nymphingmaniac
Well-known member
Posting this link with some trepidation, but here I go...
http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/spring-creek-chapter-of-trout-unlimited-receives-hefty-conservation-grant,1473940/
the sections they will repair really needs it and is badly eroded. Fish it regularly and pass by at least once a week.
Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited Receives Hefty Conservation Grant
There’s just no stopping the Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited and its mission to protect the water residents of State College and surrounding area enjoy.
Since 2012, the group has completed, or is currently in the process of completing, 11 habitat restoration projects throughout Centre County. These projects were funded by a $69,800 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant, along with $165,000 in local matching money. They include riparian buffer planting at Milesburg, McCoy Dam, Deer Creek Lane and Fisherman’s Paradise, and bank stabilization projects at Oak Hall and near The Distillery.
As these projects wrap up, TU already is planning its next step in continuing to keep the Spring Creek Watershed pristine. And, once again, the National Fish and Wildlife Federation has stepped up to help.
According to SCCTU president Robert K. Vierck, NFWF has awarded the chapter another grant, this time in the amount of $160,700 for more habitat improvement projects. Coupled with $100,640 in contributions from partner agencies such as the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Centre County Conservation District, ClearWater Conservancy, Chesapeake Bay Conservancy, the University Area Joint Authority and Centre Region Parks and Recreation, it looks as though TU volunteers will be busy for a few more years to come.
“We need to keep the momentum going,” Vierck told Centre County Gazette. “This chapter has done a lot for the local watershed and has worked hard to keep the headwaters of Spring Creek clean. We’re going to keep doing that, and grants like this sure help out. We’re very fortunate to get it.”
The money will be distributed for projects at three sites.
Reducing sedimentation and erosion entering Spring Creek at Rock Road is the first project Vierck noted. He said this project is on state Fish and Boat Commission land and employees of that organization will conduct most of the work at the site. He said in addition to reducing sedimentation and erosion, the project will also provide enhanced habitat for trout and associated species.
“This section is lacking diverse cover and substrate within the stream is embedded with silt from the eroding stream banks, preventing the stream from reaching its full potential,” said Vierck.
He said this part of the project will begin this spring and includes installing stream structures such as log and stone deflectors and random boulder clusters and riparian planting of native trees and shrubs along 315 feet of stream.
Vierck said this work would be completed by the end of the 2018.
The second project, located between Houserville Road and Trout Road, also has high erosion and sedimentation and lacks a riparian buffer
“High levels of erosion and sedimentation have led to embedded stream gravel and the lack of overhead fish cover prevents trout from using the area as a spawning habitat,” Vierck said.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife representative and volunteers from several organizations plan to install structures such as mudsills, toe logs, rock cross vanes and random boulder clusters and riparian buffer restoration.
Vierck said this project would begin in late 2018 and most likely run into 2019.
The final project is on Slab Cabin Run, a main tributary to Spring Creek that supplies a majority of the drinking water to the State College Region. Vierck said prevention of further erosion, sedimentation and nutrient pollution is vital at this site. He said the scope of this project includes installing a riparian buffer along the length of the stream owned by College Township.
“The purpose of these restoration projects is to improve water quality by reducing erosion, sedimentation and nutrient inputs while creating habitat for a self-sustaining trout population,” said Vierck. “We are deeply appreciative of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant which will be a continuation of 15 highly successful stream restoration projects implemented in the Spring Creek watershed since 1990.”
Although the projects will wrap up in 2019, Vierck said TU continues to be busy identifying other areas of problems within the Spring Creek Watershed and other local water systems.
“We’re already looking at an area on Bald Eagle Creek above Port Matilda that needs work,” said Vierck. “There’s also several areas of Spring Creek that need repaired. We’ve done a lot, but there’s still lots to do.”
As part of the planning and evaluation of this project, SCCTU and its partners incorporated the FieldDocs model to evaluate 15 separate projects including 26 site practices completed on Spring Creek since 1990. The results have produced reduced nutrient inputs by 9,725 pounds of nitrogen, 2,641 pounds of phosphorous and 459 tons of sediment per year. The projects include riparian buffer plantings of more than 6,000 native shrubs and trees covering more than 17 acres, over half a mile of fencing and .16 miles of stream restored along Spring Creek.
The announcement of the grant comes on the heels of another watershed announcement. ClearWater Conservancy reached its $2.75 million fundraising goal to help protect waters in Slab Cabin Run.
http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/spring-creek-chapter-of-trout-unlimited-receives-hefty-conservation-grant,1473940/
the sections they will repair really needs it and is badly eroded. Fish it regularly and pass by at least once a week.
Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited Receives Hefty Conservation Grant
There’s just no stopping the Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited and its mission to protect the water residents of State College and surrounding area enjoy.
Since 2012, the group has completed, or is currently in the process of completing, 11 habitat restoration projects throughout Centre County. These projects were funded by a $69,800 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant, along with $165,000 in local matching money. They include riparian buffer planting at Milesburg, McCoy Dam, Deer Creek Lane and Fisherman’s Paradise, and bank stabilization projects at Oak Hall and near The Distillery.
As these projects wrap up, TU already is planning its next step in continuing to keep the Spring Creek Watershed pristine. And, once again, the National Fish and Wildlife Federation has stepped up to help.
According to SCCTU president Robert K. Vierck, NFWF has awarded the chapter another grant, this time in the amount of $160,700 for more habitat improvement projects. Coupled with $100,640 in contributions from partner agencies such as the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Centre County Conservation District, ClearWater Conservancy, Chesapeake Bay Conservancy, the University Area Joint Authority and Centre Region Parks and Recreation, it looks as though TU volunteers will be busy for a few more years to come.
“We need to keep the momentum going,” Vierck told Centre County Gazette. “This chapter has done a lot for the local watershed and has worked hard to keep the headwaters of Spring Creek clean. We’re going to keep doing that, and grants like this sure help out. We’re very fortunate to get it.”
The money will be distributed for projects at three sites.
Reducing sedimentation and erosion entering Spring Creek at Rock Road is the first project Vierck noted. He said this project is on state Fish and Boat Commission land and employees of that organization will conduct most of the work at the site. He said in addition to reducing sedimentation and erosion, the project will also provide enhanced habitat for trout and associated species.
“This section is lacking diverse cover and substrate within the stream is embedded with silt from the eroding stream banks, preventing the stream from reaching its full potential,” said Vierck.
He said this part of the project will begin this spring and includes installing stream structures such as log and stone deflectors and random boulder clusters and riparian planting of native trees and shrubs along 315 feet of stream.
Vierck said this work would be completed by the end of the 2018.
The second project, located between Houserville Road and Trout Road, also has high erosion and sedimentation and lacks a riparian buffer
“High levels of erosion and sedimentation have led to embedded stream gravel and the lack of overhead fish cover prevents trout from using the area as a spawning habitat,” Vierck said.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife representative and volunteers from several organizations plan to install structures such as mudsills, toe logs, rock cross vanes and random boulder clusters and riparian buffer restoration.
Vierck said this project would begin in late 2018 and most likely run into 2019.
The final project is on Slab Cabin Run, a main tributary to Spring Creek that supplies a majority of the drinking water to the State College Region. Vierck said prevention of further erosion, sedimentation and nutrient pollution is vital at this site. He said the scope of this project includes installing a riparian buffer along the length of the stream owned by College Township.
“The purpose of these restoration projects is to improve water quality by reducing erosion, sedimentation and nutrient inputs while creating habitat for a self-sustaining trout population,” said Vierck. “We are deeply appreciative of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant which will be a continuation of 15 highly successful stream restoration projects implemented in the Spring Creek watershed since 1990.”
Although the projects will wrap up in 2019, Vierck said TU continues to be busy identifying other areas of problems within the Spring Creek Watershed and other local water systems.
“We’re already looking at an area on Bald Eagle Creek above Port Matilda that needs work,” said Vierck. “There’s also several areas of Spring Creek that need repaired. We’ve done a lot, but there’s still lots to do.”
As part of the planning and evaluation of this project, SCCTU and its partners incorporated the FieldDocs model to evaluate 15 separate projects including 26 site practices completed on Spring Creek since 1990. The results have produced reduced nutrient inputs by 9,725 pounds of nitrogen, 2,641 pounds of phosphorous and 459 tons of sediment per year. The projects include riparian buffer plantings of more than 6,000 native shrubs and trees covering more than 17 acres, over half a mile of fencing and .16 miles of stream restored along Spring Creek.
The announcement of the grant comes on the heels of another watershed announcement. ClearWater Conservancy reached its $2.75 million fundraising goal to help protect waters in Slab Cabin Run.
