Fall Edition 20
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www.adamscountytu.org Fall 2020 FROMA OURd PRESIDENTams AnWELCOME NEW Hello fellow members of ACTU, MEMBERS Joe Hurtack In spite of the pandemic and it’s restrictions I am proud to be associated Robert Warehime with the “BEST” small TU Chapter in PA!!! ACTU was recognized by the Quinn Jones PATU Council of Trout Unlimited as the best small Chapter out of 49 Chapters in PA. This recognition is based on our fundraising, stream work, Thanks for RENEWING community involvement, the Knouse Conewago project, the use of ZOOM Bob Ainsley with guest speakers to keep in touch, and our increase in membership. Richard Barvainis None of this would be possible without the dedication of our active Wayne Belt members. Please take the time to assist the Chapter in any way you can. Charles Dutrow We function as a team so the more active members we have, the more we Robert Elicker can do. Clifford Frost Besides the Chapter recognition, I am very pleased to announce that Jason Haines Richard Lewis, an ACTU member was recognized as the Doc Fritchey Donald Loudon Outstanding Coldwater Conservationist, TU Member. This award evaluates George Lower all TU members in PA for their contribution to coldwater conservation. Gary Perry Please join with me in congratulating Richard for a well deserved Thomas Plovock recognition. John Reed Robert Sharrah Where do we go from here? We will soon start planning our 2020-2021 Richard Shrader events. The pandemic and the guidelines that we are currently operating Carl Swinn under have changed our lives, but we are still active and must look to the Grey Walde future and what we can do to foster the goals of TU. I am partial to doing Michael Bishop & Jonathon things that address our youth. In 2021 I will be saddened if we cannot Zimmerman have our family fund raiser with a ZooAmerica event, our SOY fly tying sessions, our Latimore Fishing Derby, and the PA Rivers Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp. Through the Winter months the Chapter will be planning for and budgeting for our events in the Spring, Summer, and Fall. We will have to plan with as much enthusiasm as we’ve done in the past, but with an eye on the potential impact of the pandemic. Thanks for all you do for the Chapter and be cautious, stay safe, and cast a line when you can. Hank Rajotte President ACTU, Chapter 323 WHATS INSIDE Stream Improvements A Day with Bioligists Conewago Creek continues A day in the life of 3 with improvements 6 Fisheries Biologists 1 ADAMS COUNTY CHAPTER HAPPENINGS AWARDED BEST SMALL CHAPTER AWARD FOR 2020 ACTU 323 started off January and February gearing into 2020. ACTU did manage to receive four grants to provide income in planning their annual fundraiser scheduled for end of March. Chapter members collected donations including gift cards, prizes and cash donations the chapter totally over $5,000. On February 22nd ACTU members setup for the local Heidlersburg Outdoor Weekend Show. Two new members joined along with membership applications taken home. Chapter showed video of our restoration work and had free refreshments. Many PFBC brochures of fish identification were handed out. Chapter Officers met with Friends of Toms Creek on a reclassification with data collected from Toms Creek. A reclassification would mean higher protection of the waterway. Chapter treasurer spoke at th meeting with landowners, DEP, SGI on expansion of Quarry Operations. As ACTU held fundraising meetings, the Covid 19 landed in our laps. After cancelling our fundraiser, the chapter donated all their gift card donations from the fundraiser before expiration date to Adams County Head Start to less disadvantage families. The Head Start program helps COVID-19 financially disadvantaged families. We also had to setup how the chapter would communicate with their membership. ACTU joined with Zoom for an annual fee to keep everyone in the loop. Guest speakers appear on Zoom for each meeting. ACTU has been streamlining their volunteer efforts with Knouse Foods and other partners to purchase 60 acres along the Conewago Creek in the PFBC regulated catch and release section and was successful raising over $16,000 through donations. This project started as a stream easement access purchased then processed to an outright purchase of 60 acres with partners to include the PFBC, Northern Virginia Trout Unlimited, Adams County partners included the Land Preservation and Planning Office. For our youth program, ACTU worked to get their 11 Trout In the Classroom Brook Trout stocked to new homes. This was accomplished by our members along with the presiding teachers due to the virus and school closings. Chapter officer met with PFBC biologist to review Birch Run project along Rt 233 in Adams County. As ACTU worked thru the Panademic, our restoration committee was able to add 174 restoration manhours on the Conewago Creek on May 30, June 5 and July 11 using social distancing. NVTU assisted. ACTU added two newer habitat devices while building improvements on others. Two 20 ft culvert pipes were installed with rock retaining walls. Trails were trimmed and rose bushes removed. Chapter treasurer attended Zoom National webinar on Free membership for First Responders. Communicated with ACTU board and was able to add two new free memberships to the chapter. Two chapter members participates with the PFBC electrofishing of upper reaches of Toms Creek. 7 chapter members planted 80 trees and shrubs in the catch and release section of the Conewago. With the Covid-19 virus in 2020, ACTU was determined to carry out their mission to protect, conserve and restore our waterways while communicating with their membership. 2 CONEWAGO STREAM IMPROVEMENT WORKDAY On September 17, 2020 a call went out to all our members for help in planting trees and shrubs along a section of stream that has been under our chapters watch for decades. Here is a pat-on-the-back for the seven guys that volunteered. The group started at 9AM and finished by noon. Can you recognize any of the group? The group planted tree and shrub varieties including Scarlet Oak, Red Maple, Tulip Poplar, Grey Dogwoods and Red Buds. All species had shelters and stakes installed. Special thanks to our Adams County Watershed Specialist in the process, ACTU was happy to help. ACTU wants to thank the following individuals for their volunteer efforts on the Conewago Creek Restoration Project: Dave Swope, Richard Lewis, Jim Zinn, Jeff Clarke, Eddie McGlaughlin, Charles Buzz Dettinburn, Randy Dettinburn, Jeff Martin, Gerry Gladfelter, Gary Perry Sr., Tom Ritter, Dave Keller, Tim Jeffcoat, Jeremy and Ricky Whitmore, and from NVTU Luke Henderickson, Ken Frugate and Mike Craigmore. 3 MORE CHAPTER NEWS Nominations of Officers/Trustees In accordance with our by-laws, every September has always been nomination of our Board of Officers and Board of Directors (BOD). Looking towards 2021, there were a few slots open to be nominated. Any member interested in a copy of our ACTU by-laws please contact [email protected]. Due to the Covid 19, the chapter held their nominations over the computer with Zoom on September 15th 7pm. An email blast will notify our members before next meeting. All members are encouraged to attend. Voting will take place at the October meeting located at Lake Heritage 7 pm. Again, I must note, we have big shoes to fill in the chapter with Richard Lewis recently being promoted to President of the Pa. Fish and Boat Commission. The chapter is rushing to find help dividing some of his workload, we are looking for our members to step forward. Just taking a small part of the work will help. Computer skills are needed for some of his work but your willingness “to get involved” is all it takes. Knouse Foods Agreement We are anxiously waiting word that the application for funding is approved in the purchase of the entire property. Much work lies ahead when this finally happens. This is a hure partnering project with many hurdles to cross. Our chapter is just ecstatic tha xwe have come this far and are so close to preserving this piece of our property-forever. ACTU has curtailed any restoration projects on this section of stream until further notice. Your ACTU chapter is looking for approval of the grant in the coming months. Stay tuned for further updates. Some of our members “Zooming” a monthly Chapter Meeting 4 THE BENEFITS OF LARGE WOODY DEBRIS IN STREAMS Large wood provides multiple benefits in stream systems, such as stabilized streambanks, improved floodplain connectivity and more diverse aquatic habitat. Large woody debris, also known as large wood, provides multiple benefits in stream systems, such as stabilized streambanks, improved floodplain connectivity, and more diverse aquatic habitat. Large wood, is typically consists of as fallen trees, logs, and branches that are at least four inches wide and six feet long. Traditionally, large wood is removed from streams in an effort to clean up stream channels and to prevent localized flooding. Studies have shown that public perception of large wood in waterways is typically negative, often associating flooding, bank erosion, and infrastructure damage with the presence of large wood. Many people consider streams having wood lying in or around the channel to be less attractive, more hazardous, and needing more improvement than those without wood; however, large wood has many physical and biological benefits to stream systems. The presence of trees and other woody material that have fallen from the riparian area helps connect the stream channel to its floodplain. During rainstorms and snow melts, large wood can act as an obstacle to flowing water, forcing high flows into the nearby floodplain along with any sediment and nutrients it may be carrying.