Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2014 - 3

photo-Andrew L. Shiels

East Branch Clarion River tail water

The Board has directed PFBC staff to "actively seek to
maximize the opportunities available to protect, conserve
and enhance, wherever possible, wild trout populations in tail
waters below existing reservoirs within the Commonwealth."
Consistent with that direction, you will find certain elements
of our revised Strategic Plan to include:
1. Through June 2017, continue efforts to improve
Pennsylvania's tail water trout fisheries.
2. By June 2017, assist other state and federal regulatory
agencies with the development of policies and reservoir
operation procedures that limit alteration of natural flow
regimes to levels that maintain critical species, habitats and
ecological conditions.
I would like to personally thank Commissioner William R.
Worobec for his interest, persistence and leadership throughout
his tenure as Commissioner on the Board. He was truly the
motivation for this initiative, and our Commonwealth fisheries
will be better because of it. I better get busy with those sampling
sticks to make sure that our staff are making progress towards
meeting the goals of our Strategic Plan.
Hope to see you on the water.
photo-Mark Hartle

* Beltzville Lake, Carbon County
Owner: United States Army Corps of Engineers
Size: 946 acres
Tail Water Management: Catchable and fingerling trout
Distance of Cold Water Influence: 7 miles
Current Activity: Outflow temperatures currently
required meet Chapter 93- HQ-CWF parameters. Staff
members are working with the United States Army
Corps of Engineers to determine if a flow model is
required to maximize use of cold water resources in
the reservoir.
We continue to recognize that many sport fish
populations are impacted by factors outside of our
Commission's direct control. Primary factors influencing
the carrying capacity (how many fish a stream or river
can support) include the floods and droughts that Mother
Nature creates, which regulate how many fish our rivers and
streams can naturally support. However, there are certain
places where we can intervene and actually improve upon
what Mother Nature created. These places are our tail water
fisheries, which provide opportunities to expand wild trout
populations through careful manipulation of cold water
releases from man-made reservoirs.

Your Director,
><(John{(°>

Get questions answered.
Share your ideas.
The mission of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat
Commission is to protect, conserve and enhance
the Commonwealth's aquatic resources and
provide fishing and boating opportunities.
PFBC website: www.fishandboat.com

Lehigh River tail water

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