Broadhead Rd Amazon Stormwater Permit

The Monocacy Creek Watershed Association has recently made us aware of a permit renewal application being submitted by Amazon to the PADEP, and we are asking that members take a few minutes to send and email to the PADEP expressing your concerns.  The permit is for storm-water discharge into the Monocacy Creek, and is up for renewal.  The main issue is that Amazon has violated the terms of their permit 8 times in the past 3 years: (TSS= Total Suspended Solids, which adds sediment to the creek).

 Permit limit is 100mg/L 

In 2023 they had TSS violations at all three of their outfalls or storm-water discharge points.

Outfall 001 TSS 410 mg/L

Outfall 002 TSS 130 mg/L

Outfall 003 TSS 760 mg/L

In 2024

001 TSS 1,980 mg/L

002 TSS 390 mg/L

003 TSS 163 mg/L

And in 2025

001 TSS 263 mg/L

002 TSS 211 mg/L

There is an open comment period until the end of February, and we are asking everyone who can to send a quick email to:

RA-EPNPDES_NERO@pa.gov

With a subject line of:

Draft Permit Comments, PA0276308, Amazon Com Services LLC, 2595 Brodhead Road, Bethlehem, PA.

 

The email can be as simple as letting PADEP know that you are unhappy with Amazons repeated violations and that you care about the health of the creek.  You can mention being a TU/MCWA member, but it isn't necessary.  Emails from concerned local residents can really move the meter.

  

 

 

Meeting reminder for February

Join us on February 24th 7pm as we welcome Rick Nyles, Owner of Sky Blue Outfitters.  Rick will be sharing his presentation “Tactical Dry Fly Fishing:Rick’s approach to Dry Fly Fishing.  Equipment Rigging, Flies, Casting and Approach.”

Rick Nyles guides full time and has been fly fishing for over forty years. Rick started guiding in 1999 (26 years, that’s a long time). Sky Blue has grown to a staff of ten (10) guides to support all aspects of fly fishing in Pennsylvania and beyond. Rick prides himself on being one of the best “Dry Fly” fishing guide you will find in Pennsylvania.  It does not matter if you are a novice or experienced fly fisherman, Rick offers guided trips that will increase your understanding and skill level when fishing for rising trout.  If you want to learn how to match the hatch, understand the feeding pattern, identifying the hatch, type of rise, when and where to cast, you have found the right guide.

As always, meetings are free and open to the public.  Light refreshments will be provided. Meetings are held at the DAR Log Cabin on 8th Ave in Bethlehem (in the Rose Garden).

Fly Fishing Show 2026

 It’s show season and the biggest is coming soon.  The Fly Fishing Show, Edison NJ edition starts on January 23rd and goes through the weekend.  As always there will be tons of exhibitors, classes, lessons and everything in- between. If you are making the trip, be sure to check out Tim Flagler’s Featured Class: Tying Effective Pheasant Tails, Hare’s Ears & Everything in Between. *FYI the is a paid class.*

Link for more info : https://flyfishingshow.com/edison-nj/

Meeting reminder for 1/27/26

 Join us for our first monthly meeting of 2026 as we welcome Brodhead TU Member Todd Burns for his presentation : A Tale of Two Projects. 

The program describes two different habitat improvement projects undertaken by the Brodhead Chapter Trout Unlimited in public access Pocono streams. These projects utilized vastly different resources and methodologies: a larger scale project involving heavy machinery, contractors, Fish and Boat Commission staff and multiple partners and a smaller scale, hands-on, boots in the water approach in a headwater tributary. The presentation will cover planning, fundraising, partners, construction, and pre and post improvement metrics used to assess the effectiveness of the work.

Meetings are held at the DAR Log Cabin on 8th Ave, from 7-9pm.

Happy Holiday’s and 2026 Schedule

 Happy Holiday’s from Monocacy TU!

Just a reminder there will be no meeting in December and we will resume our monthly meetings at the DAR House on January 27th.  The schedule for our remaining meetings will be:

January 27th: Todd Burns “A Tale of Two Projects”.  Comparing and contrasting two projects completed in NE PA which differed in size and scope.

February 24th: Rick Nyles “Tactical Dry Fly Fishing”.  Rick is the owner/operator/  and a guide at Sky Blue Outfitters.

March 24th: TBD

April 28th: Fly Tying for Fishing the Evening Hatch

May 26th: Fishing the Evening Hatch

As you may have noticed, the Fly Fishing Film Tour is not currently scheduled for 2026.  After nearly a decade partnership with ArtsQuest, we will have to find a new venue for this event.  The Frank Banko Cinemas at ArtsQuest were a fantastic venue for this event, and ArtsQuest always went out of their way to make the night a success, but because change is the only constant in life we will be looking for a new place to hold this event.  Rest assured we are working on several ideas that will continue the tradition of Monocacy TU hosting this event.

Thank you, have a happy Holiday and a great start to the new year!

Monocacy TU

November Meeting Cancelled

 Due to the proximity of the Thanksgiving Holiday, the November 25th meeting has been cancelled.  The Monocacy Chapter would like to thank all of our members and supporters for their on-going dedication to the Trout Unlimited mission.  Please enjoy your time with family and friends, maybe a little fishing, and take a moment to be thankful for the amazing cold-water resources right here in the Lehigh Valley.

October Meeting

 Just a quick reminder that our October meeting is just 5 days away.  Join us, 7pm at the DAR Log Cabin on 8th Ave in Bethlehem.  Featured presenter: Michael Lohman, CDC Caddis.

October Meeting reminder

 Just a quick reminder that our monthly meeting will be held October 28th, 7pm.  Same location, DAR Log Cabin on 8th Ave.  This month will be our annual elections, followed by a presentation.  We have been operating without a secretary for some time and it would be great to fill that position.  There are also several board seats that could be filled. More info to follow.

The presentation this month is on tying and fishing Caddis and CDC Emergers, with Michael Lohman. Michael has been fly fishing for over 50 yrs,  is an accomplished angler of everything from trout to tarpon, regularly does fly tying classes for Mainstream Outfitters and is also a local guide with Wild East Outfitters.

Save the Date!

 As summer winds down, it is time to start our monthly membership meetings again and the Monocacy Chapter would like invite you to join us this fall.  We are still meeting the 4th Tuesday of the month from 7-9pm at the DAR log cabin on 8th Ave, and even though a few of the program details are still being worked out, we wanted to make sure you added the fall dates to your calendar.

Fall Meeting Dates:

• September 23rd: Updates from Pa Fish Commission
• October 28th: Annual meeting and elections/ Fly Tying with Michael Lohman: Caddis and CDC Emergers. Michael has been fly fishing for over 50 yrs,  is an accomplished angler of everything from trout to tarpon, regularly does fly tying classes for Mainstream Outfitters and also a local guide with Wild East Outfitters. 
• November 25th: TBD
• December: No meeting, enjoy the Holiday!

As always, meeting are free and open to the public, we would love for you to join us and thnak you for your continued support of the Monocacy Chapter of TU.

May Membership "meeting"

As we close out the Spring portion of the 2025 meeting schedule, we would invite all of our members to our final "meeting".  We will be gathering at 6pm May 27th, in
the main parking lot at Illick's Mill Park (Illick's Mill Rd) to fish the evening Sulpher Mayfly hatch.  This is usually one of the better hatches on the Monocacy, and a few evenings ago a large group of bugs was spotted in the park.  If you are interested in learning more about fishing mayfly hatches, are new to fly fishing or just want to get some ideas from other anglers this is the perfect opportunity to do just that. We hope you can join us.

 

No meeting for April

 Due to some scheduling conflicts, the proximity to the Easter Holiday and the fact we had our Stream Clean up this month, there will be NO meeting April 22nd.  Thank you for your understanding, hope you have a great Holiday and get some fishing in!

Our next meeting will be May 27th, “Fishing the Evening Hatch”, meet at Illick’s Mill parking lot 6pm.

Stream Clean Up! April 13th

 Sorry for the short notice, this was posted on our Facebook page, but not on the website.  We will blame the IT and marketing departments for that.. ;).  Detail below, meet at the Sand Island Tennis Courts.

No March meeting…

 Just a reminder that there will be NO monthly meeting on March 25th, 2025.  Join us as we return in the 4th Tuesday in April!

Tim Flagler at the Lancaster show

 Tim Flagler is back at this weekend.  Check out his program ‘Knots and Rigging for Trout’ this weekend March 15th and 16th at the Lancaster Fly Fishing Show.

Tickets are here:  https://www.showclix.com/tickets/2025ClassesLancaster

Film Tour preview rolls on....

 Two more films from this yrs selection.

Get your tickets: https://www.steelstacks.org/event/16971/fly-fishing-film-tour-2025/ 

Left Field

Left Field follows Eli Iorg, a former baseball player whose promising career was derailed by injury. After hitting rock bottom, Eli fought his way back through fly fishing, defying the odds to build a life he never thought he deserved.

 

Shadow People at the Falls

Filmmaker: Jesse Males Run Time: 12:00 minutes 

The film follows April and Sam as they explore the remote fishery in Guyana and target arapaima, peacock bass, arowana, and payara. The narrative follows them along the journey while shining light on the uncontacted tribes that are still living in the area.