Spruce Creek access

[Hackle]

Court to decide access to tract along Spruce Creek — a world-famous limestone trout stream in Pennsylvania
Mark Nale
// December 30, 2024

Does anyone have any information on this Court case.

 

[troutbert]

Court to decide access to tract along Spruce Creek — a world-famous limestone trout stream in Pennsylvania - Outdoor News

A close look at a map of Rothrock State Forest shows that over a quarter-mile of the state forest is adjacent to Spruce Creek – a world-famous limestone trout stream.

www.outdoornews.com

 

[Hackle]

Court to decide access to tract along Spruce Creek — a world-famous limestone trout stream in Pennsylvania - Outdoor News

A close look at a map of Rothrock State Forest shows that over a quarter-mile of the state forest is adjacent to Spruce Creek – a world-famous limestone trout stream.

www.outdoornews.com

 

[Hackle]

Court to decide access to tract along Spruce Creek — a world-famous limestone trout stream in Pennsylvania - Outdoor News

A close look at a map of Rothrock State Forest shows that over a quarter-mile of the state forest is adjacent to Spruce Creek – a world-famous limestone trout stream.

www.outdoornews.com

 

[Hackle]

I'd love to attend this Court case if I knew where and when it was. I've asked a local news channel last year to do an article on this case for the publics input but haven't seen anything on the news about it. I'd think if more fly fishermen would be aware of this case and voice their support for opening up more stream access along spruce creek dcnr would have a better chance of winning the case.

 

[CRB]

Citizens taking ownership a Pennsylvania DCNR Land/streams should be held accountable as payment(rent should be expected from their taking, be fined and held responsible for their unlawful taking. These individuals are and have been stealing from the commonwealth depriving the lawful use of the land/streams for their own benefit.
I hope the State nails it down in the public's favor.
Will case be heard by judge and jury or just a judge?
Could open even more stream miles up for public fishing/recreation.

 

[jifigz]

I was unaware of this case. Are those opposing the DCNR either families that rent to Homewaters, or is that land owned by Homewaters? If not, is there another fishing club there, or just landowners that want to keep people out?

 

[dryflyguy]

I'm guessing this is the Colerain Park section of stream.
A state forest road crosses the stream right there.
Runs along the water for a bit, then turns up the mountain into state forest land.

Years ago, you could fish the short section in the park.
Then It got posted about 10 feet away from the stream, If I recall correctly.
There are houses along the other side of the stream there along route 45.
And I've figured that those folks decided that somehow, they own both sides of the stream there.
Which seemed kinda strange.......

 

[troutbert]

On Google Maps, if you start at the village of Spruce Creek and work your way upstream a little way, you can see where the state forest borders Spruce Creek.

Property boundaries on online maps commonly have errors, so what you see there may not be accurate. But it looks like the stretch bordered by state forest is pretty short.

 

[dryflyguy]

I zoomed in on that state forest land border on google maps.
If that's right, it does not actually touch spruce creek very much at all.
In Colerain park, it does not reach to the eastern side of the creek, and those posted signs there seem to be correct.
However, it does actually run to the stream edge very briefly, at a few spots upstream and downstream from there.
Be interesting to find out where this tract is

 

[Hackle]

The creek section at colerain park I'm not sure if that's included in dcnr's assessment. The google maps are wrong! Maybe on X maps may be more accurate or closer to reality. There are sections, other than just at colerain park that will be affected by this Court decision. I've seen one of the property owners deeds and the rothrock state forest line is in the middle of the stream in that section. I think the public should be aware that really rich people don't want the public fishing there. If dcnr is correct that their line is in the middle of stream, then citizens should contact state representatives and ask for their due access. It's just fishing.. catch and release.

 

[Hackle]

I was unaware of this case. Are those opposing the DCNR either families that rent to Homewaters, or is that land owned by Homewaters? If not, is there another fishing club there, or just landowners that want to keep people out?

I'm not sure homewaters is involved but most likely be.