Volunteer opportunities for stream restoration/improvement

dwa111

Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2010
Messages
57
City
Bellefonte
Hi all - I'm not sure if they utilize volunteers for stream work, but I'd be interested in volunteering my time to help if that is a possibility. Does anyone have further info? Also, I wanted to mention the restoration work directly above Bellefonte. Does anyone have any further information on this project? Many thanks. Dave
 
Hi all - I'm not sure if they utilize volunteers for stream work, but I'd be interested in volunteering my time to help if that is a possibility. Does anyone have further info? Also, I wanted to mention the restoration work directly above Bellefonte. Does anyone have any further information on this project? Many thanks. Dave
Clearwater Conservancy and Spring Creek Trout Unlimited sometimes have riparian buffer tree planting events, in spring and fall.

Clearwater Conservancy has riparian buffer volunteers who agree to do buffer maintenance on a regular basis on a particular buffer. Maintenance includes planting additional trees and shrubs to replace those that died, re-staking tree tubes that are leaning or that have fallen down. Removing netting from the tree tubes when the trees emerge from the top of the tubes. Removing tree tubes when the trees have grown large enough. Controlling invasive species, but only through cutting or pulling, because you can't apply herbicides on other peoples' land without a license.

Regarding habitat construction projects, volunteers do not work on that as much as in the past. The types of structural work have changed, and now much of the work is done with heavy machinery and power tools. And the hand work that is done is typically done by the contractor's crew. There are probably safety reasons. When working around heavy machinery, working with power tools, like a chain saw, it's a good idea to have people with training and experience and protective gear.

For example, the project you mentioned just above Bellefonte. I'm pretty sure that was all done by a construction crew, without any volunteer labor.

I walked through and looked at that stream habitat work just above Bellefonte, but I haven't seen any articles about it. It looks similar to other projects. I saw a sign saying it's going to be called a "park" or something like that. That land is owned by Spring Township. It's open to public fishing.

Years ago, there was an informal dump on that land. Where the parking pulloff is, people used to drive back a lane and dump stuff. It was a real mess. Mattresses, old TVs, construction junk, a mini-bike, all kinds of junk. Spring Creek TU, including me, cleaned it up over a few years. Our TU president talked to Spring Township and they installed the gate you see there now, which prevented dumpers from driving back there. They also asked police to patrol that area to discourage dumping. For a few years, people would sometimes still dump stuff in that parking pulloff, but the problem has mostly gone away.
 
Hi all - I'm not sure if they utilize volunteers for stream work, but I'd be interested in volunteering my time to help if that is a possibility. Does anyone have further info? Also, I wanted to mention the restoration work directly above Bellefonte. Does anyone have any further information on this project? Many thanks. Dave
Contact your local Ttout Unlimited chapter and ask about volunteer opportunities. I know our chapter does a lot of this type work.
 
Clearwater Conservancy and Spring Creek Trout Unlimited sometimes have riparian buffer tree planting events, in spring and fall.

Clearwater Conservancy has riparian buffer volunteers who agree to do buffer maintenance on a regular basis on a particular buffer. Maintenance includes planting additional trees and shrubs to replace those that died, re-staking tree tubes that are leaning or that have fallen down. Removing netting from the tree tubes when the trees emerge from the top of the tubes. Removing tree tubes when the trees have grown large enough. Controlling invasive species, but only through cutting or pulling, because you can't apply herbicides on other peoples' land without a license.

Regarding habitat construction projects, volunteers do not work on that as much as in the past. The types of structural work have changed, and now much of the work is done with heavy machinery and power tools. And the hand work that is done is typically done by the contractor's crew. There are probably safety reasons. When working around heavy machinery, working with power tools, like a chain saw, it's a good idea to have people with training and experience and protective gear.

For example, the project you mentioned just above Bellefonte. I'm pretty sure that was all done by a construction crew, without any volunteer labor.

I walked through and looked at that stream habitat work just above Bellefonte, but I haven't seen any articles about it. It looks similar to other projects. I saw a sign saying it's going to be called a "park" or something like that. That land is owned by Spring Township. It's open to public fishing.

Years ago, there was an informal dump on that land. Where the parking pulloff is, people used to drive back a lane and dump stuff. It was a real mess. Mattresses, old TVs, construction junk, a mini-bike, all kinds of junk. Spring Creek TU, including me, cleaned it up over a few years. Our TU president talked to Spring Township and they installed the gate you see there now, which prevented dumpers from driving back there. They also asked police to patrol that area to discourage dumping. For a few years, people would sometimes still dump stuff in that parking pulloff, but the problem has mostly gone away.
Is this the nature park section?
 
Is this the nature park section?
The sign said something like that. I don't remember the exact wording.

It was never called that in the past. It wasn't called anything. Spring Township has owned it for a long time and it's been open to the public, but there was never any type of signage before.
 
From Massullo Park - where Logan branch flows into Spring Creek - you drive upstream past an oil plant on the left.
Up a small hill and sharp curve.
Come back down on Roopsburg Road, and there is a large gravel pull off on left.
Sign there says Spring Creek Nature Park
 
From Massullo Park - where Logan branch flows into Spring Creek - you drive upstream past an oil plant on the left.
Up a small hill and sharp curve.
Come back down on Roopsburg Road, and there is a large gravel pull off on left.
Sign there says Spring Creek Nature Park
Yep. We're talking about the same area.
 
Hi all - I'm not sure if they utilize volunteers for stream work, but I'd be interested in volunteering my time to help if that is a possibility. Does anyone have further info? Also, I wanted to mention the restoration work directly above Bellefonte. Does anyone have any further information on this project? Many thanks. Dave
For those who have seen the habitat work just above Bellefonte, what are your observations? Do you think the trout population will increase, decrease or stay about the same as a result of the work?
 
I've only been in there a few times.
No tries recently either
And haven't seen the recent work being done

Never did very well in there in the past
It just didn't seem to have much structure to hold good fish.
I'm thinking any stream work can only help
 
Spring creek TU conducting redd count around this time. They are also assisting with work on Thompson run/slab cabin in millbrook marsh area. Clearwater/TU continue to do work on upper spring creek and cedar run
 
Hi all - I'm not sure if they utilize volunteers for stream work, but I'd be interested in volunteering my time to help if that is a possibility. Does anyone have further info? Also, I wanted to mention the restoration work directly above Bellefonte. Does anyone have any further information on this project? Many thanks. Dave
check out the LJRA. We planted trees along the upper river (pinnecroft) this fall. There is a project to be done on bells gap run at the park. It was supposed to be done this fall but the permits were delayed and it could not get done in time. It will be done maybe late spring once the waters drop.
As troutbert mentioned, the bulk of the work is done by PFBC with contractors and big machines. But there are opportunities for volunteers to contribute. Every LJRA project had lots of things for volunteers to do. After projects with heavy machines replanting takes place

Moshannon watershed association also has regular projects https://moshannoncreek.org/
 
check out the LJRA. We planted trees along the upper river (pinnecroft) this fall. There is a project to be done on bells gap run at the park. It was supposed to be done this fall but the permits were delayed and it could not get done in time. It will be done maybe late spring once the waters drop.
As troutbert mentioned, the bulk of the work is done by PFBC with contractors and big machines. But there are opportunities for volunteers to contribute. Every LJRA project had lots of things for volunteers to do. After projects with heavy machines replanting takes place

Moshannon watershed association also has regular projects https://moshannoncreek.org/
Bill Anderson is both pragmatic and conservation inclined and the upper bells gap project shows a refreshing contrast and balance with the management goals on the little J downstream. Good example of having your cake and eating it too with room for both types of projects. LJRA is a solid org.
 
When in doubt, pull out one of the garbage bags you stash in your vehicle take a walk. You'll be surprised and it'll make a difference. Its also a great way to scout a stream. Sometimes someone else will you see you and its becomes contagious.
 
Many thanks for the replies. Makes sense about the actual in stream improvements being done with heavy equipment. Much safer and efficient with experienced operators I'm sure.

I will definitely follow up on the riparian buffer work. That sounds great. I'm doing the redd count this weekend on Spring Creek and can ask there as well.
 
I've only been in there a few times.
No tries recently either
And haven't seen the recent work being done

Never did very well in there in the past
It just didn't seem to have much structure to hold good fish.
I'm thinking any stream work can only help
You're familiar with the "before" conditions, so you have the ability to make a "before-and after" comparison.

If you go there again, I'd be interested to read your observations. (And anyone else who has seen the before-and-after conditions.)
 
One thing you can do is become a member, or donate to your local or semi-local watershed organizations. I have yet to find a comprehensive list of the small Community based Watershed Org in the state, but https://pawatersheds.org/watershed/ might be able to provide one. These are groups like the LJRA, or https://blacklickcreekwatershed.org/ who tend to interact with TU, DEP, Municipalities and other stakeholders. They are small, all non-profits, and do great work.
 
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