In a last minute attempt to help the City of Bethlehem with it's Johnson Park Dam removal, Vicky Bastidas has been working overtime to get a grant proposal done. The idea was posed early this week and the grant in due today, Dec. 14th. The grant we are seeking is for $10,000, which will go towards construction costs. The money is awarded through The Coldwater Heritage Partnership (
CHP) which is a collaborative
effort between the PA Fish & Boat Commission, PA Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources, Foundation for Pennsylvania
Watersheds and Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited. In other news.....(click read more below)
Riparian Buffer resolution:

The Monocacy Chapter is also backing an effort by the MCWA to bring a resolution before Bethlehem City council which would recommend a 20 ft
riparian buffer along the creek. The resolution, which was drafted in 2010 by the Environmental Advisory Council (
EAC), is an effort to get public and private landowners to preserve natural vegetation for 20ft on both sides of the creek. The resolution would be only a recommendation, but is step in the right direction towards preserving and improving the health of the creek and watershed.
Resources:
TU Flood Brochure
Riparian Buffer Guidelines for PFBC-owned Properties
Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual
Monocacy TU explores Trout in the Classroom:
The Monocacy chapter was lucky enough to welcome a new (to our Chapter) member who has experience with the
Trout In the Classroom project, and he has offered to gather more information about starting up a site in the Bethlehem School District. Hopefully we can find a suitable site and secure the necessary resources to get a tank up and running.