FROM THE PRESIDENT:
I must first apologize to our membership and colleagues for the delinquency of our newsletters. The LCFA has gone through a “re-structuring” (page 2 in the newsletter) of sorts so that we can get more of our membership and supporters involved in this great effort we have going, on the Lehigh River. This will allow our organization to be more focused and involved with the issues that surround the river.
Supposedly, the Army Corps is finalizing the Coldwater Study. A completion date was not provided in my last correspondence with the PFBC and the Corps, so it may be time for another “reminder”. Once completed, this will give us an idea of what can be accomplished with this reservoir and how it will affect the fishery. Then we can proceed with the next steps and move for- ward and closer toward our goal for the Lehigh.
If you haven’t been fishing the Lehigh this year, well, you are missing out on some pretty good fishing, or catching. When the flows have been consistent and angling favor- able, the trout have responded very well to one’s offering. Mother Nature has provided an ample supply of water this year which, for the most part, has kept the river fairly cool. There was only a small window this summer when the water got warm (> 75 deg F).
What has been surprising, are the reported catches of small wild looking brown trout (page 3 in the newsletter). But this is a great sign of things to come and how releases from FEW and Beltzville play a vital role in the survivability of the trout in the river. Now, if we can only get the water to be cold all summer long coming from both FEW and Beltzville. I get goose-bumps think- ing of the potential this river holds.
The trout have survived the summer and the Fall season is shaping up nicely. We hope the releases from FEW will be consis- tent through the fall season to provide some excellent angling opportunities. I hope to see you on the river.
Tight Lines, Dean Druckenmiller
www.thelehighriver.org
LRSA Temp Gage
1
LCFA NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
At the last LCFA officer meeting we had nominations for new officers. For the most part the current officers will be keeping their duties, though some will be delegating out their responsibilities to a few newly committee positions. President, Dean Druckenmiller said, “The influx of new officers and interest is seen as a positive as we gain momentum and try to maximize the Lehigh to its fullest potentials.” Elections will be held at the September 25th meeting at Wildlands Conservancy. Here are the nominations:
• Dean Druckenmiller, nominated as President.
• Paul Kanaskie, nominated as Vice-President
• Joe DeMarkis, nominated as Treasurer
• Jake Markezin, nominated as Secartary
• Dan Rudloff, nominated as Membership Committee Chair
• Bill Derhammer, Special Projects Committee Coordinator
2013 RECREATIONAL FLOW PLAN UPDATE
The 2013 FEW Recreational Flow Plan is winding down and the LCFA has once again carefully monitored both the weekday and weekend releases from FEW in an effort to propose possible improvements to next year’s Flow Plan. The 2013 Flow Plan included “Angler Friendly“ releases in April and May (targeted at 400 CFS). The following is a summary of the “Angler Friendly” release dates and actual flow rates that occurred on each date:
• April 13-14 (400 CFS target) Actual release of 420 CFS for entire weekend.
• April 20-21 (400 CFS target) Actual release fluctuated from 444 CFS to 1,480 CFS due to rainfall event and inadequate freeboard in FEW.
• April 27-28 (400 CFS target) Actual release fluctuated from 398 CFS to 233 CFS.
To summarize, the “angler friendly” releases are certainly a step in the right direction. However, fishing opportunities are best during periods of constant flow and therefore the LCFA is working to avoid the yo-yo release scenario that occurred on the April 20-21, 2013 “angler friendly” event and also not in favor of the one day weekend events of May 12 and May 19, 2013.
2
IMPORTANT DATES:
Next Meeting - September 25, 2013
Location: Wildlands Conservancy, Emmaus, PA - www.wildlandspa.org Time: 6:15pm Fly Fishing Show - January 24-26, 2014
Location: Garden State Convention Center, Somerset, NJ - www.flyfishingshow.com
www.thelehighriver.org
• May 4-5 (400 CFS target) Actual release of approx. 340 CFS for entire weekend.
• May 12 (400 CFS target) Actual release of 400 CFS for 12 hour period only.
• May 19 (400 CFS target) Actual release of 444 CFS for 12 hour period only.
PA FISH COMMISSION BOAT RAMP UPDATE
As many of you might remember, back in January 2012 the PA Fish and Boat Commission announced the following grants associated with improvements along the Lehigh River:
Approved a grant not to exceed $270,000 to the Wildlands Conservancy for water trail and access area development along the Lehigh River in Carbon, Northampton and Lehigh counties. The grant will be used to rebuild the boat launch and expand the parking area at the Walnutport access in Walnutport, Northampton County; to construct a parking area and a concrete boat launch a the Treichler’s Bridge access in North Whitehall Township, Lehigh County; and to install new signs along the Lehigh River Water Trail. Walnutport Borough, the conservancy and the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources also are providing funding to the project.
Although progress on these above mentioned items (specifically the boat ramps at Walnutport and Treichlers) has been slow, the LCFA has been instrumental in working with the Wildlands Conservancy and the PA Fish and Boat Commission to keep these projects moving forward. Normal PFBC procedures would have required Wildlands conservancy and/or their partners to front all of the monies for these projects with reimbursement from the PFBC upon completion; however the LCFA was able to “step in” and convince the PFBC to make incremental funding available. Tentative completion dates for both the Walnutport and Treichlers concrete boat ramps are scheduled for Fall 2014.
WILD BROWN TROUT IN THE LEHIGH
I hope 2013 has allowed you some time to enjoy the fishing on the Lehigh River. If you have, I’m sure you must have witnessed small fish eating the abundant mayflies in the shallower areas of the river. The LCFA and area guides have reported that many of these smaller fish are wild brown trout in the 6-10” range; especially between Lehighton and Treichlers. While the origin of these fish is unknown, possibilities include the many naturally reproducing tributaries to the Lehigh River including Hayes Creek, Hickory Run, Pohopoco Creek, Aquashicola Creek, Trout Run, and Birtsch Creek just to name a few. These fish are character- ized by the presence of perfect fins and unique col- orization (note that most hatchery raised trout have some type of obvious fin deformity).
The survival of these fish may also be directly related to the “fisheries enhancement” releases from FEW. The Flow Plans call for releases of 100 CFS above inflow starting July 1st. This does not allow the river to reach extremely low water levels as it has in the past, prior to the Flow Plans. Even though the water may not be cold (55 deg F), this “additional” water for the river may be another reason we are seeing more of these smaller trout (wild or stocked fingerlings) surviving through the warm summer periods.
Water releases from Beltzville reservoir this past summer were much cooler than the previous two or three years. This added shot of cold (55-60 deg F) water from the Pohopoco Creek for the lower river will definitely provide thermal benefits toward the survival of these trout.
The LCFA will continue to work with the PFBC to establish “resource first” Tailwater Flow Plan strategies for both FEW and Beltzville Reservoirs in an effort to enhance the water quality in the Lehigh River necessary to allow this wild brown trout fish- ery to improve and thrive.
Wilds or stockies?
www.thelehighriver.org
3
A SHOCKING EXPERIENCE
Besides being popular fisheries in their own right Hayes (Black) Creek and Hickory Run are recognized as being important sources of wild trout and cold water for the Lehigh River. As such the productivity and overall well-being of these lovely tribu- taries has been a matter of ongoing interest among Lehigh River anglers. Over the past few years consistently poor angling experiences on both Hayes and Hickory Run by a number of accomplished stream fishermen have given rise to speculation about their health and productivity. Hickory Run, in particular, was perceived as having a much diminished trout population compared to maybe five or ten years past. Prompted by these reports and since existing survey data was over ten years old, the Western Pocono Chapter of Trout Unlimited and LCFA asked the Pa. Fish and Boat Commission to take a fresh look at both streams. In response, an electrofishing survey was conducted by PFBC on 8/26 and 8/27/13. The PFBC team, led by Area Fisheries Manager, Dave Arnold looked at three sections of stream: two on Hayes Creek and one on Hickory Run.
From the first few sweeps of the electrodes it was evi- dent that there is nothing amiss with either stream. Even the heavily trafficked stretch of Hayes Cr., 300 meters upstream from its confluence with the Lehigh, while not Class A biomass, yielded good numbers of Brown Trout including sev- eral that any angler would be delighted to hook- into. The sta- tion examined on the upper reaches of the stream, a considerably more remote section, easily achieved the Class A benchmarks with an impressive population of Brown Trout representing a variety of age and size classes. Considering that this stream finds its sources in the highly developed area around the Pocono Interchange of the Pa. Turnpike, its obvious quality is even more heartening.
Hickory Run , probably the most suspect in terms of productivity of all the non AMD affected streams in the watershed, was the subject some rather dire speculation about its Trout population. Unsuccessful fishing trips led many to venture that the stream bordered on virtual fishlessness. Well, electrofishing results showed, number one, that the stream is teeming with trout in several age classes, particularly what appeared to be young of the year and, number two, the fallacy of judging a streams productivity based on fishing experiences. Hickory Run, while not harboring great numbers of large fish, still yielded a good number of nice specimens- again, Brown Trout. Since the survey was conducted near the mouth of the stream it’s probably safe to assume that the Brook Trout populations, for which the stream is well known, are concentrated in its upper reaches. But the real value of Hickory Run lies in its capacity to supply the Lehigh with wild BrownTrout, fish that, unlike hatchery prod- ucts, are capable of surviving under natural conditions . The results of the survey demonstrate that it remains undiminished as a nursery area for the Lehigh fishery.
We thank the Pa. Fish and Boat Commission, especially Dave Arnold and his capable crew, for their responsiveness, expertise and endurance ( it was a long, arduous day) in demonstrating first hand that the rumors about the demise of these streams are greatly exaggerated. Both are alive and healthy and continue to be vital assets to the Lehigh wild trout fishery.
4
Top: The PFBC crew hard at work. Left: A common specimen from one of the sampled streams.
www.thelehighriver.org
www.thelehighriver.org MAKE A DIFFERENCE Our mission is to obtain a consistent release of coldwater (55 degree F) from the Francis E. Walter Reservoir through better utilization of Walter’s storage capacity and discharge options, in an effort to improve overall flows, protect habitat and enhance the Lehigh River’s wild trout fishery. $ $ $
LCFA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Memberships Sponsorships
r
Membership Renewal - $20
r
Silver - $50
r
Gold - $100
r
Individual Membership - $30
r
Corporate - $250
r
Platinum - $500
Name __________________________________ Email _________________________________
Address ________________________________________________________________________
City ___________________________________ State _________________ Zip ____________
Mail to:
4
LCFA is a 501(c)(3)
Lehigh Coldwater Fishery Alliance
4
Make checks payable to the Lehigh Coldwater Fishery Alliance
Attn: Membership
4
All donations are tax deductable
22 Hughes Street
4
Membership is good for one calendar year
New Ringgold, PA 17960
4
Thank You For Your Support!
Lehigh Coldwater Fishery Alliance • 22 Hughes Street • New Ringgold, PA 17960 • info@thelehighriver.org