Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 59

CURRENTS
photo-Dave Bechdel

Trout In the Classroom

Pictured are (back row, left to right) Amidea Daniel, Pennsylvania Fish
& Boat Commission; Judi Sittler, Spring Creek Trout Unlimited; Dave
Pennsylvania's Trout In the Classroom (PA
Truesdale, Spring Creek Trout Unlimited; Joe Burkardt, Pennsylvania Fish &
TIC) school year has officially started. On
Boat Commission; Adam Spangler, Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission;
November 4, 2013, the United Parcel Service
Samantha Kutskel, Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited; Drew Banis,
delivered special packages containing Brook Trout Forbes Trail Trout Unlimited; Bob Volkmar, God's Country Trout Unlimited;
eggs, food and specific instructions to the 247
Justin DiRado, Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited; and Chaz
participating classrooms. A big thank you goes
Macdonald, Perkiomen Trout Unlimited. In the front row are (left to right)
to the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission's
Les Kleckner, Lloyd Wilson Trout Unlimited; Paul Swanson, Lloyd Wilson
Benner Spring State Fish Hatchery staff and the
Trout Unlimited; Cameron Walker, Lloyd Wilson Trout Unlimited; Bob
volunteers who helped package the eggs.
Shusko, Forbes Trail Trout Unlimited; and Monty Murty, Forbes Trail Trout
For more information on PA TIC, visit
Unlimited. Not pictured is Eric Wilson, Allegheny Mountain Trout Unlimited.
www.patroutintheclassroom.org.

Clearfield and Elk County Streams to See Increased Stocking
after Water Quality Improves
The health of three streams in northcentral
Pennsylvania has improved to the point that the
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) will
increase stocking of adult trout in two of them and has
upgraded a third to Class A Wild Trout status.
Beginning with the 2014 season, PFBC will stock
adult trout in the West Branch Susquehanna River from
the confluence with Anderson Creek in Curwensville
downstream to the SR 2024 crossing at Porters Bridge in
Clearfield County. The 2.8-mile section will receive trout
during a preseason stocking in late March or early April.
The stocking will be in addition to the reach between
Hyde and Clearfield that is already stocked.
The PFBC will also stock adult trout in the Bennett
Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek from the Jay/Benezette
Township line downstream to approximately 985 feet
downstream of the T-434 (Station Road) Bridge in
Benezette, Elk County. This will be a preseason stocking
and will be in addition to the reach between the confluence
with South Branch Bennett Branch and the confluence with
Wilson Run in Penfield that is already stocked.
"This is great news for anglers in this area," said PFBC
Commissioner William J. Sabatose, who represents
Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Jefferson,
McKean and Potter counties. "Both of these waters had
PFBC website: www.fishandboat.com

been affected historically by acid mine drainage, but
through remediation efforts and habitat improvements,
the water quality has improved to the point that they can
be stocked with trout."
"We couldn't have reached this point without the
help of all of our partners, including the Bennett Branch
Watershed Association and the Pennsylvania Department
of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Abandoned
Mine Reclamation," said Commissioner Sabatose. "This
will definitely add more excitement and opportunities to
the opening day of trout season."
PFBC cooperative nurseries and local groups will also
stock the West Branch and Bennett Branch after trout
season opens.
A third stream, Rattlesnake Creek, has two popular
sections, which run through Elk and Jefferson counties.
PFBC biologists documented that a Class A wild
Brook Trout population exists in Section 01, which
stretches approximately 4.28 miles from the headwaters
downstream to approximately 1/3 mile upstream of the
T-574 Bridge. The downstream section, which extends for
a distance of 3.97 miles from about 1/3 mile upstream of
the T-574 Bridge downstream to the mouth, will continue
to be stocked with adult brook and brown trout.

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * January/February 2014

59
http://www.patroutintheclassroom.org http://www.fishandboat.com
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014

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