Michael Kinney, the great outdoor photographer that we have had the pleasure to follow and meet at our Chapter meeting earlier this year, is on a 228 mile solo journey of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. Below is a link to more information about his journey, his blog, pictures, and other information. We can not wait to see and hear about his experience and to follow him as he navigates the river through the month of May. Click the picture below to be taken to the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper page “West Branch Adventure” to follow Michael.
Tim Palmer was the Lycoming County Planning Commission Environmental Planner from 1971-1980. He would use his summer vacations to canoe many rivers and hike trails and then write books about those natural assets. He has now written 33 books!!! He lives in Port Orford, OR and is coming here to give several talks on his latest book: SEEK HIGHER GROUND (see announcement below). That book reports Lycoming County’s comprehensive response to the June 1972 Agnes Flood. Our planning and flood recovery and flood protection work was so comprehensive and forward-looking that it got national attention.
5/16/24 – Tim will speak to the Lycoming County Planning Commission at their Public Meeting at 6:00 pm. 5/17/24 – Tim will do book signing at Otto’s Book Store from 10:00 – noon. 5/17/24 – Tim will speak at Lycoming College Barclay Lecture Hall / Heim Building G-11 at 2:00 pm (also open to public).
Please join us for Slate Run Tackle Shop’s first Customer Appreciation Day on Saturday May 4 starting at 10 am.
You will be able to try out the new Orvis Helios 4’s and Pro LT waders. By doing so you will be entered to win a new pair of Pro LT waders ($498.00 Retail). You can enter in our drawing to win Wolfe’s General Store gift certificates and Fulling Mill products.
Vendors and groups include: The Hughesville High School Fly Fishing Club will be demonstrating how to tie flies. DCNR will have a tent with displays and outdoor recreation information for the area. Slate Run Sportsmen members will be available. Cassel Vineyards will have wine tasting. PA Wilds booth with PA Wilds information will be available.
Old owners Tom and Deb Finkbiner will be here along with fly fishing legend Joe Humphreys who will be stopping by to have lunch and say hi to everyone. It’s going to be a great day in Slate Run!
The Williamsport fish ladder is currently not operational, according to Luke Ulsamer, Forest Assistant Manager with the DCNR Tiadaghton Forest District, due to a broken gate blocking flow through the structure.
“While operating the gate to the fish ladder during routine maintenance, something broke in the gate. It is resting on the bottom of the structure effectively cutting off all water to the fish ladder system,” he said. “So (there is) no fish passage until we get this fixed.”
Ulsamer is unsure how long that process will take.
“(We are) trying to get a diver in there to inspect it and see what may need repaired,” he said.
The fish ladder, when working properly, allows passage of fish around the Hepburn Street Dam in Williamsport so they can swim upriver past the structure. The passageway is managed by the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) out of its Tiadaghton office.
There had been some public concern about debris blocking the structure in the past and impeding the free flow of fish upriver, including in the summer of 2022.
“It’s very sad to see the fish ladder packed with hundreds of game fish and carp stuck inside concrete cells continuously trying to jump and squeeze up what small amount of water manages to actually enter the ladder,” said angler Mark Yeagle at the time.
Shortly after concern from the public such as that from Yeagle, DCNR responded with an updated maintenance plan and improved cleaning schedule to keep the passageway moving more freely until the recent gate issue.
“There definitely has been a huge improvement in debris build-up since our exchange with them back in 2022,” said Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association board president Michael Kinney.
“I appreciate Luke Ulsamer’s diligence to keeping this area cleaned up and his communication with us and transparency in reaching out to us about the broken gate issue blocking the passageway at the moment,” said Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky. “Of course, any disruption in the flow of the river for the species that depend on it can be challenging, especially as we head into a time of migration for some of those species and spawning for others.
“Our association supports Luke and his team and any efforts to help get fish ladder fixed and back in operation as soon as possible.”
The above article was taken from the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper website. It was written by John Zaktansky and published on April 30, 2024
The public is invited to a meeting of the Trout Unlimited Susquehanna Chapter featuring a program about Slate Run area conservation clubs, presented by John Pastorek. John will provide an overview of the Slate Run Brown Trout Club (BTC) and the famous “Stretch” on Pine Creek, including its genesis, the current fishing opportunities and thoughts about the future. He also will explore the backgrounds of the different trout stocked by the PA Fish & Boat Commission and the BTC. John will also touch on the conservation efforts of the Slate Run Sportsmen’s Club.
John’s outdoor experience includes decades of fly fishing, fly tying, backpacking, hiking and other pursuits. John’s creative talents include painting and writing. He currently serves as editor of the Slate Run Tackle Shop’s monthly e-newsletter, as well as for the Slate Run Sportsmen’s Slate Drake newsletter. Professionally, John has served in executive management in the social service, higher education, and hospital / healthcare sectors for many years. While John lives in western, PA, he and his wife, along with their Australian Shepherd dog, frequent their cabin in the Slate Run Area.
The meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 10th at 7:00 pm at the Covenant Central Presbyterian Church, 807 W. 4th Street, in Williamsport. Parking and entrance to the Church is at the rear of the building with access off of Campbell Street.
Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited 