Fall 2019 Publication of the Pa. Council of Trout Unlimited www.patrout.org Rachel Kester named new Program Director. See page 2 for an introduction. Council leaders elected at Annual Meeting Seventy members representing 33 chapters attended the 2019 PA Council of Trout Unlimited’s Annual Meeting at the Shaver’s Creek Community Building in Petersburg, PA on Sept. 14. A presentation by Dave Allbaugh on traditional wet fly fishing techniques highlighted the meeting, and each chapter was afforded the opportunity to present an overview of their accomplishments during Amidea Daniel Photo More than 50 volunteers from PATU chapters and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat the past year. Commission packaged eggs and food for shipping to Trout in the Classroom pro- President Greg Malaska reviewed grams across the sate in October. Council’s activities and plans, and other presentations during the day included TU’s Eastern Policy Director Dave Kinney on Volunteers join forces advocacy, Brian Wagner reporting on his National Leadership Council (NLC) ac- tivities, and Brandon Diehl discussing the to prep TIC packages role that the Foundation for PA Watersheds By Bob Volkmar TIC coordinator and a TU member, assem- plays in support of the Coldwater Heritage PATU Treasurer bly lines were established, and volunteers Partnership (CHP) program. enthusiastically began the process of prep- The following Council officers were Twenty-seven volunteers from five ping boxes and filling them with ice packs, unanimously elected to serve one-year PATU chapters joined 26 Pennsylvania bagged eggs and food. Farther down the terms, beginning Oct. 1, 2019. Fish and Boat Commission staff members lines, crews taped and labelled the boxes See LEADERS, page 5 in Bellefonte to package TIC eggs and food to ready them for shipping. in preparation for shipping to classrooms Just three hours later, the last box was across the state. taped shut and labelled. Participants had PATU Awards Chapters represented on Oct. 7 were developed a hearty appetite and consumed Forbes Trail, God’s Country, Lloyd Wil- more pizzas than a group of college kids See pages 6-7 for a complete son, R.B. Winter and Spring Creek. Under on a Saturday night. listing of awards presented at the the direction of Amidea Daniel, PFBC’s See TIC, page 2 PATU Annual Meeting on Sept. 14. IN THIS ISSUE Director’s Report ....................................................2 Minutes ....................................................................8 EXCOM Actions ......................................................3 Chapter Reports ...................................................13 Headwaters .............................................................4 PATU Merchandise Order Form ..........................14 Director’s Report knitting, and by PATU Program Director crocheting. Rachel Kester I look forward to continuing to work to Greetings! protect and conserve For those of you who don’t know me, our coldwater PA COUNCIL OF my name is Rachel Kester and I joined streams through the TROUT UNLIMITED PO Box 5148 Council as the new Program Director for Coldwater Heritage Bellefonte, PA the Coldwater Heritage Partnership on Kester Partnership and 16823 Oct. 15. engage our youth PRESIDENT – Greg Malaska Prior to coming to PATU, I was through Trout-in-the-Classroom. 218 W. 13th St. project coordinator for National TU’s PA As many of you know, the Keystone Jim Thorpe, PA 18229 Coldwater Habitat Program (formerly the Coldwater Conference is coming up Phone: 570-657-7169 Eastern Abandoned Mine Program) for on Feb. 28-29, 2020 at the Ramada Inn Email: [email protected] nearly 11 years. Conference Center in State College. I EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT – My focus was primarily on restoration hope to see (or meet) all of you at this Bobby Hughes of abandoned mine drainage-impacted event. 394 E. Washington St. streams in the West Branch Susquehanna If you have any comments, questions, Nanticoke, PA 18634 Phone: 570-239-3909 River basin, but I also worked on other or ideas for the conference, please feel Email: [email protected] projects including capacity building free to reach out to me as planning is for watershed organizations, PFBC’s currently in full swing. EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT – Monty Murty Unassessed Waters Initiative, culvert My office is located at the PFBC’s PO Box 55 assessments, and habitat improvement Central Regional Office in Bellefonte, so Laughlintown, PA 15655 projects. if you’re in the area, please stop by and Phone: 724-238-7860 I live in rural Clearfield County with say hi! Email: [email protected] my husband and son, where we enjoy In the meantime, if I can be of any TREASURER – Bob Volkmar spending time together outdoors whether help to you or your chapter, please don’t 1443 West Br. Fishing Creek Road it be hiking, fishing, gardening, or hesitate to reach out to me at c-rkester@ Roulette, PA 16746 observing nature. I also enjoy reading, pa.gov or 814-359-5233. Phone: 814-544-7174 Email: [email protected] SECRETARY – Bob Pennell 2319 Valley Road Council unveils new merchandise Harrisburg, PA 17104 As you might have read in the Sum- For full descriptions and pictures, please Phone: 717-395-5124 mer issue of PA Trout, we are constantly check out the Merchandise page at www. Email: [email protected] striving to keep our PATU Merchandise patrout.org/merchandise. There you will PA TROUT EDITOR & DESIGNER – program vital in terms of offering a great find the current selection of clothing, Brad Isles P.O. Box 23 array of products at reasonable prices. books, gear, and other items available to Grove City, PA 16127 During the last few months, we have purchase online with your credit card, or Phone: 724-967-2832 reduced prices on a number of existing by downloading an order form to mail with Email: [email protected] items, as well as introducing the following your check for the products you select. PA TROUT ADVERTISING – new products: Traveller 9 foot, 7-piece, Your purchases help support the many Brad Isles 5-weight fly rods; super-slim waterproof programs PATU offers for coldwater P.O. Box 23 fly boxes; stainless steel insulated travel conservation projects and educational Grove City, PA 16127 mugs, and PATU-logoed stuff sacks. purposes. We appreciate your business! Phone: 724-967-2832 Email: [email protected] WEB EDITOR – Bob Pennell TIC The support garnered to help make 2319 Valley Road from page 1 the food packing and egg packing day Harrisburg, PA 17104 Phone: 717-395-5124 a success is a great example of what Email: [email protected] PFBC Executive Director Tim Shaffer makes Trout Unlimited amazing – local and Commissioner Rocco Ali stopped in volunteers devoting their time and energy COPYRIGHT 2019 to assist. They expressed their sincere ap- Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited preciation for the time and dedication TU to further the TU mission. State Council No portion may be reproduced shouts out a big “thank you” to everyone without permission. volunteers and PFBC staff devote to TIC locally and statewide. who participated. 2 PA TROUT ... Fall 2019 www.patrout.org Keystone Coldwater Conference PA COUNCIL abstract deadline is Nov. 15 OF TROUT The Pennsylvania Council of Trout The theme for this year’s conference UNLIMITED Unlimited will host the 14th Keystone is “Coldwater Resource Conservation 2019-20 COMMITTEES Coldwater Conference Feb. 28-29, 2020 and Education: Resiliency in a Changing Awards – at the Ramada Inn Conference Center in Environment.” Beth Boyd 717-404-7642 / [email protected] State College. If you would like to submit an abstract The conference is an opportunity for Coldwater Heritage Partnership Admin. – for consideration, please visit the Keystone grassroots conservation organizations, en- Rachel Kester vironmental professionals, college faculty, Coldwater Conference website for more 814-359-5233 / [email protected] staff, and students to share ideas, concepts, information and to download a presenta- Coldwater Heritage Partnership TU Delegate – tion request form. Ken Undercoffer and network in order to protect, conserve 814-765-1035 / [email protected] and restore Pennsylvania’s coldwater Questions can be directed to Rachel College/5 Rivers – resources. Kester at [email protected]. Charlie Charlesworth 570-954-5042 / [email protected] Communications – Actions Taken by EXCOM since June 22, 2019 Brad Isles July 5 – Approved reserving 7 rooms at the Huntingdon Motor Inn at a cost of $99.00 724-967-2832 / [email protected] per room + tax for the EXCOM retreat at Shavers Creek Fire Hall on September 15, Delaware River – 2019. Lee Hartman 570-224-6371 / [email protected] August 6 – Approved a contribution of $300 to the NLC Native Trout Workgroup to Jeff Skelding help cover the cost of producing a brook trout poster for educational purposes. 410-245-8021 / [email protected] August 9 – Approved signing on to the letter drafted by Garth Pettinger requesting Development – the Decree Party Principals to incorporate the proposed Phase I Release Tables into Monty Murty the Delaware River FFMP Agreement. 724-238-7860 / [email protected] September 17 – Approved authorization for PNC Bank to issue a debit card to Diversity Initiative – Secretary Bob Pennell and to add Bob Pennell as a signatory on PA Council’s PNC Amidea Daniel Bank accounts. 814-359-5127 / [email protected] September 24 – Approved authorization for Rachel Kester to act as a signatory on Kelly Williams 814-765-2624 / [email protected] PATU’s checking accounts at PNC Bank and to authorize PNC Bank to issue debit Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture – cards to her on those accounts. Ken Undercoffer September 25 – Approved an expenditure of $4,230 for Quarter Note Systems to 814-765-1035 / [email protected] update and convert our www.patrout.org website to a WordPress format. Environmental – October 12 – Approved signing on to letter drafted by Dave Kinney requesting the Dale Kotowski PA Dept. of Environmental Protection to consider upgrading all Class A Wild Trout 724-747-1513 / [email protected] waters to High Quality (HQ) protection status.