Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2014 - 57

CURRENTS
Commission Meeting Held at Lake Wallenpaupack
Anders added that a meeting would be held in the area
to gather public comments about the proposal. A date and
time for the meeting has not yet been scheduled.
Commissioners also approved the publication of
a notice of proposed rulemaking, which would make
boating safer by prohibiting the use of hydro-flying
devices. These devices use pressurized water through jet
ports to provide lift and to allow an operator to become
airborne at speeds up to 30 mph. Some devices attach to
a boat, which may or may not be occupied, while others
connect to a power source, which floats in the water.
Public comments on both proposals will be accepted for
30 days after the notices are published in the Pennsylvania
Bulletin. Comments can be submitted to PFBC at
www.fishandboat.com/reg398.htm. If adopted on final
rulemaking, changes to both proposals would take effect
on January 1, 2015.
Also, Commissioners approved a regulation change,
which restricts the sale, possession, introduction,
transportation and importation of all live crayfish in
Pennsylvania. Under the amended regulation, licensed
anglers are permitted to harvest up to 50 crayfish per
day. When crayfish are transported away from the
water from which they were collected, the head must be
removed behind the eyes. When crayfish are used as bait
in the water from which they were taken, the crayfish can
remain intact.
The regulation does not apply when crayfish are
used for testing and scientific purposes or for restaurant
consumption, provided adequate measures have been taken
to prevent their escape and documentation states the point
of origin and the destination where they are to be delivered.
The change takes effect on
January 1, 2015.
"The replacement
of native crayfish by
introduced crayfish-
like the invasive rusty
crayfish-represents
a significant threat to
aquatic communities,"
said Dave Lieb,
Invertebrate Zoologist and
Non-Game Biologist with
the Western Pennsylvania
Conservancy. "Exotic
crayfish populations grow
During the Commission meeting, WCO Thomas E. Benevento, Southern Chester County,
quickly and have negative
received the 2013 Officer of the Year Award. PFBC's Bureau of Law Enforcement (BLE) reviews
effects on amphibians,
nominations for this award in participation with the Northeast Conservation Law Enforcement
mussels and fishes.
Chief's Association. WCO Mark A. Sweppenhiser, Northern Dauphin and Northumberland
Stringent regulations will
counties, received PFBC's 2013 Top Gun Award, which recognizes an officer's outstanding effort
help prevent additional
in detecting and apprehending impaired boaters during the past year. Pictured are (left to right)
introductions of
Lieutenant Colonel Larry Furlong, BLE Assistant Director; WCO Benevento; WCO Sweppenhiser;
invasive crayfish."
PFBC Executive Director John A. Arway; and Commission President G. Warren Elliott.

photo-Eric Levis

At its quarterly business meeting held on May 6 at the
PPL Lake Wallenpaupack Office, the Pennsylvania Fish &
Boat Commission (PFBC) authorized the acquisition of
an access area in Crawford County; proposed a regulation
change to reduce a no-wake zone in Northumberland
County; proposed a regulation change to improve boating
safety; and finalized a regulation, which places restrictions
on the sale and use of live crayfish.
Commissioners approved for $65,000 the acquisition
of approximately 4,960 linear feet of access on Conneaut
Creek as it flows across two parcels of property in Spring
Township, Crawford County. The easement will be
used for public fishing, boating and riparian and fishery
management. The seller also has agreed to grant PFBC
easements for parking and a footpath to provide access to
Conneaut Creek. The easement area is located just west of
Route 18 along Tower Road near Conneautville.
On the Susquehanna River in Northumberland County,
Commissioners proposed reducing the slow, no-wake zone
near the Shikellamy State Park boat launch on the south side
of Packer's Island as a way to improve boating in the area.
The no-wake zone currently extends ⅓ mile (1,742 feet)
upstream from the state park boat launch. The proposed
change would reduce it to 200 feet above the Route 147
Bridge, a reduction of about 700 feet.
"The lengthy nature of this control zone results in boater
confusion and unnecessarily inhibits use of a significant
segment of the boating pool in this area," said Laurel Anders,
PFBC Director of the Bureau of Boating and Outreach. "The
shortened control zone still provides important protection
to boaters and shoreline property in the vicinity of the state
park boat launch and around the bridge piers."

PFBC website: www.fishandboat.com

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * July/August 2014

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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2014

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