliance for the project. The project had assistance from the township, which performs maintenance to the area.