In case you missed the October Chapter Meeting featuring Conservation Chair Bryan Mathie’s update on the Chapter’s conservation plans, please click here for a youtube video of his talk. Click here for his power point slides.
If you are a fan of the brook trout you may wish to attend (either in person or by Zoom) a two-day meeting to be held September 28-29 in Thurmont, MD (halfway between Gettysburg, PA and Frederick, MD on US 15).
The workshop is titled: ” Understanding Genetics for Successful Conservation and Restoration of Resilient Chesapeake Bay Brook Trout Populations“
If you attend Sara Mueller’s talk for PWWTU on September 13, you’ll be all set for the workshop.
Click here for more information and to register.
Tim Kelly of Citizen’s Climate Lobby urges us to contact our Senators and urge them to include carbon pricing in the Budget Reconcilliation Bill.
Click Here for more information about how to take action.
The Pennsylvania Senate has unanimously approved a bill by Sen. Jim Brewster aimed at helping veterans and others who are “in recovery” by waiving license fees for recreational fishing within the confines of an approved program.
PA Senate Bill 241, will exempt the cost of fishing licenses in Pennsylvania for veterans and other individuals taking steps towards physical or mental recovery as part of therapeutic angling events sponsored by established service groups such as Project Healing Waters. (Click here for text). The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission estimated in 2018 that more than 60 different service organizations and hundreds of unique one-day fishing opportunity events across the Commonwealth would have qualified for exemption under the provisions of the bill.
“Fishing, like all outdoor recreation, is healthy fun, healthy for the economy and we now know that it can be an important part of the health of thousands of Pennsylvanians trying to overcome challenges,” Brewster said. “I’m looking forward to seeing hundreds of events across Pennsylvania that provide opportunities for recreational and therapeutic angling.”
The bill now goes to the House.
CLICK HERE to get to the National TU’s website page called “Stand up TU” which has great opportunities to get involved in lobbying for projects all over the country.
Advocacy of conservation and environmental issues is an important aspect of our mission, as outlined in the recently adopted Strategic Plan. We’ve added a column titled “ADVOCACY” to the Conservation page. Please contact [email protected] with ideas for individual and/or group action.
Chris Mullin grew up in Minnesota, where he enjoyed canoeing and fishing its many lakes, especially the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. His most recent trip there was two years ago with his two brothers and 89-year-old father. He earned degrees in physics from the University Of Chicago, and Cal Berkeley, and has a deep respect for what science can tell us about the world. He has watched with growing alarm as climate science has clarified the causes, risks, and potential future of climate change. He joined Citizens’ Climate Lobby four years ago because it offers a clear path to an effective, bipartisan, market-based solution to the climate crisis. It feels good to contribute to tangible progress towards making a difference in the world.
The link to the Zoom meeting will arrive in your email a day or two before the December 14 , 7 pm meeting.
In case you missed this “Outdoors” article in the PPG newspaper on November 29th you can Click Here to read all about a major stream improvement project on an important tributary of Dunbar Creek. The story illustrates how many players are involved in a 21st Century project, and the time and effort required to bring it to conclusion. Dale Kotowski of the Chestnut Ridge Chapter of Trout Unlimited is featured because the Chapter built a similar but smaller passive treatment facility nearby the new one in 2003 and continues to provide crushed limestone to counteract acid mine drainage in other tributaries of Glade Run.
Tom Walsh was the chair of our Conservation Committee until his untimely death last year. Tom’s love for (Little) Pine Creek in the North Hills was unmatched. He organized work parties, stocking, and children’s fishing derbies. Your Board has chosen to honor him by donating $2500 each year for 5 years to support one or more upper-class students at Chatham University who is (are) in the BS Biology program with a focus on “sustainability”. Chatham has an entire campus in the North Hills dedicated to sustainable living (including a trout rearing facility!). Bryan Mathie is working to establish a relation between PWWTU and this aspect of Chatham’s efforts.
Tom was a superior human being and this Memorial Grant will help his name and good works live on.
If you’re planning trip(s) to the tribs to hunt the wily steelhead this year, consider helping the people who manage the fishery by recording information about your trip: location; stream; weather, stream flow, catch, species, number of anglers, time on the water, which lure, etc. Click here to find out more about the program and sign up to receive a log book (pictured above). Good service, good fun.