Winter 2015 Publication of the Pa. Council of Trout Unlimited www.patrout.org TU’s Annual Meeting coming to PA Scranton to host national Hotel and Convention Center in Scranton. fisheries and conservation. event Sept. 16-20, 2015 The Annual Meeting gives chapters an Chris Wood, president and chief execu- opportunity to see first-hand what it takes tive officer of Trout Unlimited, will present For the first time in 25 years, Trout to operate Trout Unlimited on state and a “State of TU Address” and discuss the Unlimited’s Annual Meeting is coming to national levels, and offers an idea of what scope of TU operations and projects. Pennsylvania in 2015. Events will be held chapter officers in similar positions in The tentative schedule of events is as from Sept. 16-20 at the Center City Hilton other states are doing to advance coldwater See MEETING, page 3 Trout Unlimited preps for work with new administration With a new governor and General Assembly in place, Trout Unlimited is preparing to work with the new admin- istration and legislature to ensure that Pennsylvania’s exceptional trout streams are protected for generations to come. Among its top priorities, TU will be working to educate state decision-makers about the value of trout streams for eco- logical and recreational purposes, and for the economic revenue that is generated for local communities each year by fishing. Contributed Photo New committee chairs have been named Thanks in part to a Back the Brookie grant, volunteers were able to enhance native by the Pennsylvania House of Representa- brook trout habitat Conococheague Creek. tives and the Senate. Rep. Keith Gillespie (R-47, York) and Grants assist rebirth of the ‘Jig’ Rep. Ted Harhai (D-58, Westmoreland) In 2003, the Old Chambersburg (Birch the section that runs through the Old are the Majority and Minority Chairs, Run) Reservoir was drained. As a whole, Chambersburg Reservoir was shallow and respectively, of the Game & Fisheries the Conococheague Creek (or the Jig as had little trout habitat. Committee. some locals call it) is one of the healthiest Ten years later, with the leadership of Rep. John Maher (R-40, Allegheny and and most productive wild trout streams DCNR Bureau of Forestry and the Adams Washington) and Rep. Greg Vitali (D-166, in the South Mountain region. However, See REBIRTH, page 5 See SESSION, page 2 IN THIS ISSUE Coldwater Conservation Corps Trainings ............2 Treasurer’s Report................................................10 Headwaters .............................................................4 Riparian Habitat Policy ........................................12 EXCOM Minutes ......................................................8 Chapter Reports ...................................................15 Pair of CCC trainings on tap The Pennsylvania Coldwater Conservation Corps has two upcoming trainings. Basic Monitoring Training will be held Saturday, Feb. 28 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at East Stroudsburg University. This training, open to both community volunteers and PA COUNCIL OF students, is hosted by the Brodhead Chapter of TU and East Stroudsburg University. TROUT UNLIMITED The training will cover topics ranging from basic environmental concerns of shale gas PO Box 5148 extraction to hands-on water quality sampling. Trained volunteers will be equipped to Bellefonte, PA monitor coldwater streams in their area with support from TU staff. 16823 Advanced Monitoring Training will be held Saturday, March 28 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Erie County Conservation District office. This training, open to current CCC PRESIDENT -- Brian Wagner 137 South New Street volunteers, is hosted by the NW PA chapter of TU. It will cover benthic macroinverte- Nazareth, PA 18064 brate sampling and identification. Assessing benthic macroinvertebrates can indicate Phone: 484-894-8289 cumulative and long-term impacts to aquatic ecosystems. E-mail: [email protected] To register for either of these trainings, or to learn more about the program, please VICE PRESIDENT -- contact Jake Lemon at [email protected]. Charlie Charlesworth 200 Camins Parkway Clarks Summit, PA 18411 Trout in the Classroom grant round opens Feb. 2 Phone: 570-586-3363 PATU will open the Trout in the Classroom (TIC) grant round on Monday, Feb. 2, E-mail: [email protected] 2015. Existing grants will be available for teachers who are already participating in VICE PRESIDENT -- Greg Malaska the program. Teachers can apply for funding up to $500 for equipment and educational 218 W. 13th St. Jim Thorpe, PA 16229 field trips. To apply for an existing grant or for more information, please visit www. Phone: 570-657-7169 patroutintheclassroom.org. Grant applications are due Friday, March 20, 2015. Contact E-mail: [email protected] Sandy Sausser at [email protected] or 814-359-5114 with questions. TREASURER -- George Kutskel TIC T-Shirts: It’s not too late to get a TIC T-shirt! This year’s shirts are royal blue. 107 Simmons Street All proceeds from T-shirt sales go directly toward supporting the grant program. Shirts DuBois, PA 15801 are $17 each ($20 for 2X and 3X). You can purchase a shirt at http://www.patroutinthe- Phone: 814-371-9290 classroom.org/supporttheprogram.aspx. E-mail: [email protected] SECRETARY -- Bob Pennell 2319 Valley Road Wayne’s Coldwater Kids set for April 26 on Spruce Creek Harrisburg, PA 17104 Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited is excited to announce that Wayne’s Cold- Phone: 717-236-1360 water Kids will be taking place on Sunday, April 26 at Wayne Harpster’s Evergreen E-mail: [email protected] Farm on Spruce Creek. PA TROUT EDITOR & DESIGNER -- Kids ages 12-15 are invited to attend this fun-filled day of fly fishing, which is Brad Isles followed by dinner. PATU requests that the $10 registration per youth is paid for by P.O. Box 23 Grove City, PA 16127 chapters. This is a great opportunity to mentor youths who may someday become an Phone: 724-967-2832 active participant in your chapter. All participants must be accompanied by no more E-mail: [email protected] than one mentor per student. We encourage two students per mentor if possible. PA TROUT ADVERTISING -- For more information or to register, please visit www.patrout.org. Contact Sandy Charlie Charlesworth Sausser at [email protected] or 814-359-5114 with questions. 200 Camins Parkway Clarks Summit, PA 18411 SESSION Sens. Gene Yaw (R-23, Lycoming) and Phone: 570-586-3363 from page 1 John Yudichak (D-14, Luzerne) are the E-mail: [email protected] Majority and Minority chairs, respectively, WEB EDITOR -- Bob Pennell Delaware and Montgomery) are the Major- for the Senate Environmental Resources 2319 Valley Road and Energy Committee. Harrisburg, PA 17104 ity and Minority Chairs, respectively, of Phone: 717-236-1360 the Environmental Resources & Energy Over the past year, we have built a sig- E-mail: [email protected] Committee. nificant grassroots legislative effort and For the Senate Game & Fisheries Com- that work will continue into the coming COPYRIGHT 2015 mittee, Sens. Mario Scavello (R-40, Mon- session. If you are interested in joining Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited roe) and Senator James Brewster (D-45, PATU’s legislative efforts, please contact No portion may be reproduced without permission. Allegheny) are the Majority and Minority Katy Dunlap, [email protected], for more Chairs, respectively. information on how you can get involved. 2 PA TROUT ... Winter 2015 www.patrout.org MEETING who register at a reduced rate. A special from page 1 welcome reception will be hosted by the PA COUNCIL NEPA Fly Girls, a contingent of the Lacka- OF TROUT wanna Valley chapter. There will also be a follows: UNLIMITED Wednesday, Sept. 16: Fishing Day – hospitality suite each night for attendees to Choose to fish one of northeast Pennsylva- unwind, relax and socialize. This will be 2015 COMMITTEES a fun event with a lot of great information nia’s trout waters with a local volunteer as Awards -- Ed O’Gorman your guide. These include the Lackawanna, to take back your chapter. 1220 Peters Mountain Rd., Dauphin, PA the Lackawaxen, the Delaware, Brodheads PATU is looking for donations for the 17018 Creek and the Upper Lehigh River. live and silent auction. Proceeds will be 717-580-3186 / [email protected] Thursday, Sept. 17: Conservation Tour used to cover the cost of the event and Coldwater Heritage Partnership Admin. 450 Robinson Lane, Bellefonte, PA 16823 – Participate in a bus tour highlighting any additional funding will be used for the 814-359-5233 / conservation projects and environmental Back the Brookie grant program. PATU is [email protected] issues being faced by Trout Unlimited in asking for items of $100 or more (retail Coldwater Heritage Partnership TU Delegate northeastern Pennsylvania. value) for the auction. Please keep in mind Ken Undercoffer Friday, Sept. 18: Full day of meetings that most attendees will be flying in, so and 1510 Village Rd., Clearfield, PA 16830 814-765-1035 / [email protected] and breakout training sessions, followed transporting large items could be difficult. Communications -- Brad Isles by an awards dinner. Regional vice presidents will be coming PO Box 13, Grove City, PA 16127 Saturday, Sept. 19: “State of TU” by around during the second and third quarters 724-967-2832 / [email protected] Chris Wood, president and CEO, followed this year to pick up auction items. Delaware River -- Lee Hartman by reports from the Board of Trustees, Contact Charlie Charlesworth, national 4978 Hancock Hwy., Equinunk, PA 18417 National Leadership Council and Trout committee chair, at 570-954-5042 or ff- 570-224-6371 / [email protected] Unlimited chief financial officer. Saturday [email protected]. Development -- George Kutskel 107 Simmons St., DuBois, PA 15801 evening will consist of the annual banquet, Registration will be available on www. 814-371-9290 / [email protected] which will include a live auction, silent TU.org as the date gets closer.