Public Votes Loyalsock As PA River of the Year Perkiomen TU Leads
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Winter 2018 Publication of the Pa. Council of Trout Unlimited www.patrout.org Perkiomen TU Students to leads restoration research brookies project on on Route 6 trek By Charlie Charlesworth namesake creek PATU President By Thomas W. Smith Perkiomen Valley TU President In summer 2018, six college students from our PATU 5 Rivers clubs will spend a The Perkiomen Valley Chapter of month trekking across Pennsylvania’s U.S. Trout Unlimited partnered with Sundance Route 6. Their purpose will be to explore, Creek Consulting, the Montgomery do research, collect data and still have time County Conservation District, Penn State do a little bit of fishing in the northern tier’s Master Watershed Stewards and Upper famed brook trout breeding grounds. Perkiomen High School for a stream They will be supported by the PA Fish restoration project on Perkiomen Creek, and Boat Commission, three colleges in- Contributed Photo which was carried out over five days in Volunteers work on a stream restora- cluding Mansfield, Keystone and hopefully See CREEK, page 7 tion project along Perkiomen Creek. See TREK, page 2 Public votes Loyalsock as PA River of the Year By Pennsylvania DCNR Home to legions of paddlers, anglers, and other outdoors enthusiasts in north central Pennsylvania, Loyalsock Creek has been voted the 2018 Pennsylvania River of the Year. The public was invited to vote online, choosing from among five waterways nominated across the state. Results were pariveroftheyear.org Photo See RIVER, page 2 Loyalsock Creek was voted 2018 Pennsylvania River of the Year. IN THIS ISSUE Keystone Coldwater Conference ..........................3 How to become a stream advocate.......................6 Headwaters .............................................................4 Minutes ....................................................................8 Treasurer’s Notes ...................................................5 Chapter Reports ................................................... 11 RIVER Watershed Association – for its unending from page 1 commitment and unlimited loyalty to this precious waterway, flowing from the End- announced jointly in January by the De- less Mountain region of Pennsylvania to partment of Conservation and Natural the West Branch Susquehanna River. “In the past, Loyalsock Creek was a hid- PA COUNCIL OF Resources (DCNR) and the Pennsylvania den gem, nestled in the mountains north of TROUT UNLIMITED Organization for Waterways and Rivers PO Box 5148 (POWR). Williamsport and enjoyed by area residents Bellefonte, PA Other waterways nominated were: Con- and visitors to the 64-mile-long waterway 16823 noquenessing Creek, Lackawanna River, and its watershed. Today, with this recog- PRESIDENT – Charlie Charlesworth Little Juniata River and Lower Susque- nition, we are ready to share this timeless 200 Camins Parkway hanna River/Susquehanna Riverlands. treasure with the rest of Pennsylvania and Clarks Summit, PA 18411 “There are winning qualities in all five beyond. For many years, paddlers have Phone: 570-954-5042 danced with her whitewater during spring Email: [email protected] of these waterways that their supporters recognize and respect,” said DCNR Secre- runoff and families have created camping EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT – tary Cindy Adams Dunn. “The number of memories along the shores of the ‘Sock at John Leonard Worlds End State Park.” 222 Brindle Road waterways nominated, coupled with a vote Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 tally that increases every year, showcases Noting the Loyalsock boasts a quality Phone: 717-512-4620 both the unique diversity of Pennsylva- trout fishery and is home to the rare Eastern Email: [email protected] nia’s rivers and the strong community hellbender, Parenzan said the association EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT – allegiances that protect and enhance them.” plans an ambitious schedule of events and Greg Malaska A total of 15,061 votes were cast, with programs to showcase its attributes to the 218 W. 13th St. the Loyalsock receiving 6,100; Connoque- public throughout the year. Information Jim Thorpe, PA 16229 nessing Creek; 5,381; Lackawanna River, will be posted at www.MiddleSusquehan- Phone: 570-657-7169 naRiverkeeper.org, as well as Facebook Email: [email protected] 1,676; Lower Susquehanna/Susquehanna Riverlands, 1,113; and Little Juniata, 791. pages for Middle Susquehanna River- TREASURER – George Kutskel “This annual honor highlights our keeper, Loyalsock Creek Watershed Asso- 107 Simmons Street ciation, and other supporting organizations DuBois, PA 15801 state’s wealth of rivers and streams, and Phone: 814-371-9290 recognizes the core of dedicated folks who and agencies throughout the region. Email: [email protected] fight to protect them,” Dunn noted. “Public Loyalsock Creek flows through Worlds End State Park, a highly popular destina- SECRETARY – Bob Pennell awareness of the Loyalsock’s value will be 2319 Valley Road increased and initiatives along the water- tion state park encompassing 780 acres, Harrisburg, PA 17104 way river will be underscored. Both serve and Loyalsock Trail, a well-trekked 59- Phone: 717-236-1360 economic revitalization by enhancing mile trail providing vistas overlooking the Email: [email protected] access to the stream; increasing tourism; stream below. Extraction of coal, lumber PA TROUT EDITOR & DESIGNER – and providing additional land and water- and natural gas all have presented conser- Brad Isles based recreational opportunities for area vation challenges, both past and present, P.O. Box 23 residents and visitors alike.” to the waterway. Also, erosion and sedi- Grove City, PA 16127 Phone: 724-967-2832 DCNR and POWR will work with the mentation issues continue to be addressed Email: [email protected] Middle Susquehanna RIVERKEEPER® by government and private agencies and organizations. PA TROUT ADVERTISING – Association Inc. to create a free, com- Brad Isles memorative poster celebrating the Loy- In cooperation with DCNR, selection of P.O. Box 23 alsock Creek as the 2018 PA River of the public voting choices was overseen by the Grove City, PA 16127 Year. As applicant for the honor, Middle Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds Phone: 724-967-2832 Susquehanna RIVERKEEPER, will re- and Rivers, an affiliate of the Pennsylvania Email: [email protected] ceive a $10,000 Leadership Grant to help Environmental Council. POWR adminis- WEB EDITOR – Bob Pennell fund year-long River of the Year activities. ters the River of the Year program with 2319 Valley Road “The Pennsylvania 2018 River of the funding from DCNR. Presented annually Harrisburg, PA 17104 Year competition truly showed the depth of since 1983, the 2017 River of the Year Phone: 717-236-1360 Email: [email protected] the region’s ‘Loyalsock Love,’” said Mid- designation was awarded to the Allegheny dle Susquehanna RIVERKEEPER® Asso- River in southwestern Pennsylvania. COPYRIGHT 2018 ciation Executive Director Carol Parenzan. To learn more about the River of the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited “We are grateful to those who voted and Year program, the nominated waterways, No portion may be reproduced without permission. encouraged others to vote as well, and we and past winners visit www.pariverofthe- thank our lead partner – Loyalsock Creek year.org. 2 PA TROUT ... Winter 2018 www.patrout.org Keystone Coldwater Conference Sponsors PA COUNCIL Brook Trout ($2,500) OF TROUT Aquatic Resource Restoration UNLIMITED Brown Trout ($1,000) 2018 COMMITTEES PA Environment Digest, Crisci Associates Awards – Ed O’Gorman 1220 Peters Mountain Rd., Dauphin, PA Western Pennsylvania Conservancy 17018 717-580-3186 / [email protected] Rainbow Trout ($500) Coldwater Heritage Partnership Admin. 595 East Rolling Ridge Drive, Bellefonte, PA Chesapeake Bay Foundation 16823 Earth Conservancy 814-359-5233 / [email protected] Coldwater Heritage Partnership TU Delegate Student Poster ($100) Ken Undercoffer Pennsylvania Outdoors Writers Association 1510 Village Rd., Clearfield, PA 16830 814-765-1035 / [email protected] TU Chapters are invited to sponsor the 2018 Keystone Coldwater Conference. Communications – Brad Isles PO Box 23, Grove City, PA 16127 A $100 contribution helps provide a college student the opportunity to attend and 724-967-2832 / [email protected] present their research at the conference. Sponsorship forms can be found on the Delaware River – Lee Hartman website under the SPONSOR tab. 4978 Hancock Hwy., Equinunk, PA 18417 Contact Program Director Tali MacArthur at [email protected] for information. 570-224-6371 / [email protected] Development – George Kutskel 107 Simmons St., DuBois, PA 15801 REGISTRATION IS OPEN! 814-371-9290 / [email protected] Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture – The 2018 Keystone Coldwater Ken Undercoffer Conference is Feb. 23-24, 2018 at the Ramada 1510 Village Rd., Clearfield, PA 16830 Inn Conference Center in State College, PA. 814-765-1035 / [email protected] Environmental – Jeff Ripple The conference theme is: 206 Vanyo Rd. Berlin, PA 15530 Coldwater Resource Conservation and 814-267-4086 / [email protected] Education: Rising to the Challenges; Membership – Russ Thrall Embracing Opportunities. 159 Swift Rd., Stroudsburg, PA 18360 570-620-8677 / [email protected] Registration, sponsorship details and National Leadership Council Rep. – more information and can be found at Brian Wagner www.coldwaterconference.com. 137 S. New St., Nazareth, PA 18064 484-894-8289 / [email protected] They will repeat the process heading Trout in the Classroom – Tali