Trout Unlimited’s South Central RVP Russ Collins was featured in an article this past month. “He sees, first-hand, how the iconic hemlock — Pennsylvania’s state tree — is under siege and is dying off,” and with it some of its vital ecosystem services.
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/could-saving-the-state-tree-help-fix-trout-fishing-troubles/
This is an interesting idea.. There are many tournaments and gatherings but this is a tournament to pick up trash and clean up Raytown Lake.
Mark your calendars for National Public Lands Day – September 25 – and come help LCO clean up Raystown Lake! Free registration, free food, free prizes! Have fun competing against other teams while beautifying Central PA.
Whoever picks up the most trash wins the grand prize. Prizes for other categories include most tires and most footwear collected.
We are limited to 30 boats (powered only) so be sure to register before we reach capacity. Check out the page on our website for details and don’t forget to follow for updates!
https://loosecannonoutdoors.com/pages/trashmaster
An interesting and innovative way to catch poachers. Wonder if the PFBC and PGC have thought about using trail cameras?
PROPOSED RULEMAKING: FISHING – Establish a Single Statewide Opening Day of the Regular Season for Trout ➡️ http://ow.ly/3efA50G0I1yhttp://ow.ly/FwmX50G0I0X ➡️
COMMENT ON THIS RULEMAKING. Public Comment Period: September 4 – October 4, 2021➡️
http://ow.ly/FwmX50G0I0Xhttp://ow.ly/FwmX50G0I0X
Penn State Center For Dirt & Gravel Road Studies: Road Dumping Of Oil & Gas Wastewater To Control Dust Is Environmentally Unsound Practice https://bit.ly/3jhbKxO
the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will host an August 25 webinar on the ATV Regional Trail Connector Pilot Project starting at Noon.
The public is encouraged to participate in the webinar and those who would like to attend virtually may register for the event. DCNR Staff will provide updated information about the pilot and ATV safety during the hour-long webinar.
Click Here to register for the webinar.
“We hope to connect with ATV riders and community members during this webinar to help educate about the pilot and provide important safety updates,” said State Forester Ellen Shultzabarger. “DCNR continues to recognize the desire of the ATV riding community to be able to travel long distances legally and without interruption and the positive effect such opportunities can have on local businesses.”
The pilot area was opened on July 26 to ATV riders in the northcentral region of the state to provide opportunities for riding enthusiasts to traverse many miles of roads opened to all-terrain vehicle use and trails in Potter and Tioga counties will remain open until Sunday, September 26.
The pilot program will also be reopened on the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend in 2022 to coincide with the full DCNR trail summer riding season and incorporate a planned connection to the Tiadaghton State Forest and the Haneyville ATV Trail System in Lycoming and Clinton counties.
This ATV Regional Trail Connector program is in response to growing ATV purchases, registrations, and public demand for increased riding opportunities.
Through collaborating with public and private partners, the pilot aims to offer long-distance riding opportunities, contribute to local economies, while maintaining the many uses and values of the state forest system.
DCNR recently revised its ATV trail policy, which lifted the moratorium on new trails that had been in place since 2003.
Though the pilot areas will be marked, riders will be expected to familiarize themselves with the portions of road and trail that are open to ensure they are operating in the legal areas. The official pilot area map.
DCNR will be gathering public input throughout the two-year period through a variety of methods, including webinars, surveys, comment cards, public meetings and advisory committees. To comment on the North Central ATV pilot, please send an email to: RA-NR-ATV-Pilot@pa.gov.
Additional information about the ATV Regional Trail Connector Pilot Program.
More information about ATV riding opportunities in state forests.
For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website, Click Here to sign up for the Resource newsletter, Visit the Good Natured DCNR Blog, Click Here for upcoming events, Click Here to hook up with DCNR on other social media– Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.[Posted: August 19, 2021] PA Environment Digest
The Susquehanna Chapter TU, Officers and Board of Directors wish to inform our membership about a threat to the wilderness character and wild brook trout fisheries of the beautiful Tiadaghton State Forest in northwest corner of Lycoming County. Last year, the PA DCNR removed its long-standing policy moratorium on new ATV trails on State Forest Lands, and the State Legislature passed an amendment to the PA Fiscal Code which mandated that the DCNR create a large ATV trail network in northcentral Pennsylvania proposed by the Central Mountains ATV Association, known as the “Northcentral Pennsylvania ATV Initiative.” The Fiscal Code order included the establishment of an initial “Regional ATV Pilot Program” in Elk, Moshannon, Sproul, Susquehannock, and Tioga State Forests during which the environmental impact, problem issues, and public comment would be collected and evaluated over a three year period. By April 2024, the DCNR is then mandated to create the entire ATV trail network.
As a conservation organization, we are concerned about the sedimentation, erosion, and negative impacts that this ATV initiative can have on the wild trout streams, as well as on the quiet enjoyment of the public and cabin owners in this very special gem of our state forest lands.
We have learned that construction is now commencing on an ATV connector route near PA 44 (Coudersport Pike) from Potter County to the Haneyville ATV trail loop in the Tiadaghton State Forest located in Lycoming County to be opened next year that was not designated by the Fiscal Code amendment to be part of the initial pilot program. This route would reportedly extend onto the Slate Run and Manor Fork Roads and into the watersheds to the south including Little Slate Run, Naval Run, Trout Run, Miller Run Natural Area, and Browns Run.
We urge all of our members and their friends to consider writing our local legislators and the Governor’s office, with copies to our County Commissioners to make them aware of this issue and express displeasure with the non-transparent manner in which this ATV network mandate was created. In particular, please ask that the opening of connector trail in the Tiadaghton State Forest in Lycoming County not be considered until the experimental three year pilot program is completed in the adjoining counties and the environmental impacts and problem issues have been evaluated and appropriate public input sought and addressed.
Here are a number of important points that could be used in letters on this issue:
• Opening the ATV connector route to Haneyville is premature and should not have been considered until public comment and the evaluation of the three year experimental pilot program in Tioga, Potter and Clinton Counties is completed.
• The issue is not about liking or not liking ATVs, nor against ATVs as useful vehicles on private property or driven legally on designated trails. The issue is the fact that the Fiscal Code amendment passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor inhibits the PA DCNR from doing its constitutional responsibility to effectively protect the natural resources of our Commonwealth and with appropriate transparency and public input.
• About three miles of the forestry road along Trout Run, tributary to Pine Creek at Cammal, is currently gated and closed to motorized vehicles. The ATV route reportedly planned to be opened next spring in the Tiadaghton State Forest would open this road, potentially impacting a Class A wild brook trout stream with increased erosion, sedimentation and fishing pressure.
• Opening the old Lebo Vista Road from lower Trout Run Road up to the Lebo Vista as part of the Tiadaghton connector route is ill-advised. It has been closed to vehicular traffic for many years due to its steep, winding, narrow, and dangerous condition. The condition, inaccessibility, and subsequent long response time for emergency first responders has apparently not been considered.
• ATV routes should not be created everywhere just because an ATV association wishes it so. Previous studies conducted by the PA DCNR (eg. “Pine Creek Valley Early Action Recommendations,” Fermata, 2005) have identified low-impact, non-motorized recreation as the best fit for this very special scenic area.
• Pine Creek Valley and its tributary watersheds are now used by large numbers of people who cherish the quiet solitude for hiking, fishing, nature walks, non-motorized biking and sight-seeing.
• The introduction of intrusive, dusty, and noisy motorized ATV traffic onto the Slate Run and Manor Fork Roads and other planned routes in the Tiadaghton State Forest would be detrimental to and seriously degrade the low impact recreational experience of its nationally-acclaimed trout streams and the Black Forest Trail hiking network.
• Many people familiar with this area do not believe that the expected economic impact of the new ATV initiative would be positive. There is already heavy use by campers, fishermen, hikers, and bicyclers who would likely be deterred by the noise and dust from intensive ATV traffic. There are camps that are owned or rented by people who wish to preserve the solitude and low impact recreational opportunities that this section of the Tiadaghton State Forest already provides.
• The costs to the DCNR to maintain and effectively patrol the mandated ATV trail network with appropriate regulations will require a redirection of resources in a time of ongoing challenges to properly fund and manage its existing recreational areas, facilities and trails.
Please feel free to draw from the comments outlined above and others you chose to make in your own words. Many letters from individual citizens often have more impact than letters from one organization. We suggest letters be sent to Governor Tom Wolf and your local legislative representatives and senator with copies to the Lycoming County commissioners.
Lycoming County’s elected officials are:
Rep. Joe Hamm, jhamm@pahousegop.com
Rep. Jeff Wheeland, jwheeland@pahousegop.com
Senator Gene Yaw, gyaw@pasen.gov
Lycoming County Commissioners: Tony Mussare, tmussare@lyco.org ; Scott Metzger, smetzger@lyco.org; and Rick Mirabito, rmirabito@lyco.org.
If you are not a resident of Lycoming County, you can find your legislator at
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/ .
The Director of the Governor’s Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing, and Conservation is Derek Eberly, deeberly@pa.gov. Please ask him to convey your message to Governor Tom Wolf.
Thank you very much for your care and concern for helping to preserve our wild cold water resources for all of the people to cherish and enjoy.
The Family Fishing Program is for families with little or no fishing experience. Participants learn basic fishing skills and to practice those skills while fishing during the program. The program is open to all ages, including children ages 5 and older. Those under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The program is free and all equipment is provided.
NOTE: the fishing license requirement is waived during the program for participants age 16 and older.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) in partnership with the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy (NPC) and the Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited for an afternoon of FREE fishing! All tackle, bait, and rods will be provided for the event. The Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy and our Chapter has recently enrolled in the Fishing Tackle Loaner Program. Come out and see what this means for your community!
The free event will be taking place on Sunday August 22, 2021 from 12:30 – 4 pm at Rose Valley Lake (south launch). To register for the event, please go to https://register-ed.com/events/view/171300
We will be giving more information on this great program in the near future
The fast-moving decline and extinction of many species of detritivores — organisms that break down and remove dead plant and animal matter — may have dire consequences, an international team of scientists suggests in a new study.
Source: Loss of biodiversity in streams threatens vital biological process | Penn State University
