PFBC to allow stocking of Class A streams?

[Cznymph]

When individuals ask questions on this forum, I assume they are sincere in seeking a response unless the context of the question clearly indicates that the question is rhetorical.

Since in you’re in question answering mood, let me ask you this.

Given your background in biology and conservation, would you feel that it would be appropriate to submit concerns regarding the renewal of a NPDES permit directly to DEP, or would it be better to send those concerns to the factory that has the permit, because they said they would make sure DEP got them?

 

[Bamboozle]

As long as I’ve been concerned with contacting the commissioners, that information has never been available.

Could you show me where and when it was public?

Edited to add: using the wayback machine I was able to locate a saved copy of the PFBC website from 2017. There is no mention of commissioner’s contact information there either.

https://web.archive.org/web/20170719070632/http://www.fishandboat.com/AboutUs/Pages/CommissionerFifthDistrict.aspx

I'm not saying what you are saying about 2017 is not accurate, but I seen more than a few quirky things with the Wayback Machine and the PFBC website where despite indication there is a cache, it redirects to current information...

 

[Cznymph]

I'm not saying what you are saying about 2017 is not accurate, but I seen more than a few quirky things with the Wayback Machine and the PFBC website where despite indication there is a cache, it redirects to current information...

The commissioners match up with the date that the wayback machine is claiming the webpage is from.

 

[tomgamber]

Since my post disappeared, yet the question was allowed up, I'll answer again.

The point that was missed in the original post, or twisted, was that the commissioners (both PFBC and PGC) are appointed by the sitting governor. They serve at the pleasure of the sitting governor. Therefore that's the only entity to which they are held accountable.

I'm gonna gonna go out on a limb and say, wild trout vs stocking, is not the number one priority of the governor of the 5th most populous state in the union. Call it a hunch.

 

[Mike]

Since in you’re in question answering mood, let me ask you this.

Given your background in biology and conservation, would you feel that it would be appropriate to submit concerns regarding the renewal of a NPDES permit directly to DEP, or would it be better to send those concerns to the factory that has the permit, because they said they would make sure DEP got them?

DEP

Tomgamber, I believe it would be an unusual member of the legislature for whom wild trout vs stocking would be a priority. I remind you that I have retired, but I never had contact from or heard of a legislator or his/her aide who didn’t desire stocking. I never had either contact me to say my constituent wants your agency to stop stocking over wild trout. That doesn’t mean that it has not happened elsewhere in Pa, but I never heard of it and I had a pretty good network.

Furthermore, the PFBC has on occasion invited legislators to fish population surveys within their districts when cessation of stocking was on the table in Class A situations. I’m not sure how many minds such efforts changed despite the abundance of wild fish, but the PFBC has made such efforts in the past for specific streams, which probably isn’t well-known among anglers here who oppose stocking over Class A populations. As for Commissioners, they receive the AFM field schedules annually and sometimes join/watch fish population survey crews.

 

[Cznymph]

No longer in the mood.

That’s disappointing but understandable. I’m sure it must get exhausting constantly defending the nonsensical actions of the PFBC.

 

[DGC]

There are no criteria established by the PFBC by which a previously unstocked in the prior year Class A, that is still a Class A, qualifies for regular stocking, i.e. becomes STW, or resumes being an STW.

It is only those that were already being stocked that went from Class B or less to Class A for which the Commission has criteria for consideration to CONTINUE stocking. High angler use is one of the criteria.

One of the commissioners wondered out loud if the criteria were sufficient to take them out of the stream by stream decision process, leaving it to the Executive Director (whom they appoint) to decide using the current criteria.

Of course, they could develop new criteria, but none have been proposed.