Pennsylvania Mixed Bag: RMEF, partners send $528,023 to state – Outdoor News
Missoula, Montana — The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and a host of partners supplied more than half a million dollars to enhance habitat for elk, deer, black bears, turkeys and other wildlife in Pennsylvania. The funding also supports youth recreational shooting programs and gatherings focused on conservation, hunting, fishing or other outdoor activities.
The elk foundation supplied $178,424, which helped leverage $349,599 in partner support. There are more than 13,000 elk foundation members and 29 chapters in Pennsylvania. Visit here to view a list and approximate location of all 19 projects.
Project partners include the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, private individuals and volunteers, and other conservation, sportsmen, civic and business organizations.
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DCNR: No Tohickon Creek Whitewater Release
Upper Black Eddy, Pa. — The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources recently announced it will not conduct its semiannual November whitewater release from Lake Nockamixon into Tohickon Creek due to low water levels.
Due to dry conditions and no rain in the 10-day forecast, water levels in Lake Nockamixon are a foot below what’s needed for a whitewater release from the dam, according to DCNR.
Releases are historically scheduled on a semiannual basis, usually occurring on the third weekend in March and the first weekend in November.
Boat Capacity Plates are Unnecessary
Harrisburg — At their recent quarterly meeting here, the Board of Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commissioners voted to give final approval to changes pertaining to a boating regulation.
Under the change to the state’s Fish and Boat Code, the passage pertaining to boat capacity plates will be removed because the commission has been advised by the U.S. Coast Guard that federal capacity plate requirements apply to manufacturers and are enforced by the Coast Guard.
Therefore, commissioners decided, it is unnecessary for the Fish & Boat Commission to promulgate regulations regarding capacity plate requirements. This change will go into effect upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Still Time to Apply for Boating Facility Grant
Harrisburg — In his report to the Fish & Boat commissioners at their recent quarterly meeting here, agency Executive Director Tim Schaeffer reminded the public that the application period remains open for the commission’s popular Boating Facility Grant Program.
Applications for the program are due by Nov. 30, according to Schaeffer. Information about the program, including application materials, can be found on the agency’s website, Fishandboat.com.
Commission Names New Wild-Trout Waters
Harrisburg — At their recent quarterly meeting here, the Board of Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commissioners voted to approve the addition of 20 new waters to the agency’s list of Class A wild trout streams, the addition of 24 new waters to the its list of wild trout streams, and the revision of six waters currently listed.
A list of waters proposed for Class A wild trout and wild trout stream designation can be found in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. All of these additions will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Parking Lot Added to Juniata Creek Easement
Harrisburg — At their recent quarterly meeting here, the Board of Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commissioners authorized the acquisition of an easement along Little Juniata Creek in Wheatfield Township, Perry County.
Through this action, the commission will amend a previous easement agreement approved at the July 2024 meeting for the purpose of public fishing, boating, and riparian and fishery management along approximately 8,120 linear feet of stream.
Under the new agreement, the agency will pay an additional $15,000 to the landowner so that a public parking area may be added to the easement area.
Funding for the easement will be provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program.
Little Juniata Creek provides significant stocked trout and wild Brown Trout fishing opportunities in the area. Staff will adhere to the PFBC’s standard practices for acquiring property, including meeting due diligence and funding requirements.
Nearly a Month Without Rain in Philadelphia
Philadelphia — At this issue’s deadline, the state’s largest city had gone at least 28 days without seeing any measurable rain, the longest streak since 2001, according to the National Weather Service.
The city’s dry spell comes as the Delaware Valley is dealing with a moderate to severe drought due to a near-record lack of rainfall over the past month.
The National Integrated Drought Information System says Philadelphia County not only has seen just 25–50% of the normal precipitation for this time of year, but temperatures have been 3-6 degrees above normal.
At this writing, meaningful rainfall was not expected until the first week of November.
Source: https://www.outdoornews.com/2024/11/04/pennsylvania-mixed-bag-rmef-partners-send-528023-to-state/
