WBSRC logo West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Coalition

Winter 2013

In This Issue
Member Spotlight: The Chest Creek Watershed Alliance
Technical Corner: The Value of Preforming a Redd Survey
7th West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Symposium
Twomile Run in Kettle Creek - Major Projects Completed and Underway
Trout Unlimited Welcomes Habitat Project Coordinator
Act 13 Marcellus Legacy Fund Grant Awarded
Special Announcement of the Beech Creek Watershed Stakeholders Meeting
Upcoming Events
WBSRC Meeting - 
December 10th

Beech Creek watershed Stakeholders Meeting- 
December 11th
Join Our Mailing List 

WBSRC Meeting Reminder

 

When: Tuesday - December 10th, 2013

Holiday Party begins at 5:30 PM

Business Meeting begins at 6:30 PM

 

Where: Clinton County Resource and Education Center in Mill Hall

 

More information: www.wbsrc.org/meetings.html

Member Spotlight: The Chest Creek Watershed Alliance  

 

"Because Everybody Lives Down Stream"

The Chest Creek Watershed Alliance (CCWA) was formed in 2003 to improve and protect Chest Creek, from its source near Bradley Junction in Cambria County, to its juncture with the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in Mahaffey, Clearfield County. The Clearfield & Cambria County Conservation Districts, along with their expert watershed specialists, guided this undertaking and the Chest Creek Watershed Alliance was born. Read More...

Technical Corner: The Value of Performing a Redd Survey

 

As the fall season draws to an end and the days continue to become shorter, the most recent significant event in the lives of brook trout has been the spawning season. In Pennsylvania, brook trout generally spawn between September and November. Similar to other trout and salmon species (members of the family Salmonidae), brook trout are gravel nest spawners. The female brook trout will excavate a nest in gravel substrate and deposit her eggs. The eggs are then externally fertilized by one or more male trout. Once the eggs are fertilized, the nest area is quickly covered with gravel. The female trout may begin to dig another nest and a contiguous series of these nests is called a redd. Read More...

7th West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Symposium 

 

Planning for the 7th West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Symposium has begun. The Symposium will take place at the Toftress Golf Resort and Conference Center in State College on April 10-11, 2014. The Symposium will offer two days packed with information on AMD in the West Branch Susquehanna watershed, treatment, and funding options for remediation. The Symposium also offers the unique experience to exchange ideas with other volunteers, professionals, experts, and students all working to improve the West Branch. Read More...

Twomile Run in Kettle Creek - Major Projects Completed and Underway

 

Trout Unlimited and the Kettle Creek Watershed Association have been partnering on the AMD cleanup effort for the

Swamp Area Passive Treatment Facility

lower Kettle Creek watershed since 1998, and together they have accomplished a lot over the last 15 years. The most recent accomplishments in this past year include the construction of three passive treatment systems: the Swamp Area system, Robbins Hollow 10A-10B system, and the Robbins Hollow Pipes 1-4 system. Additionally, the DEP Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation awarded a $12.2 million contract for reclamation of approximately 100 acres of abandoned surface mine land - one of the largest-ever reclamation projects awarded by DEP. Read More...

Trout Unlimited Welcomes Habitat Project Coordinator 

 

Jake Tomlinson recently joined Trout Unlimited as Habitat Project Coordinator for Trout Unlimited's Pennsylvania Eastern Brook Trout Habitat Initiative. This initiative is focused on reconnecting and restoring Eastern brook trout habitat in priority Pennsylvania watersheds. Jake received an A.A.S. in Forest Technology from the Pennsylvania College of Technology and a B.S. in Ecology from Susquehanna University. Jake has worked in the field of natural resource management for agencies including the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Tioga County Conservation District, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission since he graduated in 2005. Groups interested in reconnecting and restoring brook trout in Pennsylvania watersheds can contact Jake for consideration in partnering and receiving assistance in the following types of projects: conducting aquatic organism passage assessments; improving sediment drainage from dirt and gravel roads; identifying, designing, and permitting fish habitat improvement projects; and conducting pre- and post-construction habitat project monitoring. Jake can be reached at [email protected] or (570) 772-7969.

Act 13 Marcellus Legacy Fund Grant Awarded for Kettle Creek AMD Operation and Maintenance

 

Trout Unlimited was awarded a $304,240 grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority's Act 13 Marcellus Legacy Fund AMD Abatement Program. The grant will be used to help fund road improvements on some unimproved

Dirt road to be revegetated with Act 13 funds.

dirt forestry roads adjacent to several AMD project sites, several minor maintenance activities for passive treatment systems, and establishment of a 20-year operation and maintenance trust fund for Kettle Creek AMD projects. Although a fully funded trust fund requires $905,000, this will at least help to begin building that trust fund to provide for the long-term operation of maintenance needs of the passive treatment systems in the Twomile Run subwatershed of Kettle Creek.

Special Announcement of the Beech Creek Watershed Stakeholders Meeting

 

Trout Unlimited and the Centre and Clinton County Conservation Districts are sponsoring a public meeting to discuss new ideas of how to tackle the AMD issues facing the Beech Creek watershed. You may not live or work in the Beech Creek watershed, but your knowledge of strategies which have worked in your watershed could provide great insight at this meeting. We hope you will attend the meeting and share your expertise.

 

The meeting will be held at the Bald Eagle Area High School on December 11, 2013 at 6:30 PM. Light refreshments will be provided. If you have any questions please contact Trout Unlimited at 570-748-4901 or  [email protected].