HARRISBURG, Pa. (April 24) – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat
Commission (PFBC) began its quarterly business meeting by thanking anglers,
agency staff, and volunteers for a safe and successful start to the 2023 trout
season, setting the stage for plentiful fishing and boating adventures
throughout the spring and summer months.
"The excitement that surrounds our spring fishing
opportunities, especially the Opening Day of trout season earlier this month,
can still be felt all across Pennsylvania," said Tim Schaeffer, PFBC
Executive Director. "The quality of the trout raised at our state
fish hatcheries this year has been incredible, and anglers have flocked to the
water to test their skills, relax, and make lasting memories with friends and
family.”
Schaeffer noted that world-class stocked trout fishing
opportunities will continue statewide with in-season stockings through the end
of May, and also encouraged anglers to explore new waters and seek out
different types of fishing experiences.
“When you take advantage of the plentiful stocked trout, our
phenomenal wild trout streams, panfish and catfish action that is starting to
pick up as the water warms, and the opening of Walleye season on May 6, there
truly is no better time than right now to hit the water. If you fish from
a boat, please remember to always wear your lifejacket."
Anglers and boaters are reminded that the PFBC’s cold weather
life jacket requirement remains in effect from November 1 through April
30. During this time, anyone aboard a
boat less than 16 feet in length, including all canoes, kayaks, and
paddleboards, is required to wear a lifejacket. In addition, the PFBC and
many other organizations throughout the Commonwealth will partner with the
National Safe Boating Council to celebrate National Safe Boating Week from May
20-26, 2023.
Boating Facility Grants
Awarded
The PFBC awarded several grants through the Boating
Facility Grant Program. Funds for this program are derived primarily
from boat registration fees, state motorboat fuels tax, and restricted revenue
accounts, if applicable. In certain instances, federal aid is also used,
if appropriate.
Delaware River Watershed
- Schuylkill
River Greenways Association; River Access Design and Construction,
Schuylkill River, Schuylkill County
- North
Coventry Township; Riverside Park Boat Launch Improvements, Schuylkill
River, Chester County
- Northampton
County; Improvements to Existing Amenities and Construction of Canoe/Kayak
Access, Minsi Lake, Northampton County
- Philadelphia
Parks and Recreation Department; West Fairmont Park Dragon Boat Dock Expansion,
Schuylkill River, Philadelphia County
Ohio River Watershed
- City
of Connellsville; Yough Park Boat Launch Rehabilitation, Youghiogheny
River, Fayette County
- South
Fayette Township, Morgan Park Public Fishing and Unpowered Boat Dock,
Millers Run Creek, Allegheny County
- West
Wheatfield Township; Robinson Community Center Canoe/Kayak Access,
Conemaugh River, Indiana County
- Masontown
Borough; Riverside Recreation Project Phase II, Monongahela River, Fayette
County
- Rivers
of Steel Heritage Corporation; Carrie Blast Furnaces Boat Dock Master Plan
Design and Engineering, Monongahela River, Allegheny County
Potomac River Watershed
- Borough
of Chambersburg; Design and Construction of Adaptive Kayak Launch, Conococheague
Creek, Franklin County
Susquehanna River Watershed
- Borough
of Hanover; Development of Non-Motorized Boat Access, Sheppard Myers
Reservoir, York County
- Friends
of Historic Heishman’s Mill; Design and Construction of Portage,
Conodoguinet Creek, Cumberland County
- Strasburg
Township; Design and Construction of Canoe/Kayak Access Area, Pequea Creek,
Lancaster County
- Snyder
County Board of Commissioners; West Side Boat Launch, Faylor Lake, Snyder
County
- Susquehanna
Greenway Partnership; Planning and Wayfinding Signage Design Phase II,
Susquehanna River, multiple counties
- Borough
of Dickson City; Bernard Siminski Park Canoe/Kayak Launch, Lackawanna
River, Lackawanna County
- Lackawanna
Heritage Valley Authority; Mayfield Recreation Park Fishing and Boating
Access, Lackawanna River, Lackawanna County
- Town
of Bloomsburg; Design and Construction of Boat Launch, Fishing Creek and
Susquehanna River, Columbia County
Statewide:
- Pennsylvania
Organization for Watersheds and Rivers; Mini Grant Program for Improved
River and Stream Access
Erie Access Improvement
Grant Awarded
The PFBC awarded one grant through the Erie
Access Improvement Program. This program is funded through proceeds
from the sale of Lake Erie permits to be used towards programs that benefit
public fishing, including enhanced access and habitat projects on or at Lake
Erie and the watersheds of Lake Erie. The project awarded through the
2022 round of grant is described below:
- S.O.N.S.
of Lake Erie; Walnut Creek Marina Web Camera, Lake Erie and Walnut Creek,
Erie County
Boating
The Board approved the publication of a notice of proposed
rulemaking pertaining to boating regulations at Halfway Lake, located within
R.B. Winter State Park, Union County.
Historically, boating has been prohibited at Halfway Lake, due to its
small size of approximately six acres.
However, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources has agreed to allow unpowered boats to operate on the lake, which
requires a change in PFBC regulations.
Under this proposal, 58
Pa. Code § 111.60 would be amended to permit the operation of unpowered
boats, while still prohibiting the operation of boats powered by a motor. If adopted on final rulemaking at a future
meeting, this amendment will go into effect upon publication in the Pennsylvania
Bulletin.
Commissioners approved the publication of a notice of
proposed rulemaking pertaining to boating regulations at Allegheny River
Reservoir, also known as Kinzua Dam, in McKean and Warren counties. Many of the controlled areas on the lake are
indicated in PFBC regulations and are marked with aids to navigation (i.e.,
buoys) by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The area near Elijah Run, in the southeastern
portion of the reservoir in McKean County, is currently marked by USACE as a
slow, no wake zone to protect the boat launch area; however, it is not part of
the PFBC’s regulations. Under this
proposal, the area near Elijah Run would be added to existing McKean County (58
Pa. Code § 111.42) regulations for Allegheny River Reservoir so that these
speed restrictions may be enforced by PFBC Waterways Conservation
Officers. Additionally, a generic
subsection referring to other coves, bays, inlets, arms, and areas marked with
slow, no-wake buoys, would be added to the PFBC’s McKean and Warren County (58
Pa. Code § 111.62) regulations to allow the USACE to respond quickly to
areas that become problematic by marking them accordingly. If adopted on final rulemaking at a future
meeting, this amendment will go into effect upon publication in the Pennsylvania
Bulletin.
The Board approved the publication of a notice of proposed
rulemaking intended to simplify boating regulations. Upon review of 58
Pa. Code § 107.5, which regulates boating activity on streams less than 200
feet across, it was determined that the section contained redundancies with
other boating regulations and is unnecessary.
Under this proposal, the portion of 58 Pa. Code § 107.5 which limits
boat operators to slow, no wake speed on streams less than 200 feet across
would be eliminated, because this activity is already covered in 58
Pa. Code § 103.3(a). If adopted on
final rulemaking at a future meeting, this amendment will go into effect upon
publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Fisheries
The Board voted to approve the addition of 18 stream
sections to the list of Class A wild trout streams and the addition of 32 new
waters to the PFBC's list of wild trout streams. A list of waters
proposed for wild trout stream and Class A wild trout stream designation can be
found on the PFBC website.
All of these additions will go into effect upon publication of a second notice
in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
The Board voted to approve the addition of 20 stream
sections to the list of wilderness
trout streams. A list of waters proposed for wilderness trout stream
designation can be found on the PFBC website.
All of these additions will go into effect upon publication of a second notice
in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Public Access and Real
Estate
The Board authorized the acquisition of an easement along
Conneaut Creek in Summerhill Township, Crawford County. Under the agreement, the PFBC will pay $50,000
for the easement which will allow for public fishing, boating, and riparian and
fishery management along approximately 4,710 linear feet of stream.
Funding for this easement will be provided through the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Voluntary
Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). Conneaut Creek provides significant steelhead
and stocked trout fishing opportunities in the area, and Pennsylvania's
Fishing and Boating Access Strategy indicates a need for more access on
this stream section.
Commissioners authorized the acquisition of an easement
along the First Fork of Sinnemahoning Creek in Sylvania Township, Potter
County. Under the agreement, the PFBC
will pay $90,000 for the easement which will allow for public fishing, boating,
and riparian and fishery management along approximately 8,820 linear feet of stream.
Funding for this easement will be provided through the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Voluntary
Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). The First Fork or Sinnemahoning Creek
provides significant stocked trout fishing opportunities in the area, and Pennsylvania's
Fishing and Boating Access Strategy indicates a need for more access on
this stream section.
The Board authorized the acquisition of an easement along
the Allegheny River in Roulette Township, Potter County. Under the agreement, the PFBC will pay $50,000
for the easement which will allow for public fishing, boating, and riparian and
fishery management along approximately 4,010 linear feet of stream.
Funding for this easement will be provided through the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Voluntary
Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). The Allegheny River provides significant stocked
trout fishing opportunities in the area, and Pennsylvania's Fishing and
Boating Access Strategy indicates a need for more access on this stream
section.
Commissioners authorized the acquisition of an easement
along Freeman Run in Keating Township, Potter County. Under the agreement, the PFBC will pay $105,000
for the easement which will allow for public fishing, boating, and riparian and
fishery management along approximately 12,340 linear feet of stream.
Funding for this easement will be provided through the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Voluntary
Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). Freeman Run provides significant wild trout fishing
opportunities in the area, and Pennsylvania's Fishing and Boating Access
Strategy indicates a need for more access on this stream section.
Special Announcements
The PFBC's remaining quarterly business meetings in 2023 are
scheduled for the following dates at the PFBC headquarters located at 1601
Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110:
- July
24-25, 2023
- October
23-24, 2023
Meeting times will be announced at a later date.
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Media Contact:
Mike Parker
Communications Director
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
(717) 585-3076
michparker@pa.gov