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Projects and Results

Let's explain what the PA Steelhead Association is doing for you, the avid steelheader. Our accomplishments alone are a good reason for joining the organization and we need your help too! The Association was started to keep your access to tributary streams open and fishable. Our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Lake Erie cold water fisheries. We've initiated meetings with landowners, Commissioners, the PA Fish and Boat Commission, and State Legislators in an effort to meet our goals. The following is a only a partial list of what we have been doing for you, the angler who may travel a long way to our area for a weekend of fishing or for you the local fisherman who likes to spend a few hours after work on your favorite tributary.

1. Stream Cleanups: Yeah, it's dirty work but someone has to do it. The Association schedules organized cleanup days in an effort to keep the heavy traffic areas clean and promote public awareness.

2. Steelhead fishing seminars given to area Boy Scout troops, schools and other organizations. Events have included spin fishing techniques and tactics along with fly tying and fly casting. This has been great hands on experience for our young anglers of the future.

3. Initiated meetings with PA Fish and Boat Commission officials to discuss elimination of night fishing on Lake Erie tributaries north of State Route 5 because of land owner conflicts and concerns.

4. Ban on sale of steelhead eggs and skein: A natural resource should not be exploited for financial gain nor should our fish be slaughtered and discarded for their eggs. Through letters, phone calls, and faxes, an emergency executive order was issued which is now a law.

5. Volunteer assistance is given to the "Kids Fishing Derby" held at the Girard Borough Park.

6. Signs posted along tributaries stating "Please respect landowner rights - Do not litter - Smolts stocked in area, Please be gentle, they are our future."

7. Volunteer cleanup of runways at the hatchery in Fairview.

8. Contributed to the Educational and Recreational Angling Calendar put out by State Legislator Tracy Seyfert.

9. Assistance to Penn State Study: We are currently helping Brad Thompson from Penn State compile data on steelhead population dynamics, segregation of fall and spring run steelhead, scale sampling for age and origin, determination and wild steelhead populations. Members are welcome to assist in this project and can receive more information by e-mailing us.

10. Great news for this Fall's steelhead run: The Walnut Creek Stream Enhancement Project is now complete. That is to say that all of the heavy equipment work is now done creating and enhancing five new pools on the lower end of Walnut Creek. It is the Association's intent to assist with bank stabilization and to monitor the success of the project. The US Fish and Wildlife Service designed the project to replicate naturally occurring pools and pockets. There are also strategically placed boulders to control the water flow and provide additional cover along with backwaters and holds created in the riffles. In addition carefully structured "chutes" were cut in the shale between the pools in an attempt to make the pools self cleaning.

What a sight when I first viewed the upper pool through the clear water . . . . Mother Nature would be proud. A track mounted hydraulic jackhammer rammed and carved the holes deep into the shale bed. A track hoe claw was then used to rip the weakened shale and create the pools. This work was bid on and awarded to the Chiver's Construction Company, a local contractor.

The pools have been scientifically designed using a process called fluvial geomorphology which will hopefully keep the pools free of sediments. This is the first time that habitat has been enhanced by creating structures within the stream bed itself on any Pennsylvania tributary stream. It is the first of hopefully more projects that the Association will be involved in that directly reflects the hard earned dollars that our Members contribute. So get on down there and check it out. We can't wait to wet a line. You can even help us continue this type of work by becoming a member today. Your membership directly influences the quality and availability of Steelhead angling in Northwest PA. Additional information and pictures of this great project can be found on the Pa. F&BC site.

This area was deemed improvable, as there is nothing much more than a 150 yard long riffle flowing into the channel. A series of holes and holding water will be created to spread out angler traffic in this highly congested area. The idea for this project was presented by Commissioner Sam Concilla at a meeting initiated by the PA Steelhead Association to discuss elimination of night fishing south of Route 5. In March of 1999, a habitat assessment was conducted in these area by David Keller and Karl. Mr. Keller will then design the project which should be completed by the summer of 1999. The PA Steelhead Association will provide volunteer labor and has agreed to maintenance and repair of the work for a period of ten years after completion.

This is the first time a project like this has been done on any of Pennsylvania's tributaries to Lake Erie. Although we have high expectations, we must also take into consideration the impact that mother nature might have on this area. Most of the work should be done with heavy equipment to dig into the shale strata of the stream bottom.

All of this has been accomplished in the last year. As you can see we are a pretty busy organization. We look forward to new challenges in the future as we step together toward the millennium. Together we can all make a positive contribution to our great steelhead fishery. On behalf of the Association, please join us in creating a quality steelhead fishery for all to enjoy.