Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited

The Susquehanna Chapter Trout Unlimited is hosting its annual meeting of area watershed associations, public officials, and conservation organizations which help to preserve, protect, and enhance our area streams and watersheds. Each year, these groups have carried out projects including improving stream habitat, stabilizing stream banks, monitoring water quality, and educating land owners and the public about watershed issues and best practices. The public is invited to come and learn about the volunteer efforts and beneficial projects accomplished by our area’s watershed groups, conservation organizations, and agencies during 2016 and their upcoming plans for 2017. All are invited to hear about this important work and how to get involved. The meeting will be held at the First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall (rear of 102 East 3rd Street at Mulberry St. in Williamsport) on Wednesday, January 11th at 7:00 PM

At the January 23 – 24, 2017 meeting of the PA Fish and Boat Commissioners, they will be considering changes to its list of wild trout streams and the wild trout waters.  There are 136 streams statewide and we have 13 streams within our region being considered. Last year, the PFBC added 463 streams to the growing list of wild trout streams, and we want this number to grow.

Below are the links to  see the full list of streams that the PFBC proposes to add to the Class A and Wild Trout streams.

Class A Streams: http://pfbc.pa.gov/regcomments/index.htm?title_number=ClassA-Jan2017

Wild Trout Streams: http://pfbc.pa.gov/regcomments/index.htm?title_number=WildTroutJan2017

The deadline for submitting comments is December 19, 2016 and can be done by submitting them in writing to:

Executive Director
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
PO Box 67000
Harrisburg, PA 17106-6000

You can also submit you comments electronically by completing the form found at http://www.fishandboat.com/regcomments

Feel free to draft your own letter. But if you prefer, you can cut and paste the sample comment below. Bonus points for adding a sentence or two about the work that you do in your territory. Also, the more comments we submit, the better. It would be great if multiple members of the chapter file letters of support.

SAMPLE COMMENT

Commissioners:

I am a member of the Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and I’m writing in support of the proposed changes to the list of Class A Wild Trout Waters and Wild Trout Streams, under consideration at the January 2017 meeting of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. All of these streams support significant populations of naturally reproducing trout, which indicates that they are waters of exceptional quality and worthy of special protection.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank the Commission for its ongoing effort to survey and protect the wild trout streams of Pennsylvania.

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited wishes you a very safe and joyous Thanksgiving.

We are grateful for the many members of our Chapter, our family and friends, partners, and others who work to protect, restore and sustain our great waterways and watersheds

We are grateful for the work being done to protect and preserve the trout and all aquatic life

We are grateful there are streams that still sustain wild trout.

We are grateful there remains many great places to fish while attempting to catch fish on lures or flies that we have made.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The November issue of the Susquehanna Ripples is out.  You can get your copy by clicking here  2016-11-susquehanna-ripples

The public is welcomed at the November 9th Annual Meeting of Susquehanna Trout Unlimited with Bill Kosmer, experienced fly fishing guide and photographer, presenting an exiting program on fishing for the world’s southern-most trout. Only accessible by helicopter, the relatively unexplored Navarino Island, located in southern Chile’s Cape Horn Region contains some of the world’s purest waters and exceptional large trout. Bill’s slideshow and video presentation of his latest adventure to this beautiful and magical place will include information on logistics and trip planning to this last fishing frontier. An Orvis Hydros SL II fly reel (wt. 3-5,$198) donated by Slate Run Tackle Shop will be given away as a door prize. Don’t miss this remarkable program to be held at The Fellowship Hall  at the rear of the First Presbyterian Church, 102 E. Third St. Williamsport at 7 pm.

 

As a result of the flooding that occurred last weekend, the Lycoming Creek Anglers Club Trout Hatchery has been destroyed and they have lost all the fish.  A picture is attached to this email show what the hatchery looks like now and it is completely devastating.  They will be having workdays this weekend, Saturday and Sunday starting

around 8:30 am.  They are asking for volunteers to help them get the hatchery back up and running.  They ask that you bring shovels, rakes and wheelbarrows.  The hatchery is located on Slacks Run Road and due to the damage from the flooding, you may have to access it from Rose Valley Road / Kellyburg Road.  It is unknown if the road between the hatchery and Route 14 will be repaired or passable.

If you have any questions, please call Sam Caldwell at 570-322-6098

Thank you for your time and your help

The October issue of the Susquehanna Ripples is out. Please click here to download it

2016-10-susquehanna-ripples

Officials with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced on September 30 that they have lifted the no-fishing

 Brook trout are swimming in trouble waters. Climate change and habitat loss are threatening the health of the east coast’s only native trout and a species responsible for billions of dollars in revenue. More troubling, resource managers have a hard time predicting the fate of brook trout and struggle to create conservation plans.  Shannon White, a Ph.D. student at Penn State University, will present a program on the current status of her Brook Trout research in the upper Loyalsock Creek watershed studying their populations, individual behavior and ecology, and how the findings may improve the outlook for Pennsylvania’s official state fish species. The public is welcomed to the meeting to be held on Wednesday, October 12th at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of The First Presbyterian Church at 102 E. Third St. in Williamsport. More information can be found at www.thetroutlook.com/.

 

The Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited would like to congratulate Dr. Mel Zimmerman for being awarded Outstanding Coldwater Conservationist (Professional)  by the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited at their Annual Meeting on September 10, 2016.

Ed O’Gorman, of PATU on left, Dr. Mel Zimmeran, Dave Craig (Vice President of Susquehanna Chapter of TU), and Tali MacArther of PATU. (photo provided)

The following was written by President Walt Nicholson:

“Dr. Mel Zimmeran (or Zimm to his students and Colleagues) retired this year as Professor of Biology at Lycoming College. Dr. Zimmerman has demonstrated exceptional initiative and dedication to cold water fisheries conservation throughout his career of 37 years at Lycoming College where he created the Clean Water Institute. This has played an instrumental role in the monitoring of streams for the PFBC’s Unassessed Waters Program throughout northern Pennsylvania. He has had a profound positive influence on hundreds, if not thousands, of students who have gone on to careers in fisheries biology, including many scientists working for the PFBC. He has extraordinacy energy and interest in teaching and had taken lead roles in creating “college for kids” at Lycoming College. The Williamsport Municipal Water Authority’s Waterdale Environmental Education Center, and the Susquehanna Heartland Coalition. Zimm has partnered with TU on many projects and is active in the Loyalsock Creek Watershed Association and other local conservation efforts to monitor and advocate for water quality protection and improvements in countless cold water streams in northern Pennsylvania.”

Congratulations Mel and thank you for everything that you have done for our fisheries and waterways!!!!