Winter 2019 Publication of the Pa. Council of Trout Unlimited www.patrout.org Comment now to sustain protection of clean water By Rob Shane TU Mid-Atlantic Organizer Clean water starts at the source. Thanks to the 2015 Clean Water Rule, the wetlands and intermittent streams that provide this clean water to our favorite fisheries are protected from short-sighted, thoughtless development. At the end of 2018, however, the EPA proposed revisions of this rule that would dismantle many years of scientific data, ignore overwhelming public support, Brad Isles Photo and defy common sense. PATU strongly favors conservation programs and projects that preserve or en- The proposed Waters of the United hance existing populations of wild trout. States rule would strip Clean Water Act See WATER, page 7 State Council adopts Submit comments to the EPA: http://standup.tu.org/ Policy on Trout Management stand-up-for-clean-water Periodically, PA Council reviews its 49 local chapters representing over 14,000 various policies to incorporate updates members. Our mission is, “To conserve, Keystone/TUTeens that reflect current views on these guiding protect, restore, and sustain Pennsylvania’s Conservation Camp principles. The following Policy on Trout coldwater fisheries and their watersheds, Management prepared by the Trout Man- especially our wild trout resources.” registration opens agement Committee was approved and Both PATU and its parent organization, Registration for the Keystone/TUTeens adopted by Council’s Executive Committee National Trout Unlimited, believe that Conservation Camp is now open and can on Feb. 9, 2019. conservation should be a true partnership be completed at www.flyfishingsummer- Trout Unlimited was founded as a between landowners, agencies, municipali- camp.org. conservation organization dedicated ties, and all stakeholders. Camp starts on Sunday, June 23, 2019 to ensuring that wild and native trout We work to protect critical habitat, to and culminates with a family barbecue on populations are allowed to thrive as nature reconnect degraded waterways, and re- Saturday, June 29. Teens ages 14 to 18 with intended. The Pennsylvania Council of store populations of coldwater fisheries. or without experience can register for this Trout Unlimited (PATU) is comprised of See POLICY, page 2 See CAMP, page 5 IN THIS ISSUE EXCOM Actions ......................................................2 Minutes ....................................................................6 Headwaters .............................................................4 Chapter Reports .....................................................8 Treasurer’s Notes ...................................................5 PATU Merchandise Order Form ..........................10 POLICY as with other agencies of the Common- from page 1 wealth, other conservation organizations, county conservation districts, landowners, We strive to ensure that our decisions and business and industry, local government programs reflect the very best information entities, and elected officials. available. PATU will work to educate its mem- PA COUNCIL OF bers and others regarding the importance TROUT UNLIMITED The following statements communicate PO Box 5148 PATU’s policy on the management of wild of protecting and enhancing wild trout Bellefonte, PA trout populations. All Pennsylvania chap- populations. Conversely, it will advocate 16823 ters, as well as their individual members, against measures that will result in adverse PRESIDENT – Greg Malaska are strongly encouraged to follow these impacts on wild trout. 218 W. 13th St. guidelines and to adhere to this policy Given the historically deleterious im- Jim Thorpe, PA 16229 when representing Trout Unlimited. pacts of human activity on the state’s Phone: 570-657-7169 waterways, hatchery trout provide rec- Email: [email protected] PATU strongly favors conservation programs and projects that preserve or reational fishing for anglers in a variety EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT – enhance existing populations of wild trout of waters. PATU supports the stocking of John Leonard and facilitate re-establishment of native hatchery trout in waters that cannot support 222 Brindle Road naturally sustaining numbers of wild trout. Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 brook trout populations in water bodies Phone: 717-512-4620 within their historical range. The goals of PATU defines naturally sustaining as Email: [email protected] these programs are: a wild trout population that is able to maintain a stable population in both size EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT – • Improvements to water quality Monty Murty • Habitat improvement and age over an extended period of time, PO Box 55 • Re-establishing connectivity within while recognizing the typical year to year Laughlintown, PA 15655 watersheds variability of wild trout populations. Phone: 724-238-7860 Further, PATU supports the stocking Email: [email protected] PATU strongly believes that conserva- tion efforts should be based on sound sci- of fingerlings or advanced fingerlings in TREASURER – George Kutskel ence and will support programs and policy waters where this approach would prove 107 Simmons Street decisions that meet these requirements. successful. Recognizing that not all waters DuBois, PA 15801 are suitable for sustaining a successful Phone: 814-371-9290 PATU will make every effort to advance Email: [email protected] our knowledge of coldwater environs and fingerling stocking program, waters pos- the trout that reside therein. sessing the characteristics best suited to SECRETARY – Bob Pennell this stocking approach could be added 2319 Valley Road In the execution of its mission, PATU Harrisburg, PA 17104 will work cooperatively with the Pennsyl- to the program and surveys conducted to Phone: 717-395-5124 vania Fish and Boat Commission, as well Continued on next page... Email: [email protected] PA TROUT EDITOR & DESIGNER – Actions Taken by EXCOM since Oct. 7, 2018 Brad Isles October 28 – Approved Council to sign on to National TU’s letter to the leaders P.O. Box 23 Grove City, PA 16127 of the US House and Senate requesting reauthorization of the Land & Water Conser- Phone: 724-967-2832 vation Fund (LWCF) which expired on Sept. 30, 2018. Email: [email protected] November 9 – Approved Council to sign on to the letter from the Coalition for the PA TROUT ADVERTISING – Delaware River Watershed to the US Office of Management & Budget requesting Brad Isles robust funding for the Delaware River Restoration Program in FY2020. P.O. Box 23 Approved hiring the accounting firm of Mauthe, Yutzey, Gabler & Grove City, PA 16127 November 14 – Phone: 724-967-2832 Troxell to prepare and file federal and state income tax forms for FY2018. Email: [email protected] December 10 – Approved sharing the cost of a meeting room to discuss strate- WEB EDITOR – Bob Pennell gies for managing the Delaware River with the NY, NJ and DE State Councils at the 2319 Valley Road January Fly Fishing Show in Edison, NJ. Harrisburg, PA 17104 December 13 – Approved signing on to a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engi- Phone: 717-395-5124 Email: [email protected] neers in support of establishing controls to eliminate the migration of Asian Carp into the Great Lakes. COPYRIGHT 2019 December 28 – Approved 2019 regional training dates of April 6 for western Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited region at the Nimick Family Education Center of the Loyalhanna Watershed Asso- No portion may be reproduced without permission. ciation in Ligonier, and April 27 for eastern region at the Columbia County Conser- vation District in Bloomsburg. 2 PA TROUT ... Winter 2019 www.patrout.org ...Continued from previous page for evaluation of the impacts on those determine success or failure. waterways and watersheds. PA COUNCIL PATU advocates that no hatchery trout be PATU recommends that streams in OF TROUT introduced to any waters holding naturally watersheds that support migratory popula- sustaining native brook trout throughout tions of wild brook or brown trout be man- UNLIMITED the entire year. Acknowledging PFBC’s aged on a watershed level for the resource 2019 COMMITTEES classification system of Pennsylvania’s opportunities afforded during all seasons Awards – wild trout waters, we support cessation of of the year. There are sustaining numbers Ed O’Gorman all stocking in Class A, Class B, and Class of wild trout in fisheries that are currently 717-580-3186 / [email protected] C waters. Instead, we support actions classified as Warm Water Fisheries. Two Coldwater Heritage Partnership Admin. – directed at enhancing those populations. examples are the Frankstown Branch of the Ashley Wilmont We also recommend periodic resurveying Juniata River and Sherman’s Creek. PATU 814-359-5233 / [email protected] of Class B, Class C, and Class D waters to believes that wild trout populations exist- Coldwater Heritage Partnership TU Delegate – ing in entire watersheds such as these are Ken Undercoffer determine if changes or improvements in 814-765-1035 / [email protected] habitat or water quality may be appropriate not being documented due to the surveys College/5 Rivers – to enhance the wild trout population. being conducted only in mid-summer. Charlie Charlesworth PATU also encourages consideration These riverine migratory wild trout 570-954-5042 / [email protected] of the stocking of sterile rainbow trout populations should be identified and then Communications – (triploids) as a potential method of re- managed on a watershed level to protect Brad Isles ducing or