Upper Toby Creek Coldwater Conservation Plan
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Upper Toby Creek Coldwater Conservation Plan Photo Credit: Dr. Joseph Simons, III- Wild Brown Trout caught on Toby Creek Prepared and written by Robert “Bobby” E. Hughes, EPCAMR Executive Director & North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC) Lead 1 Coordinator Technical Assistance, Mapping, Monitoring, Assessment, & Sampling Conducted by: EPCAMR Staff Michael A. Hewitt, Program Manager Shawnese Taylor, GIS Watershed Outreach Specialist & NAACC Lead Observer Steve Cornia, GIS Watershed Outreach Specialist & NAACC Lead Observer Laura Rinehimer, Environmental Education/Outreach Specialist & NAACC Lead Observer Denise Hernandez, Urban Environmental Education & Outreach Specialist Rachael Grube, GIS Watershed Outreach Specialist & NAACC Lead Observer Gavin Pellitteri, GIS Watershed Outreach Specialist & NAACC Lead Observer Gabby Zawacki, GIS Watershed Outreach Specialist & NAACC Lead 1 Coordinator Conal Herron, Watershed Outreach & Education Specialist Intern & NAACC Lead Observer Lauren Elizabeth Perry, Watershed Outreach & Education Specialist Intern, SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry-Environmental Resources Engineering & NAACC Lead Observer Jessica Britten, Watershed Outreach & Education Specialist Intern- King’s College & NAACC Lead Observer Sean Banul, Watershed Outreach & Education Specialist Intern- The Pennsylvania State University, Wilkes-Barre Campus & NAACC Lead Observer Jason Zubris-Watershed Outreach & Education Specialist Intern- The Pennsylvania State University, Main Campus-State College & NAACC Lead Observer EPCAMR Volunteers Kristen Cease-EPCAMR Volunteer & NAACC Lead Observer Angie Tuttle-EPCAMR Volunteer Contributors of Historical Map Resource: David Ratcliffe Technical Assistance was also provided by the following partners: Dallas Area Municipal Authority (DAMA) Tom Mayka, DAMA Stormwater Coordinator, EPCAMR Volunteer, & NAACC Lead Observer Tim Elston, Stormwater Intern, The Pennsylvania State University, Main Campus-State College & EPCAMR Volunteer, & NAACC Lead Observer Luzerne Conservation District John Levitsky, Watershed Specialist ii DHL Supply Chain Logistics Kenny Mann, Donald Andress, Lora Borland, Sherry Eilber, Clarisel Mendez, Yami Rodriquez, Sara Muscavitch, Becky Grim, Misty Walker Stanley Cooper Sr. Chapter #251Trout Unlimited J. Scott Brady, President & Dr. Joe Simons III, Board Member and Photographer Liz (Rosser) Banos, Extension Educator & Master Gardener and Watershed Steward Coordinator Conservation Legacy Stewards Individual Placement Program (Stewards) AmeriCorps-Volunteers In Service to America (VISTA) Program, & US Department of Interior Office of Surface Mining Reclamation & Enforcement (US DOI OSMRE) Abbie Keefe, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation & Enforcement/AmeriCorps-VISTA Development Coordinator through our partnership with Conservation Legacy Stewards Individual Placement Program Trout Unlimited Kathleen Lavelle Field Coordinator PA Coldwater Habitat Restoration Program- Trout Unlimited Julia Valero and Stephen Lowther-Fishery Biologist Field Technicians, Trout Unlimited iii Local Municipal Support for the Upper Toby Creek Coldwater Conservation Plan: Martin Barry, Dallas Twp. Manager & Board of Supervisors-Dallas Twp., Luzerne County Tracey M. Carr, Dallas Borough Manager & Borough Council- Dallas Borough, Luzerne County Kathleen J. Sebastian, Kingston Twp. Manager & Board of Supervisors-Kingston Twp., Luzerne County Local Legislative Support for the Upper Toby Creek Coldwater Conservation Plan: State Rep. Aaron Kaufer-120th Legislative District, State Rep. Karen Boback-117th Legislative District Ryan P. Pipan, District Office Manager for State Rep. Aaron Kaufer Ann Houssock, District Office Manager for State Rep. Karen Boback Senator Lisa Baker-20th Senatorial District Heather A. Kukosky, Operations Manager & District Scheduler for Senator Lisa Baker Senator John Yudichak-14th Senatorial District Mark Grochocki, Chief of Staff for Senator John Yudichak Local Community Organizations and Educational Institutional Support for the Upper Toby Creek Coldwater Conservation Plan: Pennsylvania Environmental Council-NE Office PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) North Branch Land Trust iv The Lands at Hillside Farms [The Back Mountain Trail] - Anthracite Scenic Trails Association (ASTA) Educational Institutions North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative & University of Massachusetts Extension v Funded by: The Project was financed in part by a grant from the Coldwater Heritage Partnership on behalf of the PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (Environmental Stewardship Fund), the PA Fish & Boat Commission, the Foundation for PA Watersheds, and the PA Council of Trout Unlimited. Matching Funds provided by: Patagonia World Trout Initiative PA Department of Environmental Protection, Section 319 Non-Point Source Program vi Disclaimer The Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, (EPCAMR), its professional Staff, and work performed by students, interns, and volunteers is to be used for educational and planning purposes only and makes no warranties, expressed or implied, regarding the quality of any product produced. Sponsor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless EPCAMR against any claims arising of the Sponsor’s utilization or transfer of reports developed in whole or in part by EPCAMR, its professional Staff, students, interns, and volunteers. The Upper Toby Creek Coldwater Conservation Plan is to be used as a tool that will help educate and build community consensus within the watershed with various stakeholders for the conservation of the coldwater ecosystem. Limitations The limits of this project were determined by the number of individuals involved, their knowledge and expertise of tasks outlined in the project plan, amount of funding available for staff time, equipment, etc., the timeline of the project, prevailing weather conditions during the project period, and the amount of existing data and research for the project location. Cost estimates, engineering designs, conceptual plans, and exact measurements in the field, should be a part of the recommendations referred to in the Upper Toby Creek Coldwater Conservation Plan going forward for future implementation by any number of stakeholders in the watershed, including the municipal level governments, non-profits, businesses, or educational institutions, and EPCAMR. vii CONTENTS Executive Summary: ...................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction of the Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation ............................................................................... 4 Background on the Coldwater Heritage Partnership Planning Grant Program ............................................................................ 9 Impetus for Development of the Upper Toby Creek Coldwater Conservation Plan ................................................................... 10 EPCAMR Coalition Building Through Partnerships and Stakeholder Outreach .......................................................................... 10 Detailed Map of the Toby creek Watershed ............................................................................................................................... 12 EPCAMR Scope of Work Items .................................................................................................................................................... 13 Cursory Environmental Issues & Problem Areas within the Upper Toby Creek ......................................................................... 13 Tentative Timeline for the completion of the Upper Toby Creek Coldwater Conservation Plan ............................................... 14 Macroinvertebrate, Water Quality Sampling, Survey Protocols & Field Equipment .................................................................. 15 Huntsville Creek Subwatershed of Toby Creek to be Assessed separately ................................................................................ 17 Historic & Geomorphic Description of the Lower Toby Creek Watershed ................................................................................. 18 The Post Articles* series on toby creek from october 2004 ....................................................................................................... 23 Editorial Board and Correspondents Who Authored The Post Articles .................................................................................. 27 The Times Leader Article from august 2017 ............................................................................................................................... 28 The Citizens Voice Article from june 2019 .................................................................................................................................. 29 Previous Work Completed by the Borton-Lawson Engineering and the Luzerne Conservation District .................................... 29 Upper Toby Creek Watershed description and Background Information .................................................................................. 31 Land Use Characteristics of the Toby Creek Watershed ......................................................................................................... 31 Toby Creek Watershed Land Use ...........................................................................................................................................