MCWA plants MORE trees!

 Check it out.  MCWA is doing a great job at improving the riparian buffer on our stream.  Please help out if you can.

Election results..and more

Elections:

Not those!  The Monocacy Chapter typically holds it's annual meeting and elections in October, but 2020 being what it is, things were a little different this year.

Due to low turnout at the meeting (understandable), and the uncertainty about when we could reschedule for the future, those in attendance voted unanimously to postpone the election of Officers and Board of Directors until Spring 2021.

So for now we will continue with our current BOD and Officers as usual.

Meetings: 

On HOLD for now. The City of Bethlehem has temporarily closed our normal meeting place, the Daughters of the American Revolution Log Cabin.  As an alternative to that, be on the look out for online or outdoor events to fill in the schedule.  The change in weather and the flexibility of online meetings may mean programs outside the 4th Tuesday of the month we typically use. 

If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to reach out monocacytu491@gmail.com. 

October 2020 Monthly meeting

 Members:

Our annual elections are slated to take place tomorrow, Tuesday Oct. 27th.  This year our meeting will have to be conducted outside, at the Pavilion in Illick's Mill Park (the one closest Illick's Mill Rd).  The meeting time will also be moved up to 5:30.  The agenda for this meeting will be:

1.  Election of Officers

2.  Election of Board of Directors (if needed)

3.  New Buisness

If you currently serve as an Officer or on the Board of Directors and DO NOT wish to continue, please send a quick note to ebroesicke@hotmail.com .

Thanks, hope to see you tomorrow.

MONTHLY MEETING

WHERE: ILLICK'S MILL PARK PAVILLION

WHEN: TUESDAY OCT. 27 5:30 PM

Is your local stream a little low? Bushkill Creek says "Hold my Beer"

This morning, October 15th 2020, the water on Bushkill Creek was once again slowed to a mere trickle when pumps at Buzzi Unicem quarry turned off  for maintenance on an electrical transformer.  The planned shut down was slated to last 4 hrs, starting at 8am.  The pictures below show the effects on the stream in the town of Tatamy, from roughly 9:45 - 12:45pm.  During that time, the water flow went from low to basically 0.  A number of trout from fingerling size to over 12" were observed, and all were struggling in the few pools that had any water.  Numerous other small fish species and aquatic insects were left high and dry.  What can be done?  Share this on social media, follow the Forks of the Delaware Facebook page for updates, and consider contacting your local elected officials to voice your concern.  While some progress on the issue has been made, this has been a problem for 10+ yrs.

Below Main St Bridge, 9:45 am

Down Stream of Tatamy, 11:45 am

Downstream of Tatamy Bridge 12:45

Post-Mortem on the Cannonsville Reservoir Shutdown

From: Friends of the Upper Delaware:

Upcoming Events: Virtual WWE2020 October 14th Click here for Agenda and Registration   Become an FUDR Member - Click Here!          Post Mortem on the Cannonsville Reservoir Shutdown Hi Everyone, When we received the public notice from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) last Sunday evening that repair work to fix a leaking pipe at the Cannonsville dam would require the reservoir release to drop to 40 cfs on Monday and then to zero by Tuesday, we knew it was going to be a rough week.  In the days and weeks leading up to this event, it is our understanding that NYCDEP coordinated with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), but did not include any local voices.  These agencies should always involve Upper Delaware River (UDR) conservation, business and local resident interests in these decisions. Instead, we found out on Sunday night along with everyone else on their mailing list.   There have been many improvements over the years in the management of the New York City Delaware basin reservoirs and the protection of the prized UDR wild trout fishery. Cooperation and collaboration between UDR watershed stakeholders, the NYCDEP, NYSDEC, and the PFBC have also greatly improved. Unfortunately, it only takes one incident like this one to undermine this progress and erode public trust.   It is important to note that everyone recognizes that the water supply for the City of New York is of paramount importance when making reservoir management decisions in the upper Delaware basin. We understand and accept that reality. However, experience tells us that in these types of situations there are often multiple approaches available that can meet infrastructure maintenance needs and also minimize or eliminate impacts to the river below the dams.   FUDR received many thoughts and suggestions from informed anglers and concerned community residents about alternative approaches that may have diminished the negative impacts to the river and still accomplished the objectives of the repair and maintenance work at the Cannonsville dam. However, because of the short notice, we didn't have a chance to explore any of them with the resource management agencies.   As a result, by Tuesday evening large swaths of river bed were exposed, fish were put under stress and concentrated and confined in small spaces, and the likelihood of damaging impacts to aquatic insect populations (the foundation of the aquatic food chain) seems high. Community residents and anglers, who value their roles as partners in protecting the river system, felt ignored and helpless as the situation unfolded.   This incident once again highlights the need for diligent and ongoing communications between resource management agencies and the public, and a reminder that the Upper Delaware watershed below the dams carries enormous economic and ecological value for tens of thousands of residents and visitors. Even an event like this of relatively short duration can have a negative effect on the health of the river and communities and businesses that rely on this invaluable natural resource.   We hope the events of the past several days can be a learning experience from which better and more open channels of communication can be explored when future maintenance needs inevitably arise.   Here's a snapshot of river impacts on the West Branch from earlier this week. Hale Eddy Gauge, West Branch - photo Steve Taggart    West Branch, downstream of Hale Eddy Bridge - photo Steve Taggart     West Branch, Upstream of Deposit Bridge (Pine Street) - photo Ron Chiavacci      West Branch, PA Side across from Sands Creek - photo Sherri Resti Thomas      For the River, Jeff Skelding, Executive Director skelding@fudr.org 410-245-8021

MCWA plants more trees...

 If you can’t make it Saturday...

MCWA Planting Day at Park Place

Volunteers Needed! We need your help to plant some native tree saplings at the new Gertrude Fox Conservation Area at Park Place! Parking is in the lot on Park Place just pass the Oasis Recovery Center at 3410 Bath Pike.  Bring your shovel, bring your work boots and gloves, and bring a face mask. We will be observing social distancing while we are digging and planting.

Sunday, October 18, 2020 at 9 AM

OASIS Community Center

MCWA plants trees too!

 Another great opportunity with the MCWA! Please consider helping!:

 On Saturday, October 17, from 9 to 11, we will be planting tree seedlings along Monocacy Way. These were bare-root trees in March that we potted up into small 6- to 8-inch pots, and they’ve been growing well! Time to get them into the creek riparian buffer areas so they can really grow.

Parking for this stretch of Monocacy Way is in the Quiet Core lot on Schoenersville just east of the bridge over the creek, and directly across the street from St. Lukes facility there (the old racquetball club) and the entrance to Burnside. The address is 1440 Schoenersville Rd. 

Bring a shovel, gloves, drinking water and a mask. If you have waders, bring them, but they are necessary. We will organize it so that you will be able to work alone as we dig the holes, set the trees, and put protection around them, sort of like an assembly line.

MCWA Fall Clean Up

 Please join our partners at Monocacy Creek Watershed Association as they clean up our stream.

Details below, or check out MCWA Facebook for more info : MCWA FACEBOOK PAGE

 

 

Monthly meetings are back...

Once again, the 4th Tuesday of the month has snuck up on us as we closeout summer.  Our monthly meetings will resume tomorrow, September 22nd (first day of fall!).  In order to ease into holding meetings in the current environment, we will be having a fishing evening at Illick's Mill, starting at 6 pm.  We will meet in (or near) the first Pavilion.  Please follow all guidelines for social distancing and mask wearing where appropriate. A brief discussion about indoor meetings, and ideas for speakers etc, and fish stories from the summer will take place promptly at 6pm.

Apologies for the short notice.  Hope you can make it out for some fishing.

What: Monthly Meeting

Where:  Illick’s Mill Park

When: Tuesday Sept. 22nd. 6pm

Why:  Fishing

Rainy Day Casting Practice

It’s never a bad time to practice casting,  but a rainy day can make it tough to get motivated to get out there and work on your cast.  Enter the 10 part video series by the legendary Joan Wulff, presented Winston Rods. Filled with tons of great information for every skill level, it’s a great way to work on your cast, from the comfort of your couch!

Check it out HERE .