Meeting Reminder 11/25

Join us this coming Tuesday, 11/25 @ 7pm for our monthly membership meeting.  This month we will be having a panel discussion about fishing the Monocacy and Saucon Creeks.  The panel will consist of several TU members who have an intimate knowledge of these streams and their inhabitants.  If you are interested in, or have questions about, fishing these local treasures, please plan on attending. 

New Fall Event!! Dec. 16th, East Bath Rod and Gun Club

Recent Monocacy sampling results

The PFBC has recently released a list of waters that have been found to meet "Class A" status. Included in the list is the section of the Monocacy from Illick's Mill down to the mouth @ the Lehigh River. These sections had some impressive numbers of trout. The included sections will be considered for inclusion on the "Class A" list, but may still be stocked due to high angler use.

LINK

Oct. Meeting Recap

Election results:

President:  Erik Broesicke
Vice President:  Mike Recine *New
Treasurer: Dr. E. Hart
Secretary: Bob Signorello

Other Buisness:

Finalize plans for Fall Join Event with other Lehigh Valley Chapters, which is slated to be Tom Gilmore on Dec. 16th @ the East Bath Rod and Gun Club.

Further explore Fly Fishing Film Tour event to be held this spring.  Explore corporate sponsors, etc.

Meeting Reminder for 10/28

Just a reminder that there will be a meeting on Tuesday 10/28 7pm at the DAR House. This month we will be having our annual elections.

Positions available:
E-board:

• President 
• Vice President 
• Secretary 
• Treasurer 

Other:

• Membership Chair 
• Conservation Chair 
• Fundraising Chair 
• Programs Coordinator 

We will also be having a guest speaker, Paula Piatt who is the Eastern Sportsman Coordinator for Trout Unlimited.

Farm to Table Gala 10/18

Animal Encounter with Pocono Wildlife Rescue

Another Monocacy Creek Watershed Association Sponsored Event. Bring the Kids!

HB 1565 Passes Senate

from patrout.org

Despite all of our collective efforts, and the efforts of our conservation partners, on October 14 the PA Senate voted 27-22 to pass HB1565 (PN4258). The bill will now go to the House for concurrence. Senators Baker and Brubaker spoke in support of 1565, while Senators Dinniman, Rafferty, and Ferlo spoke in opposition to the bill. While the outcome is certainly not what we want, it is better than the original bill that would have just removed the riparian buffer requirement…period. It is apparent that the amendments adopted over the past few weeks, particularly those made in the Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee, were in response to concerns we raised about vagueness of the bill language and the effectiveness of buffers. So thank you for sending that message to Senators! Regardless, our work on this issue; i.e. protecting buffers...is certainly not done. DEP will very likely be developing regulations next year, and there will be opportunities for public input. It will be important for TU to weigh in on those regulations, to ensure that they are as protective as the law will allow. Again, thank all of you for your efforts! And if your Senator voted No on this bill, please be sure to thank him or her for standing up for what’s best for our coldwater resources.

 To find out how your Senator voted, see the following: CLIcK

Monocacy Water Talk

BREAKING NEWS ON HB 1565 (the buffer bill) - UPDATE 10-8-14

 from patrout.org

 HB1565 was amended in the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee on 10-6. While the amendments improve the bill, HB1565 still falls short of protecting headwaters streams

We all know the value of maintaining appropriate riparian buffers, especially as they affect the quality of our coldwater streams. As currently proposed, HB1565 would substantially alter the existing protection afforded by riparian buffers by allowing their elimination on those streams designated as special protection waters.

HB1565 proposes a "trade off" in the form of an option allowing the elimination of riparian buffers in one portion of a stream as long as an equivalent section is provided for in another section of that same drainage. What this means is that development along headwaters sections of our coldwater streams could eliminate riparian buffers on those waters which are so critical to sustaining a wild trout population.

Update on Amended Bill

On Monday, HB1565 was amended and voted out in the Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee. The amendments do two things:
(1)    Clarify that the replacement buffer must occur along special protection waters within the same drainage list (according to chapter 93). This does not mean that the replacement buffer has to be installed on the same stream.
(2)    Attempt to strengthen practices that can be used instead of a buffer, by requiring the alternatives used to be “collectively…substantially equivalent to a riparian buffer…” This section recognizes that riparian buffers are the most effective management tool.

Bottom line: While the amendments improve the bill, HB1565 still falls short of protecting headwaters trout streams.

Please contact your Senator today, and before Oct. 14, and urge him or her to vote NO on House Bill 1565 (P.N.4258) for the following reasons: CLICK HERE TO FIND SENATOR
1.       Although the amendments clarified the bill and made slight improvements, we are still opposed to the bill because it fails to require maintenance of existing riparian buffers in high quality and exceptional value watersheds.  
2.       We currently have a system that requires riparian buffers, but allows for flexibility through waivers and exemptions.  If there is an issue with delays in the waiver process, let’s look for an administrative fix rather try to legislatively fix the problem and as a result allow for existing buffers to be destroyed.
3.       Stress that there are no equivalents to a riparian buffer—these are the best and most effective management tool for protecting streams and we need to protect our best streams (EV and HQ).

HB 1565..still around

HB 1565 Passed the Senate Environmental Committee on Monday, next stop the Senate floor.  Some amendments were made, but this is still a very dangerous Bill.  A Senate Vote on this could come as early as today, Wednesday the 8th.  Please contact your Senator and let them know you are opposed to this Bill.  TU National has issued an action alert HERE.  All you have to do is put in your address and a letter is already written for you.  A personal phone call works even better.

This is one of those moments when we have the ability to make a positive impact in our waterways and how they are protected. So the next time you are standing in a stream and wondering why the fishing isn't as good as it used to be and why someone isn't doing something about it, this is your chance to make a difference.

Thank you to everyone who has already taken a moment to make their Senator aware of the issues.

HB 1565...again

HB 1565 has passed the House of Representatives and the fight will now be in the Senate.  It is likely that this will come up for a vote in the very near future, so it is imperative that you contact your local Senator and ask them to vote "no" on this bill.

You can find your Senator HERE.

Here is the official TU position on this Bill:  HERE

This is a position taken by David Hess, former Secretary of the PA DEP:  HERE

Everything that can be done by your State and Local TU leaders is being done, but the Senators need to hear from you, the people that vote for them, and that they are supposed to represent.

HB 1565

A potentially harmful Bill(HB1565) has been introduced into the House of Representatives by Maria Hahn (R) Northampton, which, in short, would remove the requirement to leave a 150ft riparian buffer on HQ and EV (exceptional value) streams, when creating a disturbance of 1 or more acres. This would be an change to the clean water act as it stands now. HQ streams make up about 23% of the streams in PA, and EV about 2%. These streams have the best water quality, and often support outstanding wild fish populations. As you may or may not know, riparian buffers (trees, bushes, etc) are the single cheapest and most effective way to reduce/ prevent/ manage storm runoff, pollutants, sedimentation etc. They provide shade and hiding places for fish, bugs and wildlife. Please consider contacting your legislator(s) and let them know you are opposed to HB 1565. You can find your legislator(s) here: CLICK When you get to the home page of your rep./ senator you can click on the little envelope below their picture and send them a message. This Bill already seems to have strong support in the House, so time is important.

Thank you.
Erik Broesicke
President Monocacy Chapter TU

Rain Barrel Workshop

Please see the below flier for a rain barrel workshop sponsored by the Monocacy Creek Watershed Association and the Penn State Master Watershed Stewards/ Master Gardeners.  You must Register and info can be found in the flier.

TU Monthly Drawing

Throughout 2014, Trout Unlimited will be conducting monthly drawings for great books, gear, rods and reels from manufacturers including Brodin, Redington, Hardy, Abel, Ross, Simms, Lamson and more.  Click HERE for the form to enter.

No donation or purchase necessary to win, but you can increase your chances of winning by registering monthly.

Forks of the Delaware TU Pig Roast

FORKS OF THE DELAWARE

 TROUT UNLIMITED

3rd ANNUAL PIG AND CORN ROAST

Date: Saturday, September 20^th, 2014

Time: 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Location: Riverside Bar and Grill

5801 South Delaware Drive

(On the Delaware - 6 Miles North of Easton, PA)

Tickets: $20.00 for Adults (All you can eat)

$10.00 for Children ages 7-12

Children 6 and Under Free

Cash Bar Available

Raffle: Grey’s 9’-5wt Rod, Lamson Reel, Simms Back Pack,

LL Bean Travel Bag, Gift Certificates, & More

PUBLIC WELCOME!

For Tickets or More Information Contact:

Thom Beverly – 610-393-6663 - kbeverly@rcn.com

Joe Baylog – baylogj@gmail.com

Conservation District coordinates, assists with stream bank restoration project at Fry’s Run Park

by Jim Wilson Northampton County Conservation District

In partnership with the PA Fish & Boat Commission, Northampton County Parks Department and the Fry’s Run Watershed Association, the Northampton County Conservation District coordinated and assisted in the restoration of nearly 300 linear feet of severely eroded stream banks along Fry’s Run at Fry’s Run County Park in July. The project included grading back steeply eroded stream banks and constructing four log vane deflectors, two mud sill cribs and one stone deflector directly into the graded stream banks. The graded stream banks will reduce erosive energy on them during storms, and the structures now help protect and stabilize the stream banks by deflecting stream flow away from the banks, thus reducing stream bank erosion and subsequent sediment pollution to Fry’s Run and the Delaware River. The stream bank structures also provide fish habitat.
An excavator, a skid loader, over 100 tons of stone, more than 30 hemlock logs and a couple dozen rebar pins were used in the construction of this project. The PA Fish & Boat Commission designed and supervised the project as part of its aquatic resource conservation mission. Staff and an intern from the Conservation District and volunteers from the Fry’s Run Watershed Association, Lehigh Valley Master Watershed Steward Program and the Northampton County Prison helped place and pin together the log structures, strategically key stone into place, and seed and mat disturbed areas after construction.
Power and hand tools for the project were provided by the Fish & Boat Commission and the County Parks Department. The Conservation District received a grant from the Coldwater Heritage Partnership for the project, which was used to pay for construction materials and an excavating contractor.

Got Bugs?

Now this is what I would call a hatch:

From: Fly Fisherman.com

Chapter Member counts rocks....

60% Chance I fall

1, 2, 3

Dam removal on the Monocacy Creek has been an issue the chapter has been pursuing for some time, and although at times it seems like not much is happening, the wheels are often turning behind the scenes.  If you happened by the dam at Bridle Path Road at the end of June though, you would have seen some actual work being done!  The dam still stands, but the through the efforts of a team from the PFBC, American Rivers, Wildlands Conservancy and Monocacy TU, we now have the required information to apply for the removal permits.  Without going into great detail, measurements of the structure were taken, along with a upstream and downstream profile, and the super exciting task of measuring 200 random pebbles.  The Monocacy Chapter would like to extend a special thanks those that traveled a long way and took time out of their schedules to help us with this project. (All pictures taken by American Rivers and are the property of American Rivers)

200 pebbles?  Really?

Can't we just use a sledge hammer?

 

Bethlehem Bump into Nature 7/19/2014

Mr. Ripple Goes to Washington

TU member Jeff Ripple recently went to Washington to meet with officials about the potential changes to the Clean Water Act.

You can read about it HERE

You can also contact your elected representative by clicking HERE

Please let them know these issues are important to you.

Summer Volunteer Opportunities

Members: I hope your summer is going well. Below are some summer volunteer opportunities for some great causes. Contact info for each project is included, please direct any questions to those people. Thanks, hope to see you at some of these events.

1. Fish Habitat Construction of Fry's Run County Park: July 21, 22, 23 WEATHER DEPENDENT. Contact: Jim Wilson james-wilson@northamptoncd.org 

2. JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge Ethics and Sportsmanship) Youth Field day is being held at Ontelaunee Rod and Gun Club, New Tripoli, on August 2, 2014.
Contact: Dale Steventon adms@ptd.net

3. Minsi Trails Council BSA "Cub Scout Fishing Derby" on Saturday,July 26th.at Camp Minsi in Mt.Pocono Need help with following stations:
1) Stream Critter's(macro's)- John Mauser
2) Smart angler - Fritz Hamlin n Brian Wagner
 3)Casting - Phil Hublitz
 4) Fishing Knots - Steve Grover
5) Lures - Greg Schierer & Will Kline
6) ID parts on Fish - Brian Dungan
7) Fly Tying- Dave Abraham, Dale Steventon, Jack Fakula
Contact: Dave Abraham Nymphingguy@gmail.com

LL Learn to Fly Fish event

Here is a quick video about a Learn to Fly Fish Kids event held by the Little Lehigh Chapter and supported by Monocacy and Hokendaqua Chapter members. Another great example of Chapters working together to further the TU mission. Video removed for technical difficulty reasons

Bethlehem Township to improve stormwater system

In a piece of good news for our stream, it looks as though Bethlehem Township will be making some major improvements to the stormwater system that empties into the Monocacy Creek.  After reading THIS article though, some Monocacy TU members were concerned about the project.  As it turns out some of the information in the article was not complete, and overall this will be a positive for the stream.  The plans call for a new BMP (storm water pond) to be constructed and a new channel to be constructed that would empty into the creek.  This pond and channel will hopefully reduce the velocity of the storm water as it enters the stream, and also reduce the sediment load of the water.  The design firm estimates it could reduce the sediment load by thousands of pounds per year.

Newsletter Vol. 2

Vol. 2 of our Newsletter is now available HERE.  It will also be posted on our Publications page.  Enjoy your summer, we hope to see you this fall.

Meeting reminder 5/27..TONIGHT!

Please joins us for the last "meeting" before we break for the summer.  We will be meeting at the Illick's Mill parking lot, Tuesday May 27th for a fishing outing, starting at about 6pm.  There are reports of sulphers hatching, so the fishing could be quite good.  If you are interested in learning more about fishing this hatch, or just want to enjoy our great stream, please consider stopping by.   We will meet rain or shine.  Thanks and if we don't see you, enjoy the summer!

Save the Farm ! moved to rain date, May 17th.

The Save the Farm! event, ( see flyer below) has been moved to the rain date May 17th.

Save the Farm!

On May 10th, the Friends of Johnston will be holding the "Save the Farm" event.  This is a free, family event which hopes to raise awareness, and funds, to help save the historic Leconby Farm.  This is an important piece of land that boarders the Monocacy Creek, and saving it will not only be beneficial to the stream but will benefit the community too.  Please consider attending.