Archive for category: Conservation

Pittsburgh North Area Environmental Council is hosting John Arway in a ZOOM conference on October 6 at 7pm. John calls it like he sees it and is always an entertaining speaker. You must be registered to attend. Click Here for all the details.

The Trump administration, acting through the Army Corps of Engineers, has put a serious roadblock in the way of the Pebble Mine Project. The Corps of Engineers is requiring that Alaska issue a “certificate of reasonable assurance” that the Pebble Mine will comply with federal and state water quality laws. The Corps cannot issue a wetlands permit to Pebble without having Alaska sign off on it. Click here for an August 28 article from the Alaska Public Media.

A Note to Trout Unlimited’s volunteers and members from Chris Wood, President: 

Trout Unlimited is developing a new strategic plan, and our approach to fisheries management is an important issue. A review of our approach to stocking is part of the process. While TU’s founding principles on the topic of stocking are clear and have been reaffirmed and expanded upon by the North American Salmonid Policy, there’s room to reconsider our position.

Let’s start with our vision:

Trout Unlimited’s Vision: By the next generation, Trout Unlimited will ensure that robust populations of native and wild cold-water fish once again thrive within their North American range, so that our children can enjoy healthy fisheries in their home waters.

Let’s end with Chris’s current Bottom Line:

TU has a reasoned priority that is based on science —native fish are paramount, wild fish come second, and stocked fish only belong where they do not harm wild and native salmonids and other native species.

Chris would like to hear from you on the fisheries management challenges you face in your area and how you see them aligning, or not, with TU’s approach to hatcheries. Email Chris Wood ([email protected])

Click Here for more information.

I

 

Torrid temperatures and lack of rain in Western PA have combined to deliver a “perfect storm” of bad conditions to the fish in our streams and lakes, especially the trout. Trout like it cold, in part because there’s more oxygen in the water. Trout tolerate water temps in the 70’s but are living on the edge. Being hooked, played and landed may be a fatal event for a trout these days. So fish for bass and other warm water species or put the rods away, and get out the golf clubs. Leave ’em be till the weather cools off and we get a lot of rain…probably ’till Fall. -ED & Bob Heil

John Hayes has nicely summarized the current status of PFBC’s new “Strategic Plan for Management of Trout Fisheries in Pennsylvania”. You’ll enjoy the update. Click Here for John’s article. Click Here for the Strategic Plan per se.